Reckless brings First Nations tension to the hit-and-run thriller
Kodie Bedford’s Fremantle-set reworking of Neil Forsyth’s Guilt earns a favourable review from The Guardian for its pace, performances and sharp social undercurrents.
Reckless, an Australian reworking of Neil Forsyth’s Guilt, follows First Nations siblings Charlie and June as they confront the aftermath of a fatal hit-and-run. Created by Indigenous writer Kodie Bedford, the series relocates the original story from Leith to Fremantle, Perth.
Hunter Page-Lochard plays Charlie, a record shop owner, while Tasma Walton plays his older sister June, a lawyer whose instinct is to contain the damage. Their competing responses to the crisis drive the series’ central tension: Charlie is chaotic and emotionally exposed, while June is more controlled and strategic.
The Guardian’s review describes Reckless as a fast-paced and impressive ride, praising the way its thriller mechanics carry themes of policing, family, poverty, parenthood and racial inequality. June’s fears about unequal treatment help raise the stakes for the siblings if they surrender, adding a specifically Australian dimension to the adaptation.
The plot widens when Charlie becomes entangled with George’s niece Sharne, played by Jessica De Gouw, as she questions inconsistencies surrounding her uncle’s death. June then brings in Roddy, a private investigator played by Clarence Ryan, whose attempt at redemption complicates the family’s efforts to manage the truth.
The Guardian notes that only the first episode was available for review, making its assessment of the full series provisional. Within that limitation, it credits Reckless with a credible sibling relationship, eccentric but consistent characters, and social commentary that illuminates rather than overwhelms the action.
