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Top of the Lake

2013 – 2017Show2 seasons13 episodesTV-MA

CrimeDrama
75
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.4Metacritic817.2Rotten Tomatoes83%63%

A nerve-racking, profoundly sad crime series about crime and mystery, with standout direction and performances.

Good for binge-friendly · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing

Where to watch

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Shows with

Episodes

2 seasons · 13 episodes · best: S1E6 "Episode #1.6" 7.8

Episodes

7.5
7.3

Story

No ordinary place. No ordinary crime.

A woman haunted by her past, Detective Robin Griffin, investigates complex and unsettling cases.

Feels like

  • Feminist Noir
  • Psychological Crime Drama
  • Visually Stunning Landscape
  • Trauma-Informed Narrative
  • Slow-Burn Mystery
  • Social Realism
  • Atmospheric Dread
  • Complex Female Protagonist
  • Unflinching & Raw

Cast

24 of 25 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Jane Campion, Ariel Kleiman, Garth Davis
Written by
Jane Campion, Gerard Lee
Produced by
Philippa Campbell

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

March 18, 2013 · August 31, 2017 · Ended

First aired
March 18, 2013
Last aired
August 31, 2017
Status
Ended
Length
2 seasons · 13 episodes
Age rating
TV-MA
Content
Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Drug Use, Suicide Themes, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Original language
English
Made in
Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada, United States
Available in
44 countries

Tropes

The Un-Reveal, Only Sane Man, But for Me, It Was Tuesday +9

  • The Un-Reveal
  • Only Sane Man
  • But for Me, It Was Tuesday
  • Foreshadowing
  • Surprise Incest
  • Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique
  • Killed Offscreen
  • Bait-and-Switch
  • Dirty Cop
  • Artifact Title
  • The Ending Changes Everything
  • Dogged Nice Guy

12 of 94 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

4 questions, like "Where can I stream Top of the Lake?"

Questions about Top of the Lake

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Top of the Lake?

Hulu

In the United States, Top of the Lake streams on Hulu. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 39 other countries.

Is Top of the Lake worth watching?

75
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 75 (IMDb 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes 83%, and Metacritic 81). Critics rate it higher (82 out of 100) than audiences (70).

Will I feel good after watching Top of the Lake?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 9 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

What tropes does Top of the Lake use?

The Un-RevealOnly Sane ManBut for Me, It Was TuesdayForeshadowingSurprise IncestJack Bauer Interrogation TechniqueKilled OffscreenBait-and-SwitchDirty CopArtifact TitleThe Ending Changes EverythingDogged Nice Guyand 82 more

TV Tropes lists 94 tropes for it, including The Un-Reveal, Only Sane Man, and But for Me, It Was Tuesday.