{ "id": "ep8k4qzmfw", "slug": "black-snow-ep8k4qzmfw", "title": "Black Snow", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv", "label": "Scripted television and comedy series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series", "label": "Drama and prestige series (individual series)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series.crime-and-thriller-series", "label": "Crime and thriller series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series.crime-and-thriller-series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series.crime-and-thriller-series.police-and-detective-procedurals", "label": "Police and detective procedurals", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series.crime-and-thriller-series.police-and-detective-procedurals" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.other.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series", "label": "Other (Canada, Oceania, polar regions, oceans) · 2021 and later: Drama and prestige series (individual series)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.other.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series", "path": [ { "id": "geo.other", "label": "Other (Canada, Oceania, polar regions, oceans)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.other" }, { "id": "geo.other.t2021", "label": "Other (Canada, Oceania, polar regions, oceans) · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.other.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.other.t2021.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.other.t2021.culture" }, { "id": "geo.other.t2021.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.other.t2021.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.other.t2021.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.other.t2021.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.other.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.other.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.other.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv", "label": "Scripted television and comedy series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.other.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv" }, { "id": "geo.other.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series", "label": "Drama and prestige series (individual series)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.other.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Black Snow is an Australian Stan crime mystery series (premiered 1 January 2023) in which Travis Fimmel's cold-case detective James Cormack investigates the 1994 murder of Isabel Baker in a North Queensland town, centered on its Australian South Sea Islander community; seasons 2 and 3 followed.", "snippet": "Black Snow is an Australian Stan crime mystery series (premiered 1 January 2023) in which Travis Fimmel's cold-case detective James Cormack investigates the 1994 murder of Isabel Baker in a North Queensland town, centered on its Australian South Sea Islander community; seasons 2 and 3 followed.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.drama-prestige-series.crime-and-thriller-series.police-and-detective-procedurals", "markdown": "# Black Snow\n\n**Black Snow** is an Australian crime mystery television series in which cold-case detective James Cormack, played by [Travis Fimmel](https://www.edgepedia.org/travis-fimmel), investigates the unsolved 1994 murder of a teenager in a North Queensland town. It premiered on the streaming service Stan on 1 January 2023 as a six-part series produced by Goalpost Television in association with All3Media International.[1](https://www.stan.com.au/watch/black-snow/season-1) • [2](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/black-snow-1)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Format | Six-part mystery-drama, 306 minutes total; Australian classification M for mature themes, violence, coarse language and sexual references[2](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/black-snow-1) |\n| Premiere | 1 January 2023 on Stan (Australia); Sundance Now from 23 February 2023 (US); BBC Four from 23 September 2023 (UK)[1](https://www.stan.com.au/watch/black-snow/season-1) • [3](https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/black-snow-release-date-cast-plot-trailer-and-everything-you-need-to-know) |\n| Premise | In 1994, 17-year-old Isabel Baker is murdered in the town of Ashford; in 2019 the opening of a time capsule puts Detective James Cormack on the killer's trail[2](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/black-snow-1) |\n| Creative team | Created by Lucas Taylor, writing with Boyd Quakawoot and Beatrix Christian; directed by Sian Davies and Matthew Saville; shot by Murray Lui[4](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jan/01/black-snow-review-australian-mystery-has-a-corker-of-a-premise) |\n| Lead cast | Travis Fimmel as James Cormack, with Jemmason Power, Talijah Blackman-Corowa, Brooke Satchwell, Alexander England, Erik Thomson and Ziggy Ramo[5](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/black-snow-series-1-39826/) |\n| Seasons | Season 2 (Jack of Clubs) premiered 1 January 2025 on Stan; season 3 (Brother's Keeper) in production in Cairns[6](https://au.variety.com/2024/tv/news/travis-fimmel-directorial-debut-black-snow-2-19363/) • [7](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/black-snow-brothers-keeper-44067/) |\n| Reception | Season 1: 100% Tomatometer from 6 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes; 7.3/10 on IMDb from about 13,000 votes[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/black_snow/s01) • [9](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21263178/ratings/) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise and structure\n\nThe first season runs on two timelines. In 1994, the murder of Isabel Baker shocks the small town of Ashford and devastates its Australian South Sea Islander community; the case is never solved. In 2019, the opening of a time capsule buried at the local high school weeks before her death reveals a secret that puts cold-case Detective James Cormack on the trail of the killer.[1](https://www.stan.com.au/watch/black-snow/season-1) • [2](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/black-snow-1) The 1994 timeline gives agency to the victim, played by Talijah Blackman-Corowa, while the 2019 timeline follows Cormack as he works the town for its secrets.[4](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jan/01/black-snow-review-australian-mystery-has-a-corker-of-a-premise)\n\nCormack's own history runs through the series: he is haunted by the disappearance of his younger brother, who vanished when they were children.[1](https://www.stan.com.au/watch/black-snow/season-1) Each season is built as a self-contained case, with the second season titled *Black Snow: Jack of Clubs* and the third *Brother's Keeper*.[10](https://www.filmaffinity.com/au/film946591.html) • [7](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/black-snow-brothers-keeper-44067/)\n\n## Production and cultural collaboration\n\nScreen Australia and Stan announced the series on 24 March 2022 with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Stan. Screen Australia's Head of Content Grainne Brunsdon highlighted the representation of Australian South Sea Islanders, saying the story would shine a light on a dark part of Australian history not widely seen before on screen.[11](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/f4fe68b5-20b6-4b76-81cb-f12458b4b167/MR-220324-Screen-Australia-announces-two-new-dramas-for-Stan.pdf)\n\n**Community involvement** shaped the production. Producer Kaylene Butler said the series acknowledged the Australian South Sea Islander community and their significant place in history, and creator Lucas Taylor, who grew up with Australian South Sea Islanders, researched what she called a forgotten people to bring the story to the screen.[12](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-02/stan-series-black-snow-focuses-south-sea-islander/101084262) [Community](https://www.edgepedia.org/community) elder Marion Healy, who worked with the team for two years, called for representation of the cane fields and the sugar mill and for people on screen who looked like the community; casting calls sought locals from surrounding regions.[12](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-02/stan-series-black-snow-focuses-south-sea-islander/101084262)\n\nThe fictional town of Ashford was filmed in Proserpine, about 100 km from Mackay in Queensland's cane-growing country.[12](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-02/stan-series-black-snow-focuses-south-sea-islander/101084262) All music in the series is a collaboration between artist Ziggy Ramo, who also makes his screen debut in the show, and composer Jed Palmer.[13](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-09/proserpine-backdrop-for-black-snow-australian-murder-mystery/101737412)\n\n## Later seasons\n\n**Season 2** began production around the Sunshine Coast in April 2024 and premiered on Stan with a double episode on 1 January 2025, with episodes dropping weekly thereafter.[6](https://au.variety.com/2024/tv/news/travis-fimmel-directorial-debut-black-snow-2-19363/) Fimmel made his directorial debut with the sixth and final episode. The season gives Cormack two intertwined mysteries: the disappearance of Zoe Jacobs (Jana McKinnon), unseen for more than 20 years, and his continuing search for his brother.[6](https://au.variety.com/2024/tv/news/travis-fimmel-directorial-debut-black-snow-2-19363/) On AMC+, where it is an original series, season two premiered with two episodes on 24 April 2025, with new cast members including [Megan Smart](https://www.edgepedia.org/megan-smart), Alana Mansour, Dan Spielman, Victoria Haralabidou, and [Kat Stewart](https://www.edgepedia.org/kat-stewart).[14](https://ebs.publicnow.com/view/F3EA225BF77F980E2A7A5D4E703E867F59706205)\n\n**Season 3**, titled *Brother's Keeper*, was greenlit by Stan and shifts filming to Cairns in Far North Queensland, becoming the largest series shot at Screen Queensland's new Cairns studio facility. It is forecast to bring A$11.2 million to the state and create 135 jobs for cast and crew. Fimmel is back as Cormack and shares directing duties on episodes with Daniel Nettheim and Christiaan Van Vuuren; the plot resumes at the point where Ritchie ([George Mason](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-mason)), the brother he never knew, faces trial over the 1999 killing of Liam Knox, his closest friend.[15](https://www.c21media.net/news/stan-greenlights-third-season-of-goalpost-pictures-black-snow-shifts-action-to-cairns/XXX/) • [7](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/black-snow-brothers-keeper-44067/)\n\n## Reception\n\nSeason 1 holds a 100% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes from six critics and a 90% average Popcornmeter score from more than 250 audience ratings.[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/black_snow/s01) Reviewers singled out the premise and the cultural grounding. Karl Quinn in *The Age* called it a real breath of fresh air; Luke Buckmaster in *The Guardian* praised the time capsule premise as a corker while judging the drama to run out of gas toward its twist-filled ending; and ScreenHub noted the direction by Sian Davies and Matthew Saville and the cultural input from the local South Sea Islander community.[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/black_snow/s01) • [4](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jan/01/black-snow-review-australian-mystery-has-a-corker-of-a-premise) The series received an AACTA Award nomination for Best TV Drama Series in 2024.[10](https://www.filmaffinity.com/au/film946591.html) On IMDb the series holds a weighted 7.3/10 from about 13,000 user ratings.[9](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21263178/ratings/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Watch Black Snow: Season 1, Stan](https://www.stan.com.au/watch/black-snow/season-1)\n2. [Black Snow, Australian Classification](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/black-snow-1)\n3. [Black Snow: release date, cast, plot, trailer, What to Watch](https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/black-snow-release-date-cast-plot-trailer-and-everything-you-need-to-know)\n4. [Black Snow review, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jan/01/black-snow-review-australian-mystery-has-a-corker-of-a-premise)\n5. [Black Snow series 1, Screen Australia Screen Guide](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/black-snow-series-1-39826/)\n6. [Travis Fimmel Makes Directorial Debut in 'Black Snow' Season 2, Variety Australia](https://au.variety.com/2024/tv/news/travis-fimmel-directorial-debut-black-snow-2-19363/)\n7. [Black Snow Brother's Keeper, Screen Australia Screen Guide](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/black-snow-brothers-keeper-44067/)\n8. [Black Snow: Season 1, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/black_snow/s01)\n9. [Black Snow Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21263178/ratings/)\n10. [Black Snow (TV Series), Filmaffinity](https://www.filmaffinity.com/au/film946591.html)\n11. [Screen Australia announces dramas Black Snow and Year Of for Stan, media release 24 March 2022](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/f4fe68b5-20b6-4b76-81cb-f12458b4b167/MR-220324-Screen-Australia-announces-two-new-dramas-for-Stan.pdf)\n12. [Stan television series Black Snow focuses on Australian South Sea Islander history, ABC News](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-02/stan-series-black-snow-focuses-south-sea-islander/101084262)\n13. [Proserpine the backdrop for Australian murder mystery Black Snow, ABC News](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-09/proserpine-backdrop-for-black-snow-australian-murder-mystery/101737412)\n14. [Black Snow returns for second season on April 24 on AMC+, AMC Networks press release](https://ebs.publicnow.com/view/F3EA225BF77F980E2A7A5D4E703E867F59706205)\n15. [Stan greenlights third season of Black Snow, shifts action to Cairns, C21Media](https://www.c21media.net/news/stan-greenlights-third-season-of-goalpost-pictures-black-snow-shifts-action-to-cairns/XXX/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Drama and prestige series (individual series) › Crime and thriller series › Police and detective procedurals*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/black-snow-ep8k4qzmfw", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/black-snow-ep8k4qzmfw.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Black Snow\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/black-snow-ep8k4qzmfw. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Black Snow](https://www.edgepedia.org/black-snow-ep8k4qzmfw)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/black-snow-ep8k4qzmfw](https://www.edgepedia.org/black-snow-ep8k4qzmfw). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Black Snow\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/black-snow-ep8k4qzmfw. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Black Snow is an Australian Stan crime mystery series in which Travis Fimmel's cold-case detective James Cormack investigates the 1994 murder of Isabel Baker in a North Queensland town, centered on its Australian South Sea Islander community; seasons 2 and 3 followed." }