Under Salt Marsh is the new crime drama you don't want to be sleeping on. Not only will Yellowstone fans love it because Kelly Reilly takes the lead role of Jackie, but according to Sky TV, almost 2 million viewers tuned into the show's debut.
For a TV show that's not on one of the main global streamers, that's a pretty impressive feat. If you've seen any of the first three episodes, you'll know what the fuss is about – Jackie finds her young student's body, reopening a cold case from three years prior involving her missing niece, Nessa.
She has to work with her former police partner Eric (Rafe Spall), who divided the town while working Nessa's case. With two unexplained child deaths, tensions are high... and somehow, the two stories intersect.
As Under Salt Marsh episode 4 hits the small screen this week, we're no closer to solving either mystery. However, my favorite character is starting to come out of her shell after being an awkward third wheel up until now.
Jess (Naomi Yang) is Eric's new partner, replacing Jackie in theory but not in practice. She's sat on the sidelines being at Eric's beck and call, but as Yang herself agrees, episode 4 is when Jess starts to come into her own.
'She's definitely the only outsider in Under Salt Marsh'
"She's the only outsider in Salt Marsh, so she definitely, she's got that going on anyway," Yang tells me. "I think it's not immediately obvious to her, but with Eric and Jackie's relationship, she's feeling more and more pushed out. So I think that's what leads her later on in the series to really push. She's had enough of it, and she's taking power back."
Not only is that a joy to anyone who loves a bit of girl power, but it's an understatement. In episodes 1-3, Jess happily went along with Eric's vision, running around the marsh to do whatever he wanted on a whim.
Fast forward to episode 4, and she's fully putting Eric in his place. More aware of Eric's mistakes during the original investigation for Nessa than ever, Jess is now starting to implement her own process and strategy.
Eric is humbled in a way that Jackie isn't able to achieve, and it makes for incredibly satisfying television.
"Although there's quite a few characters in this show that are a bit shady, I think she's one of the quiet ones," Yang adds. "It is fun. We're not loud about it. You get to do a lot of wistful, moody glances off camera."
Jess might be going to a lot of places in Under Salt Marsh episodes 5 and 6, but back to being quiet likely won't be one of them.
Under Salt Marsh is streaming on Sky and Now in the UK, and Binge and Foxtel Now in Australia.
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