Marta Dusseldorp's ABC crime thriller recaptures its nutty spirit
Bay of Fires (season premiere) ★★★★
When we left Stella Heikkinen (Marta Dusseldorp) at the end of the 2023 debut season of Bay of Fires, she was relishing the sweet smell of success. She'd just executed a successful financial scam, in the process uniting the residents of Mystery Bay, her previously unwelcoming home town. She'd also apparently managed to outwit, outrun and even benefit from the demise of several people intending to kill her. So things were looking good.
But as anyone familiar with this savvy, blackly comic crime series will be aware, Stella's triumph and sense of being in control are likely to be temporary. That's just how things work for the onetime corporate high-flyer, known as Anika van Cleef until she was relocated to a remote Tasmanian outpost, ostensibly for her own safety.
In the series created by Dusseldorp with Andrew Knight and Max Dann, Stella and her children, Otis (Imi Mbedla) and Iris (Ava Caryofyllis), have been dumped by the government's witness-protection program in a town that isn't marked on any map. Despite the striking scenery, Mystery Bay isn't the kind of place that might feature in Apple Isle tourist promotions: it's the wild west, populated by dodgy characters and governed by its own idiosyncratic rules.
As Stella discovered through the first season, Mystery Bay is akin to an open-air prison: most of the population have a criminal history and can't leave. Fragments of their colourful background stories are revealed in flashbacks at the start of episodes.
Stella was initially wrenched from her luxe life because hitmen were gunning for her after a Russian investment in her family's company failed to pay off. That threat kicked off a tale that grew to incorporate a variety of canny components.
It's a crime thriller, with the relocated Stella as prey not only for the Russians but also for cult leader Thaddeus (Matt Nable) and crime matriarch Frankie McLeish (Kerry Fox), who's presumed dead at the start of the second season. It's also a fish-out-of-water story of a corporate chief and her kids reduced to living in a shack and wearing op-shop clothes.
At the same time, it's a family drama about Stella's struggle to keep her kids safe and deal with teenage Otis's emerging rebellious streak. And then there's a romcom element involving Stella's suitably bumpy relationship with tow-truck driver Jeremiah (Toby Leonard Moore).
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The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Six dead, 80 injured in Russian air strikes on Ukraine
Russia has launched an intense missile and drone barrage at the Ukrainian capital Kyiv killing six people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says, as powerful explosions reverberated across the country. The early Friday morning attacks followed a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin, conveyed via US President Donald Trump, that the Kremlin would hit back after Ukrainian drones destroyed several strategic bomber aircraft in attacks deep inside Russia. Zelenskiy said three emergency responders were killed in the missile and drone salvo against the capital. Another person died in an attack on the northwestern city of Lutsk. "Those killed in Kyiv were rescue workers who arrived at the scene of an initial strike and, unfortunately, were killed in a repeat Russian strike," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X that Russia had "'responded' to its destroyed aircraft ... by attacking civilians in Ukraine ... Multi-storey buildings hit. Energy infrastructure damaged." Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had carried out the strike on military and military-related targets in response to what it called Ukrainian "terrorist acts" against Russia. Zelenskiy said 80 people nationwide had been injured in the attacks, which also struck several other towns and cities. He said residents could still be trapped under rubble. In Lutsk, the national emergency service said 30 people were injured in addition to the one death. Prosecutors said the attack damaged private homes, educational institutions and a government building. Russian forces also struck industrial facilities and infrastructure in the western city of Ternopil, leaving parts of it without power, Mayor Serhii Nadal said. The regional administration said the attack had injured 10 people and asked residents to temporarily stay inside due to a high concentration of toxic substances in the air after a fire. The air force said Russia had used 407 drones, one of the largest numbers recorded in a single attack. Forty-five cruise and ballistic missiles were also fired, it said. Kyiv's metro transport system was disrupted by a Russian strike that hit and damaged tracks between stations, the military administration said. The state rail company said it was also diverting some trains due to rail damage outside the city. Reuters witnesses reported a series of booming explosions powerful enough to rattle windows far from the impact sites. Some Kyiv residents sought shelter in metro stations, or in underground car parks. In the capital's Solomianskyi district, a Russian drone slammed into the side of an apartment building, leaving a gaping hole and burn marks, a Reuters photographer at the scene said. Falling concrete blocks from the building crushed cars parked below. Two police investigators were examining what appeared to be the drone's engine. Earlier in the night, Reuters reporters heard the sound of Russian kamikaze drones buzzing in the sky, accompanied by the sounds of outgoing fire from Ukrainian anti-aircraft batteries. Zelenskiy called for concerted pressure on Russia. "If someone is not applying pressure and is giving the war more time to take lives – that is complicity and accountability. We must act decisively," he wrote on X. The Ukrainian military said it had launched a pre-emptive strike overnight on the Engels and Dyagilevo airfields in the Russian regions of Saratov and Ryazan, in addition to striking at least three fuel reservoirs. In one of the most audacious attacks of the three-year-old war between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian spies last weekend destroyed some of Russia's strategic bomber aircraft on the ground using quadrocopter drones hidden in wooden sheds. After a phone conversation with Putin on Wednesday, Trump said the Kremlin was planning an unspecified response to the Ukrainian attack on the Russian air bases. Russia has launched an intense missile and drone barrage at the Ukrainian capital Kyiv killing six people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says, as powerful explosions reverberated across the country. The early Friday morning attacks followed a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin, conveyed via US President Donald Trump, that the Kremlin would hit back after Ukrainian drones destroyed several strategic bomber aircraft in attacks deep inside Russia. Zelenskiy said three emergency responders were killed in the missile and drone salvo against the capital. Another person died in an attack on the northwestern city of Lutsk. "Those killed in Kyiv were rescue workers who arrived at the scene of an initial strike and, unfortunately, were killed in a repeat Russian strike," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X that Russia had "'responded' to its destroyed aircraft ... by attacking civilians in Ukraine ... Multi-storey buildings hit. Energy infrastructure damaged." Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had carried out the strike on military and military-related targets in response to what it called Ukrainian "terrorist acts" against Russia. Zelenskiy said 80 people nationwide had been injured in the attacks, which also struck several other towns and cities. He said residents could still be trapped under rubble. In Lutsk, the national emergency service said 30 people were injured in addition to the one death. Prosecutors said the attack damaged private homes, educational institutions and a government building. Russian forces also struck industrial facilities and infrastructure in the western city of Ternopil, leaving parts of it without power, Mayor Serhii Nadal said. The regional administration said the attack had injured 10 people and asked residents to temporarily stay inside due to a high concentration of toxic substances in the air after a fire. The air force said Russia had used 407 drones, one of the largest numbers recorded in a single attack. Forty-five cruise and ballistic missiles were also fired, it said. Kyiv's metro transport system was disrupted by a Russian strike that hit and damaged tracks between stations, the military administration said. The state rail company said it was also diverting some trains due to rail damage outside the city. Reuters witnesses reported a series of booming explosions powerful enough to rattle windows far from the impact sites. Some Kyiv residents sought shelter in metro stations, or in underground car parks. In the capital's Solomianskyi district, a Russian drone slammed into the side of an apartment building, leaving a gaping hole and burn marks, a Reuters photographer at the scene said. Falling concrete blocks from the building crushed cars parked below. Two police investigators were examining what appeared to be the drone's engine. Earlier in the night, Reuters reporters heard the sound of Russian kamikaze drones buzzing in the sky, accompanied by the sounds of outgoing fire from Ukrainian anti-aircraft batteries. Zelenskiy called for concerted pressure on Russia. "If someone is not applying pressure and is giving the war more time to take lives – that is complicity and accountability. We must act decisively," he wrote on X. The Ukrainian military said it had launched a pre-emptive strike overnight on the Engels and Dyagilevo airfields in the Russian regions of Saratov and Ryazan, in addition to striking at least three fuel reservoirs. In one of the most audacious attacks of the three-year-old war between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian spies last weekend destroyed some of Russia's strategic bomber aircraft on the ground using quadrocopter drones hidden in wooden sheds. After a phone conversation with Putin on Wednesday, Trump said the Kremlin was planning an unspecified response to the Ukrainian attack on the Russian air bases. Russia has launched an intense missile and drone barrage at the Ukrainian capital Kyiv killing six people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says, as powerful explosions reverberated across the country. The early Friday morning attacks followed a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin, conveyed via US President Donald Trump, that the Kremlin would hit back after Ukrainian drones destroyed several strategic bomber aircraft in attacks deep inside Russia. Zelenskiy said three emergency responders were killed in the missile and drone salvo against the capital. Another person died in an attack on the northwestern city of Lutsk. "Those killed in Kyiv were rescue workers who arrived at the scene of an initial strike and, unfortunately, were killed in a repeat Russian strike," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X that Russia had "'responded' to its destroyed aircraft ... by attacking civilians in Ukraine ... Multi-storey buildings hit. Energy infrastructure damaged." Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had carried out the strike on military and military-related targets in response to what it called Ukrainian "terrorist acts" against Russia. Zelenskiy said 80 people nationwide had been injured in the attacks, which also struck several other towns and cities. He said residents could still be trapped under rubble. In Lutsk, the national emergency service said 30 people were injured in addition to the one death. Prosecutors said the attack damaged private homes, educational institutions and a government building. Russian forces also struck industrial facilities and infrastructure in the western city of Ternopil, leaving parts of it without power, Mayor Serhii Nadal said. The regional administration said the attack had injured 10 people and asked residents to temporarily stay inside due to a high concentration of toxic substances in the air after a fire. The air force said Russia had used 407 drones, one of the largest numbers recorded in a single attack. Forty-five cruise and ballistic missiles were also fired, it said. Kyiv's metro transport system was disrupted by a Russian strike that hit and damaged tracks between stations, the military administration said. The state rail company said it was also diverting some trains due to rail damage outside the city. Reuters witnesses reported a series of booming explosions powerful enough to rattle windows far from the impact sites. Some Kyiv residents sought shelter in metro stations, or in underground car parks. In the capital's Solomianskyi district, a Russian drone slammed into the side of an apartment building, leaving a gaping hole and burn marks, a Reuters photographer at the scene said. Falling concrete blocks from the building crushed cars parked below. Two police investigators were examining what appeared to be the drone's engine. Earlier in the night, Reuters reporters heard the sound of Russian kamikaze drones buzzing in the sky, accompanied by the sounds of outgoing fire from Ukrainian anti-aircraft batteries. Zelenskiy called for concerted pressure on Russia. "If someone is not applying pressure and is giving the war more time to take lives – that is complicity and accountability. We must act decisively," he wrote on X. The Ukrainian military said it had launched a pre-emptive strike overnight on the Engels and Dyagilevo airfields in the Russian regions of Saratov and Ryazan, in addition to striking at least three fuel reservoirs. In one of the most audacious attacks of the three-year-old war between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian spies last weekend destroyed some of Russia's strategic bomber aircraft on the ground using quadrocopter drones hidden in wooden sheds. After a phone conversation with Putin on Wednesday, Trump said the Kremlin was planning an unspecified response to the Ukrainian attack on the Russian air bases. Russia has launched an intense missile and drone barrage at the Ukrainian capital Kyiv killing six people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says, as powerful explosions reverberated across the country. The early Friday morning attacks followed a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin, conveyed via US President Donald Trump, that the Kremlin would hit back after Ukrainian drones destroyed several strategic bomber aircraft in attacks deep inside Russia. Zelenskiy said three emergency responders were killed in the missile and drone salvo against the capital. Another person died in an attack on the northwestern city of Lutsk. "Those killed in Kyiv were rescue workers who arrived at the scene of an initial strike and, unfortunately, were killed in a repeat Russian strike," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X that Russia had "'responded' to its destroyed aircraft ... by attacking civilians in Ukraine ... Multi-storey buildings hit. Energy infrastructure damaged." Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had carried out the strike on military and military-related targets in response to what it called Ukrainian "terrorist acts" against Russia. Zelenskiy said 80 people nationwide had been injured in the attacks, which also struck several other towns and cities. He said residents could still be trapped under rubble. In Lutsk, the national emergency service said 30 people were injured in addition to the one death. Prosecutors said the attack damaged private homes, educational institutions and a government building. Russian forces also struck industrial facilities and infrastructure in the western city of Ternopil, leaving parts of it without power, Mayor Serhii Nadal said. The regional administration said the attack had injured 10 people and asked residents to temporarily stay inside due to a high concentration of toxic substances in the air after a fire. The air force said Russia had used 407 drones, one of the largest numbers recorded in a single attack. Forty-five cruise and ballistic missiles were also fired, it said. Kyiv's metro transport system was disrupted by a Russian strike that hit and damaged tracks between stations, the military administration said. The state rail company said it was also diverting some trains due to rail damage outside the city. Reuters witnesses reported a series of booming explosions powerful enough to rattle windows far from the impact sites. Some Kyiv residents sought shelter in metro stations, or in underground car parks. In the capital's Solomianskyi district, a Russian drone slammed into the side of an apartment building, leaving a gaping hole and burn marks, a Reuters photographer at the scene said. Falling concrete blocks from the building crushed cars parked below. Two police investigators were examining what appeared to be the drone's engine. Earlier in the night, Reuters reporters heard the sound of Russian kamikaze drones buzzing in the sky, accompanied by the sounds of outgoing fire from Ukrainian anti-aircraft batteries. Zelenskiy called for concerted pressure on Russia. "If someone is not applying pressure and is giving the war more time to take lives – that is complicity and accountability. We must act decisively," he wrote on X. The Ukrainian military said it had launched a pre-emptive strike overnight on the Engels and Dyagilevo airfields in the Russian regions of Saratov and Ryazan, in addition to striking at least three fuel reservoirs. In one of the most audacious attacks of the three-year-old war between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian spies last weekend destroyed some of Russia's strategic bomber aircraft on the ground using quadrocopter drones hidden in wooden sheds. After a phone conversation with Putin on Wednesday, Trump said the Kremlin was planning an unspecified response to the Ukrainian attack on the Russian air bases.
7NEWS
6 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Russian influencer Kristina Belaya dies after slipping in bathtub and hitting head
A young influencer has died after slipping in the bathtub and hitting her head. Russian reality TV star Kristina Belaya, 24, was found by her boyfriend lying unconscious in her bathroom on May 30. According to investigators, she was found with a head injury and bruising on her body but no signs of struggle were reported. It's believed Ms Belaya suffered a fatal head injury after falling as she was getting out of the tub. Ms Belaya's boyfriend also told police the bathtub was partially collapsed when he discovered her lifeless body. Ms Belaya gained 12,000 followers after appearing on a dating show called Dom-2. She left the series after meeting someone outside of the show. Her heartbroken fans have inundated her social media accounts with tributes. One person said: 'Life is such a fragile thing, today you're here, tomorrow you're gone. I feel so sorry for the girl. I feel sorry for the young.' Her friend Emma Pinachyan also paid tribute to her, saying she was a 'cheerful' person. 'Kristina was a very warm, radiant person, she never sat still, always came to the rescue in difficult times, she was a very cheerful girl, a good friend and daughter, we will all miss her very much,' Pinachyan told a local newspaper. It's understood police are still investigating her death but it's not believed to be suspicious.
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Perth Now
Influencer dies in freak bathtub accident
A young influencer has died after slipping in the bathtub and hitting her head. Russian reality TV star Kristina Belaya, 24, was found by her boyfriend lying unconscious in her bathroom on May 30. According to investigators, she was found with a head injury and bruising on her body but no signs of struggle were reported. It's believed Ms Belaya suffered a fatal head injury after falling as she was getting out of the tub. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Ms Belaya's boyfriend also told police the bathtub was partially collapsed when he discovered her lifeless body. Ms Belaya gained 12,000 followers after appearing on a dating show called Dom-2. She left the series after meeting someone outside of the show. Her heartbroken fans have inundated her social media accounts with tributes. One person said: 'Life is such a fragile thing, today you're here, tomorrow you're gone. I feel so sorry for the girl. I feel sorry for the young.' Her friend Emma Pinachyan also paid tribute to her, saying she was a 'cheerful' person. 'Kristina was a very warm, radiant person, she never sat still, always came to the rescue in difficult times, she was a very cheerful girl, a good friend and daughter, we will all miss her very much,' Pinachyan told a local newspaper. It's understood police are still investigating her death but it's not believed to be suspicious.
