Jane Campion's Only Show Is This 13-Year-Old Mystery Drama Gem Starring Elisabeth Moss
The seemingly serene lake surface hides terrible secrets beneath.
Between winning her first Oscar for the screenplay of The Piano and her Best Director Oscar for the psychological western The Power of the Dog, New Zealander Jane Campion directed her only TV project, Top of the Lake, starring Elisabeth Moss.
This detective drama clearly draws inspiration from Twin Peaks, as it centers on an investigation in a seemingly quiet town harboring many dark secrets.
What Is 'Top of the Lake' About?
12-year-old Tui Mitcham, who is five months pregnant, swims into the icy waters of a lake and disappears. The case is assigned to Detective Robin Griffin, who has returned to her hometown to visit her ailing mother.
The local police department asks Robin to help interrogate Tui, but she vanishes without a trace. Two questions remain: where did she run off to, and why is she pregnant?
Robin must find the girl and confront her past and the people she chose to forget long ago.
'Top of the Lake' Is All About the Unique Atmosphere of New Zealand Gothic
Top of the Lake is a fully immersive experience in which nature becomes a character in its own right. The icy waters of the lake, misty mountains, and endless green valleys of New Zealand contrast the external beauty of the region with the internal ugliness of its inhabitants.
Campion skillfully uses the rural landscape to highlight her characters' isolation, hopelessness, and sense of being trapped. As in The Piano and The Power of the Dog, there is no clear division between good and evil – only people, each with their own shadow that determines their path in life.
Robin, like Campion's other characters, has a dark side that emerges as the investigation unfolds.
'Top of the Lake' Is One of Elisabeth Moss' Most Underrated Yet Powerful Performances
Between her roles in Mad Men and The Handmaid's Tale, Elisabeth Moss delivered one of her most powerful and underrated performances in Top of the Lake. In the series, Moss is simultaneously vulnerable and cruel, compassionate and merciless toward herself.
Top of the Lake marked a milestone in the actress's career by demonstrating her ability to carry an entire dramatic structure.
Top of the Lake is one of those rare TV series that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats until the very end, offering no easy answers. Fans of Twin Peaks, True Detective, and Sharp Objects will find this gem to be a true revelation.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Top of the Lake'?
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Top of the Lake has 83% from critics and 63% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the series has a score of 7.4/10.
Where to Watch 'Top of the Lake'?
Top of the Lake is available to stream on Hulu, Disney+, and Prime Video.
