HBO Max Summary:
When a man wakes up in the Australian outback with no memory, he must use the few clues he has to discover his identity before his past catches up with him.
FYA Summary:
A super hot and bearded Jamie Dornan, using his natural Irish accent (not sure why that was left out of the promotional materials), is run off the road by a homicidal trucker in Australia and wakes up with amnesia. With the help of Probationary Constable Helen Chambers and cute waitress Luci, he tries to reconstruct the days leading up to the accident to find out who he was and what he was doing there and how many people might be trying to kill him. Set between the tiny rural towns of the merciless outback, The Tourist will keep you guessing, when you’re not screaming “make out!” at your TV, in hopes that this quirky thriller turns into the contemporary rom-com of my dreams.
Familiar Faces:
I hope that everyone loves something as much as I love Jamie Dornan. We have discussed some of his earlier work here at FYA, and we haven’t always been complimentary. Luckily, this is an improvement over his drinking game contributions. As The Man, he gets to be vulnerable and funny and has great chemistry with his two leading ladies. Also, he should always get to be Irish.
Danielle Macdonald as Helen Chambers
Danielle Macdonald, who was spectacular in Dumplin’ (Willowdean!), plays a small town deputy-type with detective ambitions. She takes on the responsibility of helping The Man figure out his identity, despite the objections of pretty much everyone she works with, as well as her controlling fiancé.
I haven’t seen this actress in anything previously, but she’s stunning and holds her own with Dornan effortlessly, so I imagine her star is on the rise. Like Helen, Luci is game to help the poor hot Irishman on his quest, but she might also have her own reasons for doing so.
Damon Herriman as Detective Inspector Lachlan Rogers
Herriman has a long list of credits that make him perfect for playing the detective with murky motivations on The Man’s trail.
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Billy
What is an American cowboy doing in the outback? Would you be surprised to learn that he is also after The Man?
Wait. Why is a Greek drug kingpin chasing The Man, too? It’s a twisty journey, my friends.
I feel bad for Greg Larsen, because he has the most thankless role here, playing the worst fiancé ever. Helen is so great and can do so much better than this jerk.
Couch-Sharing Capability: Buddy Up
You can watch this by yourself, but then you would have nobody to holler or cringe with over every new reveal. Plus, it’s just more fun to ship in groups.
Recommended Level of Inebriation: Cool Off With a Cold One
This is a hot and sweaty movie for multiple reasons, and you’re going to want to pop a beer or mix up a dirty martini (or four). Throw in some Mexican takeout, and your evening will be made of happiness.
Use of Your Streaming Subscription: JAMIE DORNAN
I’m not gonna lie, when I heard HBO Max was releasing a mini-series starring bearded Jamie Dornan, I thought they had started pandering directly to me. They’re not wrong, this is the way to my heart. If you’re like me and could use a break from crime docs, this is a concise six-episode mystery that feels fresh. Without revealing spoilers, The Tourist leaves you wanting more without overstaying its welcome. And if you find yourself rooting for an empathetic small-town constable to run off with an amnesiac Irishman, trust me, you’re not alone in that.
I, too, am strongly interested in this show on the basis of Jamie Dornan alone. It also reminds me I never finished The Fall, though it’s been so long now it’s probably pointless because I remember nothing.
That just sounds like an excellent excuse to start The Fall all over again? Bless Jamie for also giving us The Tourist, where we get the hot bearded Irishness again, but without the rapey murderer aspect.