Top of the Lake

Top of the Lake elicits a profound sense of **sadness** due to its central themes of child abuse, disappearance, and the pervasive trauma experienced by its characters, particularly young Tui and Detective Robin Griffin. This is coupled with significant **anxiety** and **curiosity** as the mystery of Tui's disappearance unfolds in a dangerous, isolated community, keeping viewers on edge. A strong feeling of **empathy** is generated for the vulnerable victims and for Robin's personal struggles as she confronts her own past. The series also evokes **disturbing** emotions due to its raw depiction of societal decay and the dark underbelly of human nature, alongside **anger** at the injustices and perpetrators, and a pervasive sense of **melancholy** reflecting the bleak New Zealand landscape and the characters' inner turmoil.