Watch Picnic at Hanging Rock

TV-14
2018
1 Season
6.2 (4,582)

Picnic at Hanging Rock is a mesmerizing mystery drama series that premiered on Amazon Prime in 2018. The show is a reimagining of Joan Lindsay's iconic novel of the same name from 1967. The series is set in the year 1900 and follows the story of a group of schoolgirls from Appleyard College who vanish on a trip to Hanging Rock in Victoria, Australia.

The show is a beautiful portrayal of Edwardian-era Australia, complete with stunning cinematography that showcases the breathtaking Australian landscape. This is complemented by its hypnotic score that draws the viewers into the atmosphere of the show. Picnic at Hanging Rock is equal parts eerie and enchanting.

Natalie Dormer stars in the lead role of Mrs. Hester Appleyard, the enigmatic headmistress of the boarding school. She is a woman with her fair share of secrets, and Dormer plays her character flawlessly. Lily Sullivan takes on the role of Miranda Reid, the most outspoken and rebellious of the students, who is the first to disappear. Lola Bessis plays Mademoiselle de Poitiers, a French teacher who is as mysterious as she is alluring. Harrison Gilbertson portrays Michael Fitzhubert, a wealthy young man who is drawn into the mystery of the missing girls. Samara Weaving plays Irma Leopold, a student who is left behind after the other girls disappear, and Madeleine Madden takes on the role of Marion Quade, the studious and reserved student who seeks answers to the mystery.

The show keeps the viewers on their toes as it explores the aftermath of the disappearance of the schoolgirls. The storyline primarily revolves around the dynamic between the characters and how they are affected by the incident. There is a palpable sense of dread that hangs over the show, as the characters are forced to grapple with the mystery of the missing girls and the impact it has on their lives.

One of the standout aspects of the show is its portrayal of female sexuality and desire. The show fearlessly delves into the sexual desires of the female characters, both in a heterosexual and homosexual sense. It is refreshing to see complex female characters exploring their sexuality in a way that is not objectified or simplified. The show is also unapologetic in its feminist stance, as it explores the constraints placed on women during that era and how they navigate them.

Another thing that sets the show apart is its use of dream-like sequences and surreal imagery. The show uses these devices to great effect, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. This artistic direction gives the show an otherworldly quality that feels at times like a fairy tale.

Overall, Picnic at Hanging Rock is a visually stunning and deeply engrossing show. The story weaves together elements of mystery, drama, and horror to create a unique viewing experience that will leave viewers pondering the mystery of the missing girls long after the series concludes. The compelling performances, stunning visuals, and haunting soundtrack make this show a must-watch for fans of the mystery and thriller genres.

Picnic at Hanging Rock is a series that ran for 1 seasons (6 episodes) between May 6, 2018 and on Amazon

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Seasons

6. Episode Six

June 10, 2018

Hester has grown increasingly certain that her vengeful husband is behind the disappearances and is coming after her. As she prepares to flee, the arrival of Sara's guardian provides conclusive proof of Mrs Appleyard's lies. As Hester travels to the Hanging Rock, we finally learn all that led to her demise. The haunted past she ran from, and the secret lives of the missing college girls.

5. Episode Five

June 3, 2018

French governess, Mademoiselle, is growing increasingly suspicious of Mrs Appleyard's erratic behaviour, and fears the worst when she is told that Sara was unexpectedly collected by her guardian, unseen by any other staff. As Mademoiselle searches for answers, the Sergeant travels to Melbourne to seek a last interview with Irma, and a secret vow made by the missing girls is revealed.

4. Episode Four

May 27, 2018

Hester struggles to contain mounting hysteria as aftershocks from the disappearance continue to disrupt the old order. A mysterious visitor summons memories of Hester's dark past, whilst Sara seeks escape from the college. Meanwhile, we are taken into the story of the missing girls in the months leading up to the picnic, and the dark stain of the unsolved mystery continues to spread.

3. Episode Three

May 20, 2018

The missing Rothschild heiress, Irma Leopold, has been found, remarkably unharmed, but claiming to remember nothing. Meanwhile, rumours spread and the sergeant turns his attention to the college. What secrets lie hidden behind the locked gates? His investigation intensifies Hester's paranoia and she grows certain that the young orphan, Sara, knows something about the disappearance.

2. Episode Two

May 13, 2018

Hester's three star pupils and a governess have disappeared. Led by dogged Sergeant Bumpher, local men search for the missing ladies. Not a trace to be found. Faced with a mystery, the locals resort to speculation. Has something supernatural befallen the young ladies? Or has a human outrage occurred? The last person to see the girls at the Rock was aristocratic young Englishman, the Honourable Michael Fitzhubert. Mike has recently arrived in the colony, trailing a discreet hint of scandal. The revelation that he has Miranda's stocking in his pocket indicates a special fascination with the missing girl, but Mike is contemptuously dismissive of Bumpher's insinuation that his voyage to Australia was motivated by anything improper. Hester tries to contain mounting hysteria among her pupils by putting the college into lockdown. She believes the young orphan, Sara, obsessively devoted to Miranda, knows something about the disappearance. But Sara's loyalty to Miranda cannot be breached. Two strange riders were seen at the picnic ground. Are they men from Hester's past, attempting to ruin her? What is the missing governess's shocking secret revealed in an ancient letter from her estranged Hebridean father? As the days pass and the mystery remains unsolved, tensions increase to breaking point. When the search is finally abandoned, Mike feels compelled to return to Hanging Rock, where he spends a dark night with the ghosts of his own past. Then, under the searing Australian sun, he searches for redemption, joined belatedly by his uncle's coachman Albert - with whom he has forged a strong bond. Delirious Mike points up the Rock to where Albert finds one of the missing girls lying exposed to the elements. But is she dead or alive...?

1. Episode One

May 6, 2018

In the final decade of the 19th century, Hester Appleyard - a beautiful, mysterious widow - arrives in Macedon, Australia. She pays cash for the local white elephant - a formal mansion isolated out in the bush. Here, she establishes a school for young ladies. Six years later, Appleyard College is a success. A bastion of Victorian England, ruled with an iron fist by its enigmatic headmistress. But something haunts Hester. Is it the bush - dangerous and untamed? Or is it her own secret past? Appleyard College has three star pupils. Sophisticated Irma, a Rothschild heiress. Whip-smart Marion, daughter of a High Court Justice. And rebellious tomboy Miranda, a cattle-station princess. Their friendship ignites the magical and dangerous energy of adolescence. They resist the edicts of society. Confronted by the unwelcome advances of a young soldier headed for the Boer War, Miranda impales his foot with a pitchfork, earning her headmistress's contempt for her lack of self-regard. But the girls have already convinced Hester to allow a visit to the local landmark. And so, as she punishes devoted young orphan Sara for Miranda's recklessness by keeping her back from the outing, and Miranda retaliates by showing the headmistress an unseen object which clearly reveals some unwelcome truth, on Saint Valentine's Day, 1900, the Appleyard girls and governesses go on a picnic, to Hanging Rock. And there, in the strange brooding landscape, something unthinkable happens...

Description

Where to Watch Picnic at Hanging Rock

Picnic at Hanging Rock is available for streaming on the Amazon website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Picnic at Hanging Rock on demand at Amazon Prime, Google Play and Apple TV.