3 reasons we think The Last Frontier is the perfect replacement for True Detective

Woah! The frozen wilderness of Alaska has never been so powerful! The Last Frontier starts off as a very dark, heavy crime drama that clearly resembles True Detective both structurally and thematically.

But can The Last Frontier really take over True Detective's place? There were differing views among the critics, but the series is still considered to have the main elements of the winning crime series: a setting that generates tension, a hero who is not entirely good or evil and a complication with hidden risks.

A closer look at these items reveals the reason behind The Last Frontier's comparison to True Detective.

---

Here are 3 reasons we think The Last Frontier is the perfect replacement for True Detective

1. Alaska: the setting as a narrative force

The most remarkable feature of True Detective was the setting almost playing a character, influencing mood, themes and narrative outcomes. The Last Frontier follows the same manner. The series is located in harsh and remote Alaska and it employs the wilderness and isolation to increase the stakes of te show.

The plot starts with a prison transport plane crash that sets free the most dangerous criminals into the harshest conditions. This event not only brings about immediate danger but also long-term narrative pressure.

By turning the setting into a main character, even an enemy, The Last Frontier takes inspiration from one of the techniques that made the first two seasons of True Detective so immensely captivating: the environment is as much a challenge for the characters as their human foes.

---

2. Layered crime drama with broader threats

True Detective's tendency to keep moving from one crime to another was one of its main features. The Last Frontier starts with a plane crash and criminals running away from the cops in Alaska, but gives the impression of much bigger and more evil dangers as the season goes on.

This dual structure lets the story be told on two levels: the cops chasing down the crooks and the bigger conspiracy that is coming to light. The Last Frontier does not go as deep in storytelling as True Detective did, but the blending of great danger with unanswered questions gives it a similar feel of structure which is appealing to the multi-layered crime drama audiences.

---

3. Character-driven storytelling and moral complexity

True Detective was praised for its anti-heroes and morally ambiguous characters. The Last Frontier presents Jason Clarke’s U.S. Marshal Frank Remnick who has to deal with the outside threats (fugitives and the dangers of nature) as well as the main character’s personal issues (moral dilemmas and pressure effect on his decision-making).

The show's slow pace gives time for reflection on characters' motivations in the same way that True Detective put more focus on their shortcomings and personal demons. The Last Frontier has the protagonist’s moral and psychological struggles at its center and thus shares its anti-heroic tone with True Detective that made its storytelling so engaging.

---

What viewers can expect

Audiences who are on the lookout for a “True Detective-like” experience will find several recognizable elements in The Last Frontier:

• Alaska's isolated and tension-filled environment.
• A morally ambiguous main character who is going to extreme limits.
• A dense crime-narrative with dangers that are no longer immediate and broader conspiracies at play.

The series might not completely cut it in terms of the bolt that True Detective has, but it does still provide a framework that is very much in the audience's favor when it comes to the dark mood and character-driven crime stories. Alaska’s setting offers the audience a new experience instead of just the same old thing.

---

Can you say that The Last Frontier is better than True Detective? The answer is not as simple as one might think. Their isolation, complicated crime plot and morally ambiguous main character are the traits that are most often mentioned as concerns.

If you are a type of viewer who prefers a dark, slow-paced, character-driven crime drama, then The Last Frontier is the right show for you. Quite radically, it can be said to be a sibling in concept and a cousin in style to True Detective.

It does not cut through the same praise and execution of True Detective but it does surely provide an overlap with a distinct viewing which shows up in the form of environmental tension, character dilemmas and layered threats.

Also read: The Last Frontier release schedule: When do new episodes of the Apple TV+ series drop?