'The Last Frontier' Review, Jason Clarke's Alaska Set Thriller Starts Strong But Freezes Fast

Apple TV+’s The Last Frontier is an Alaska-set thriller that feels like a mix between Con Air and The Blacklist. Created by Jon Bokenkamp and Richard D’Ovidio, the 10-episode series begins with a plane full of inmates crash-landing in the Alaskan wilderness. But the series loses momentum as soon as it gets tangled in drawn-out subplots and uninspired storytelling. While the premise teases a survivalist manhunt story filled with secrets and government conspiracies, the series quickly becomes a test of patience rather than an exciting adventure. Here’s whether the series is worth watching or not.

Plot of The Last Frontier 

The series kicks off with a prisoner transport plane going down in the middle of Alaska, leaving the U.S. Marshal, ‘Frank Remnick’ played by Jason Clarke in charge of tracking down the escaped inmates. Among the prisoners is a mysterious hooded man, ‘Havlock’, whose identity and ties to CIA agent, ‘Sidney’, played by Haley Bennett, form the show’s central mystery.

As ‘Frank’ balances his investigation while also protecting his family that consists of his wife, played by Simone Kessell and son, played by Tait Blum, the story shows government cover-ups, covert operations, and confusing plotlines involving 'Archive Six' and 'The Atwater Protocol.' What starts as a straightforward manhunt turns into a confusing drama filled with repetitive action scenes, over-explained backstories, and filler subplots that drag the series and makes it somewhat boring.

Cast and performances in The Last Frontier  

Jason Clarke, best known from Zero Dark Thirty and Oppenheimer, delivers a brooding performance as ‘Marshal Remnick’, but even his performance can’t help the script’s lack of energy. Haley Bennett plays, ‘CIA agent, Sidney’ with intensity, but her character’s emotional depth feels underdeveloped.

The supporting cast, which consists of Dominic Cooper, Simone Kessell, Dallas Goldtooth, and Alfre Woodard, all bring strong acting skills with them, but are left stranded with underwritten roles. Woodard, in particular, is given little to do other than delivering heavy dialogue, while Goldtooth’s talents are wasted in a one-note role. Guest stars like Johnny Knoxville and Clifton Collins Jr. appear briefly but the series never fully uses their potential either.

What works inThe Last Frontier ?

The pilot episode sets up an intriguing tone of part survival drama and part government thriller for The Last Frontier. The Alaskan wilderness as a backdrop adds an atmospheric edge to the show. The initial crash sequence and early interactions between Clarke and Bennett's characters promise a dynamic partnership that could’ve carried the show. But that ends soon, the middle of the series does not deliver. The finale, however, offers some redemption with tighter pacing and a glimpse of creativity that the midseason episodes lacked.

What doesn’t work in The Last Frontier? 

Unfortunately, The Last Frontier quickly loses its pace. It seems as if the writers have stretched a two-hour movie’s worth of story into ten episodes. The weak CGI, unrealistic action scenes, and repetitive car-chase sequences soon break interest. Domestic melodrama, confusing ‘top-secret’ jargon, and underdeveloped motivations make it hard to stay invested in the story. The show’s attempts at emotional depth, especially involving ‘Frank’s’ family, feel forced and unearned.

Final verdict for The Last Frontier 

The Last Frontier begins with a promising and gripping premise, it has a stellar cast and great cinematic potential, but it quickly gets lost in its own storyline. What could have been a tense, action-packed series turns into overlong episodes filled with hollow tension. Despite its title, this might just be the last stop for viewers looking for excitement.

What are your thoughts about The Last Frontier?

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