The return of “Top of the Lake” has been a long time coming. The first season aired in the U.S. in March of 2013 and centered around Sydney-based detective Robin Griffith (Elisabeth Moss) who returned home to a remote part of New Zealand to uncover a large crime ring, as well as her own secret past. The series, created by Jane Campion and Gerard Lee, was a beautiful examination of the disturbing underbelly of an atmospheric small town, and thankfully, we have more to look forward to.
The new season, titled “China Girl,” finds Robin returning to Sydney to rebuild her life after the revelations of last season. But when a young Asian girl washes up on Bondi Beach, Robin goes on the hunt for her killer. Moss is joined by Gwendoline Christie (“Game of Thrones“) and Nicole Kidman (fresh off her other brilliant TV turn this year on “Big Little Lies“) for what looks like another terrific series. Here’s the official synopsis:
“Top of the Lake: China Girl” is a crime mystery story that finds Detective Robin Griffin recently returned to Sydney and trying to rebuild her life. When the body of an Asian girl washes up on Bondi Beach, there appears little hope of finding the killer, until Robin realizes “China Girl” didn’t die alone. Robin looks to the investigation to restore herself, but her problems are personal. Haunted by a daughter given up at birth, Robin desperately wants to find her, yet dreads revealing the truth of her conception. But her search to discover “China Girl’s” identity will take her into the city’s darkest recesses and closer than she could have imagined to the secrets of her own heart.
“Top of the Lake: China Girl” debuts at Cannes and airs on SundanceTV in September.
August 7, 2017 update: the new teaser is below.