Thou Shalt Not Steal (TV series)

Thou Shalt Not Steal
Company type	Television series
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	October 17, 2024; 2 years ago
Founder	Dylan River, Tanith Glynn-Maloney
Headquarters	Australia
Products	Crime comedy-drama TV series

Thou Shalt Not Steal is an Australian crime comedy-drama television series developed by Dylan River and Tanith Glynn-Maloney, which debuted on 17 October 2024 via the streaming platform Stan. The narrative centers on two teenagers pursued across the desert by a sex worker and a deceptive preacher. The cast features Sherry-Lee Watson, Will McDonald, Miranda Otto, and Noah Taylor.

Premise

Set during the 1980s, Thou Shalt Not Steal tells the story of Robyn, an Aboriginal youth who escapes from juvenile detention to visit her dying grandfather, Ringer. Ringer is determined to return home, citing an urgent mission.

Without funds for a taxi, Robyn encounters Maxine, a madam who attempts to coerce her into working as repayment. After a confrontation, Robyn commandeers the taxi and flees with Ringer. As his health declines, Ringer discloses that Robyn’s father is still alive and asks her to deliver a trophy to him before he dies near their destination.

Concurrently, Robert, a fraudulent preacher, and his son Gidge hold sway in the town while secretly selling alcohol. Gidge yearns to escape and reunite with his mother in Adelaide.

Robyn locates the trophy but soon realizes the police are pursuing her. Planning to escape using the stolen taxi, she unwittingly picks up Gidge, who hides beneath the backseat to avoid his father. Together they head toward Coober Pedy.

The following day, Maxine arrives in town searching for her taxi. Robert offers her his vehicle to aid in tracking down the teenagers.

Cast and characters

Sherry-Lee Watson portrays Robyn, an Aboriginal teenager recently escaped from juvenile detention
Will McDonald plays Gidge, the son of a deceitful travelling preacher
Noah Taylor appears as Robert Snr, a preacher fleeing from his past
Miranda Otto acts as Maxine, a shrewd madam operating sex workers throughout the outback from her taxi
Darren Gilshenan features as Mick, an Australian Federal Police (AFP) officer pursuing Robyn and Gidge alongside partner Tracey
Shari Sebbens plays Tracey, AFP officer working with Mick
Natasha Wanganeen as Mary, Robyn’s alcoholic mother
Warren H. Williams portrays Ringer, Robyn’s terminally ill grandfather
Justin Rosniak as Steve, Robyn’s father
Eddie Baroo as Big Pete

Episodes

No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original Air Date
1	"Chapter one: All This For A Cup"	Dylan River	Dylan River	17 October 2024
2	"Chapter Two: Stealin' Donkeys"		Dylan River, Tanith Glynn-Maloney, Sophie Miller
3	"Chapter Three: Coober Pedy's A Long Way"
4	"Chapter Four: Bullet To The Head..."
5	"Chapter Five: There Will Be Murder"		Dylan River, Sophie Miller
6	"Chapter Six: Biggest Disappointment"		Dylan River, Sophie Miller & Samuel Nuggin-Paynter
7	"Chapter Seven: Ball Bags"		Dylan River, Sophie Miller & Samuel Nuggin-Paynter
8	"Chapter Eight: Happy Endings"		Dylan River, Tanith Glynn-Maloney, Sophie Miller, Benedict Paxton-Crick

Development

In 2023, the Australian streaming service Stan collaborated with Ludo Studio to produce an eight-part road trip series set across Central and South Australia. Creators Dylan River and Tanith Glynn-Maloney were revealed, with River directing every episode. The project benefited from funding by Screen Australia, production assistance from South Australian Film Corporation and Screen Territory, alongside post-production incentives provided by Screen Queensland.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, River crafted a comprehensive 300-page treatment for the series. This new work expands on themes introduced in his 2019 project Robbie Hood, using comedy to explore Aboriginal political issues with the intention of appealing to a wider commercial audience. River's goal was to transcend preaching to an already sympathetic audience and confront the limited mainstream exposure of Indigenous cinema.

Choosing the 1980s as the backdrop reflects River’s fascination with the mechanical era’s aesthetic and narrative challenges in a pre-mobile phone world. He also incorporated family anecdotes and memories of Alice Springs’ untamed character during that period, where minor offenses often functioned as a form of entertainment.

In September 2023, key cast members including Sherry-Lee Watson, Will McDonald, Miranda Otto, and Noah Taylor were announced.

Shooting

Principal filming commenced in Alice Springs in September 2023. Exterior scenes were mainly captured along the stretch from Alice Springs to Adelaide, while interior sequences were shot in Adelaide. Director River emphasized authentic locations that closely aligned with the characters’ journey within the story.

Music

The soundtrack prominently featured artists like Slim Dusty, the Warumpi Band, and members of the Yamma family, playing a vital role in shaping the production’s atmosphere.

Release

The series debuted at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, where the first three episodes were presented. Subsequently, all eight episodes were screened at both the Araluen Arts Centre in Alice Springs and SXSW Sydney. The full series became available on Stan starting 17 October 2024. International distribution rights are held by DCD Rights.

Critical response

Thou Shalt Not Steal garnered widespread critical praise. Luke Buckmaster of The Guardian suggested it has "future classic written all over it," while Craig Mathieson from The Sydney Morning Herald emphasized its emotional richness. Critics frequently compared the series favorably to works by the Coen brothers.

Jason Di Rosso of ABC Radio National hailed it as "one of the best TV shows of the year," applauding its performances, direction, and musical score. Sherry-Lee Watson was singled out as a "star-making lead," delivering a performance brimming with youthful vitality and subtlety. Miranda Otto and Noah Taylor also received commendations for their powerful portrayals.

Dylan River’s direction attracted acclaim for its visually compelling compositions and energetic pacing. The integration of music, especially Slim Dusty’s "The Biggest Disappointment," was noted for effectively underscoring the series’ core themes.

Kelly McWilliam from the University of Southern Queensland described the show as "slick" and "well-crafted," highlighting its meticulous production values and thematic connections to River’s prior work.

External links