Netflix's Territory season 1 comes to a climactic finish in episode 6, offering plenty of material to break down. The TV series, which has been frequently compared to Yellowstone for its high-stakes family drama centered around a massive cattle station, is action-packed until the end. Amidst shootouts and standoffs, there are several narratives to keep track of pertaining to the various characters and political factions, and the TV series pulls no punches using unfamiliar cattle lingo and phrases that may be challenging to follow.

Territory's cast and characters primarily consist of the Lawson family, the multi-generational owners of Marianne Station, the largest cattle station in the world. After owner Daniel Lawson's death, vultures begin to circle the cattle station surrounding its succession crisis, which comes to a climactic close during a uranium mining operation in the finale. Rich, a criminal friend of Marshall Lawson, takes Colin and Marshall hostage in the ranch's main house, threatening them with violence for access to their secret safe.

Does Colin Figure Out Emily Killed Daniel In Territory's Ending?

Colin Knows Daniel Was Murdered

The final moment in Territory season 1 sees Colin Lawson seeming to finally turn a new leaf by gifting the main house on the ranch to Graham and Emily. This affirms that he's finally accepted ing the torch to his remaining son following the death of Daniel. Just after this, the mysterious man from earlier in the season arrives with Daniel's horse, which had been missing since episode 1. The saddle had previously been recovered, but this is the first time the horse has been seen, aside from the flashback where audiences see Emily shooting at Daniel.

Emily already itted to Graham that she'd shot Daniel and left him to die, but this is the first time Colin realizes what happened.

The man delivers the horse to Colin along with two bullet shells, affirming that Daniel's death was more violent than Colin had first thought. Emily already itted to Graham that she'd shot Daniel and left him to die, but this is the first time Colin realizes what happened. Beginning in season 2, Colin will likely be entirely focused on finding out who did it, which will cause a massive rift between him and Emily and Graham. As for whether he already knows it was her, it's unlikely, despite the prolonged glance in the ending shot.

What Was In The Lawson Family's Secret Vault?

The Lawson Family May Have An Incredibly Dark Past

Another massive moment in Territory's season 1 finale sees Rich holding Colin and Marshall hostage in the house. There, he tortures Marshall until Colin lets him open the safe, offering him thousands in cash and jewelry that are kept inside. Rich notices that there's another smaller safe within the larger one and requests to open that next. Colin is more resistant but has Marshall open it for him. Marshall opens the vault and then shuts it, declaring that he and Colin should die before Rich discovers the contents. This creates an enormous mystery box going forward.

While it could be anything, it seems important that the one other moment Colin and Marshall shared in season 1 surrounded the skulls Marshall found on Marianne Station's territory. It seems like the Lawson family has a dark history of violence, and though Colin claims it was generations before, the contents of the vault suggest it might be more recent. Marshall may have seen something in the safe that would immediately incriminate his entire family and cause them to lose Marianne Station.

Can Emily Be Trusted Now That Susie Is Dead?

Emily Still Has Loyalty To Graham (When He's Healthy)

Throughout Territory season 1, Emily's loyalty to the Lawson family is largely tethered to her daughter Susie, who dies at the end of episode 5. Emily's deal with Colin at the end of episode 1 is centered around Susie being included in the station's future, and ing Susie often prevents her from aligning with the likes of Sandra Kirby or Campbell Miller. Emily is notably a competent, intelligent woman, but there are times when she teeters on the line of accepting external deals that might put her in positions of power at the sacrifice of someone like Colin.

Going forward, Emily's loyalty to Marianne Station and the Lawson family likely depends on Graham's stability. The spark in their marriage has all but fizzled out, but she does show genuine love and iration for Graham and his son Marshall, even though she isn't blood-related. If Graham can keep himself sober and continue pushing forward in the direction he did at the end of season 1, Emily will be less likely to consider alternatives. She's driven to succeed and feels she deserves more significant responsibility, but she won't betray the Lawsons unless they falter, and she has no choice.

How Graham Recovered (& What It Really Means)

Graham Intends To Break The Lawson Paternal Cycle

Graham's arc in Territory season 1 sees him struggling with alcoholism and addiction problems, but his time in prison helps him recover. When he returns, he finally fights back against Colin, causing his father to gain respect for him in a twisted way, allowing them to work together to defend the station against immediate threats in the final episodes. Importantly, Graham speaks with Marshall about how he wants to end the cycle of brutality between fathers and sons in the Lawson family. Graham's recovery likely lays the foundation for healing the rift between him and Marshall.

Why Sharnie Decides To Leave Marshall

Sharnie Thinks Marshall Will Turn Into Colin

After Colin nearly kills Sharnie in the Territory finale after executing Rich, Sharnie decides she won't stay with Marshall even though she loves him. While she doesn't hold the situation against him, she sees Colin and, like other characters, believes the Lawson patriarch to be an evil man. Because of this, she's concerned Marshall will end up like his grandfather if he remains at Marianne Station and decides she wants no part in it.

How Territory Season 1 Sets Up Season 2

The Lawsons May Be Divided Again In Season 2

While Territory season 1 saw the Lawson family come together in episode 5 to defend the station, season 2 might see them brought back to square one. Colin will be pursuing information surrounding Daniel's death, potentially breaking up the family again. Marshall is tied down to the ranch, and the drama could cause him to take a leap in leadership. Antagonists like Campbell Miller and Sandra Kirby seem like they're temporarily out of the picture, but their interest in Marianne Ranch won't subside. That is, if Miller is even alive after being shot.

The Real Meaning Of Territory's Ending

Territory Is About Family

Territory is as much a neo-Western story as it is a tale about family. The core of the Netflix series is about how the generational habits of the Lawson family have been self-destructive, allowing outside forces to take ground against them. Colin Lawson represents an old-fashioned form of masculinity that believes in only one form of strength, which he believed he ed down to his son Daniel. Yet, the audience knows that Daniel was the one who planned to sell him out to Sandra, as though he may have been strong, he wasn't loyal.

Graham, on the other hand, represents strength in a different way. He may be more sentimental and have more apparent emotional struggles, but he maintains a strong loyalty to the Lawson family and believes he can move things forward to a better place, perhaps with Emily and Marshall at his side. The question for Territory going forward is whether it's too little, too late, and if the younger generation of the Lawsons can defend their property and guide it into a new era.

How The Territory Season 1 Ending Was Received

The first season of Territory received mixed reviews from critics and fans. Its critical score is a nice 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, but the audience score is much lower at 53%. When breaking down why the season didn't work out so well, one audience reviewer wrote, "Instead of zeroing in on one particular story to tell, it decides to give us three, four, five seasons worth of stories in one... the story just feels so rushed and busy, and just doesn't gel or work in any capacity. Your story needs to slow down and breathe."

However, one of the critics praising the story said that was something to praise here. Daniel Fineberg of The Hollywood Reporter wrote:

"The show has a lot to pack into a small amount of time. Heard the expression “All hat and no cattle”? The cattle in Territory may not have a lot of genetic diversity — it’s a plot point! — and the hats may look a bit worn around the edges. But whatever you’re looking for, this series has a lot of it."

As for the ending itself, many viewers felt that it let the entire series down. In a Reddit thread, the OP wrote that they thought the series could have been great until the ending. They wrote, "They really showed a character arc with Suzy having shown hope for what the ranch could have been. Then they kill her at the end of episode 5. And no one wins at the end of episode 6 except Sandy. Not sure what the writers were trying to do with this but the last two episodes absolutely ruin the show."

This led to several Redditors blasting the Territory ending. "They absolutely ruined the show with that death… so stupid!" wrote Top-Significance-176. "I'm not wasting my time on another season to find out," JeffCraig wrote. Finally, NaomiPommerel wrote, "Too many questions! Bad business decisions all round​​​​​​​," ​​​​​​​