Quarry

Quarry is a riveting drama series originating from America that captivates audiences with its unique portrayal of a Marine's life after returning home from the Vietnam War. It first premiered on Cinemax in 2016 and is inspired by the novels of Max Allan Collins.

The protagonist of this series is Mac Conway, a Marine who finds himself struggling to reintegrate into society following his service in the Vietnam War. The story is set in the backdrop of 1972, in the city of Memphis, Tennessee, a period marked by political unrest, socioeconomic disparities, and cultural shifts. The Vietnam War's ramifications are palpably felt through the show's various characters, allowing the viewer to absorb the societal sentiments of the period.

The series explores the gritty aftermath of the war through Mac's perspective. After proving his mettle on the battlefield, he finds it challenging to adapt to the mundane normality of civilian life. His deliberate attempt to reconstruct his life and relationship with his wife, Joni, in the face of constant rejection and trauma, forms the heart of the storyline.

However, Conway's homecoming is marred by controversy as he and his friend Arthur, both become entangled in a public scandal. They are vilified for their controversial war standing and their alleged part in a massacre. This public sentiment exacerbates Conway's plight and further alienates him from the society that he once served.

The series gets its name, Quarry, from Conway's dystopian existence, making a dark metaphorical correlation - just like a quarry is excavated and discarded after the precious resources are mined, the decorated marine is disowned and socially ostracized post his service. His life and the series take a dramatic turn when he is drawn into a criminal underworld - a network that is as complex and unnerving as the war itself.

The criminal network, colloquially known as 'The Broker,' lures him into working as a contract killer to overcome his financial woes. As Quarry, the role he adopts in this new, dangerous lifestyle, he discovers that the underbelly of civilian life can be as treacherous and life-threatening as the battlefield he left behind. With gruesome tasks and mandatory obedience, Quarry balances his new identity while wrestling with his internal moral compass - a constant tug-of-war between necessity and conscience.

Quarry, with its graphic realism, takes viewers on an immersive journey through an era of lingering paranoia, estrangement, and existential crisis. It paints a grim but compelling picture of the post-war reality for veterans while highlighting the paradox of a soldier's life - hailed as a hero during the service and disowned in peacetime.

The show's creators, Michael D. Fuller and Graham Gordy, incredibly blend the thriller and drama genres. The series thrives with its well-crafted characters, gripping plotlines, and metaphoric storytelling. Emmy Award nominee Logan Marshall-Green brings Conway/Quarry to life with dynamic versatility, making the audience resonate with the character's emotional and moral turmoil.

The gritty dialogue and thrilling face-offs add to the show's starkly dark tone, reinforcing its overall grim atmosphere. At the same time, the brilliant music score, largely constituted of songs from the series' time period, effectively enhances the drama-filled narrative, transporting viewers back to the 70s.

Apart from highlighting the struggles of a war veteran, Quarry also deals with underlying themes like PTSD, depression, and societal estrangement. It paints a harrowing picture of the ruthless face of human survival, raising unsettling questions about morality, regarded as a luxury in desperate times.

A significant element of Quarry is its open-ended narrative design, which leaves its audience speculating about the characters’ fates, resulting in a more engaging viewing experience. The show manages to make each episode climactic - it initiates with a subtle pace but gradually ascends towards an explosive conclusion.

In summation, Quarry is not just a tale of the criminal underworld; it is a deep dive into the life of a veteran soldier grappling with personal tribulations in the wake of a traumatic war. Not for the faint-hearted, this crime drama series brings to fore the cost of wars far beyond the battlefield, resonating the enduring adage - 'War does not determine who is right - only who is left.'