If the relentless cheer of the festive season has left you craving something with more grit, Netflix has delivered the ideal remedy. The streaming service has added the critically acclaimed but short-lived thriller The Red Road, a series that devoted viewers insist remains 'impossible to top'.
A Dark Antidote to Festive Overload
Originally airing on SundanceTV for just two seasons between 2014 and 2015, the show's abrupt end after 12 episodes continues to frustrate fans. However, this concise run now makes it a perfect binge-watch for the languid days between Christmas and the New Year.
Set in a fictional New Jersey town, the narrative centres on Police Officer Harold Jensen (Martin Henderson), a man desperately trying to hold his life together. His wife, Jean, battles undiagnosed schizophrenia and alcoholism, pushing his family to the brink, while a long-buried secret threatens to destroy everything.
Jason Momoa's Career-Best Performance
The story's magnetic core is the volatile relationship between Jensen and Phillip Kopus, played by Jason Momoa. Many fans consider this one of Momoa's finest roles. Kopus is a member of the Ramapough Mountain people, a state-recognised Native American tribe, and his morally ambiguous, intense character creates relentless tension with the struggling policeman.
What elevates The Red Road beyond a standard crime drama is its foundation in real-world social and environmental injustice. The plot draws inspiration from the plight of the Ramapough Lenape Nation and the toxic dumping scandal at the Ringwood Mines landfill, where industrial waste poisoned generations of local residents.
Fan Fury and Critical Acclaim
Audience reactions on platforms like Rotten Tomatoes reveal a passionate, if aggrieved, fanbase. One viewer admitted to watching all 12 episodes in a single weekend, only to be furious upon discovering the show's cancellation. "That was a big mistake," they wrote. "The fans deserve a proper ending."
Another review was unrestrained in its praise: "You can’t top this. This is the most well-written, well thought-out, well produced… the best of everything is right here in this show." Fans consistently highlight Momoa's layered performance and the show's emotional restraint.
The powerful cast adds immense depth, with Julianne Nicholson delivering a raw portrayal of Jean Jensen, supported by Tamara Tunie, Kiowa Gordon, and Annalise Basso.
Yes, The Red Road concludes on a cliffhanger that may leave you wanting more. But if you're seeking a sharp, morally complex, and refreshingly non-festive story, this compact series represents a compelling and manageable viewing commitment for the post-Christmas period.
