Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Territory!

Marshall Lawson makes the surprising decision to run away after Daniel Lawson’s death inTerritoryseason 1, and here’s why he made this choice. The suspicious circumstances surroundingDaniel Lawson’s deathand Marshall’s abandonment of Marianne Station make him quite a curious character, with much of the series following Emily’s attempts to track him down.The reveal of why Marshall ran away is one of the biggest moments inTerritory, and here is how the show explains it.

Netflix’s new Australian Western drama seriesTerritoryis finally here, with theNetflix series acting as a mix betweenYellowstoneandSuccession.Territorytakes place in the immediate aftermath of the death of Daniel Lawson, the head of the world’s biggest cattle station, leaving the Lawson family to fight over who will succeed him. The fallout of his death is absolutely massive, with it causing things like Marshall’s decision to run away.

Robert Taylor in Territory

Marshall Is Scared Of Becoming Corrupted By Power & Greed Like Graham & Colin

He Doesn’t Want To Be Like The Rest Of The Lawsons

At the beginning ofTerritory, Marshall returns toMarianne Station due to Daniel’s death, reuniting him with his family. Shortly after returning, however, Marshall runs away for unknown reasons. Emily and some of the other Lawson family members are sent to track him down in the hopes of finding out why he left and bringing him back.

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A few episodes in,Territoryreveals the reason behind Marshall’s abandonment of Marianne station. As it turns out,Marshall was disgusted with the greed of the Lawson dynasty, with him hoping to leave before he became corrupted by it. The power and wealth that comes with Marianne Station caused the entire Lawson dynasty to turn on each other after Daniel’s death, and Marshall wanted to recuse himself from the situation before he became like the rest of his family.

Emily and Daniel in Territory

Why Marshall Decides To Return & Take His Place As Daniel’s Heir

By the end ofTerritory, however, Marshall decides to return to Marianne Stationand take his place as Daniel’s heir. Learning that Colin wanted to pick Marshall to take over the world’s largest cattle station undoubtedly played a big role in this, meaning that Marshall didn’t have to fight with his family over asserting himself as the station’s leader.

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On top of that, Marshall realized that he could not escape the Lawson name. No matter what, people are going to treat him differently due to his connection to Marianne Station, with every character that he encounters throughout the show trying to use him. Marshall eventually decides that he would rather attempt to lead the family in a better direction than run away, leading to his decision to come backat the end ofTerritory.

Territory (2024) - Poster

Territory

Cast

Set against the backdrop of the world’s largest cattle station, this drama follows the intense generational conflict that ensues when a clear heir is absent. As rival factions compete for control, the series examines themes of legacy, power, and the struggle for dominance over the land’s future.