Tatau is a BBC Three drama series created by Richard Zajdlic that premiered in April 2015. It's a supernatural mystery set in the Cook Islands, following British backpackers Kyle and Budgie.
The series begins with Kyle getting a Maori tattoo in England. This sets in motion a chain of events when the two tourists arrive at the fictional island Manutaki, beginning with the discovery of a dead woman in a lagoon. Except it turns out that the woman, Aumea, is alive and well. So was what Kyle saw a premonition? Over the course of eight episodes, Kyle dives deeper into the visions with the help of the fictional hallucinogen Avatavi while Budgie tries to smooth things over with the locals, although the latter later gets into serious trouble of his own.
"Tatau" is the word for "tattoo" in several Polynesian languages, although it is called "tā moko" in New Zealand and the Cook Islands, where the story is set.
Tatau contains examples of:
- Bilingual Bonus: Not all of the Maori dialogue is translated.
- At one point, Maui refers to Kyle as a popa’a, which means “(white) foreigner”.
- Aumea, back home after having been abroad, comments that the tiare smell amazing. Tiare is the native name for the Tahitian Gardenia.
- Scenery Porn: As can be expected with the Cook Islands setting.
- Soundtrack Dissonance: A montage in episode 2 shows Anaru confronting Maui about the low-grade pearls on their family farm while undercover cop Lara, Maui's girlfriend, watches from behind the doorway; Budgie spilling his woes to bartender and fellow backpacker Tyler over a beer before being forcefully escorted out of the bar by bar manager Dries; Aumea in a heated discussion with her ta'unga (tattoo master) over how Kyle knows the design of her clandestine wedding tattoo; Reverend Calcott looking sinister over his diary as he finishes sketching Aumea's wedding tattoo; and Kyle angrily breaking apart an idol in the jungle and seeing more visions... all while a church choir sings a hymn in the background.
- Undercover Cop Reveal: Lara is forced to break her cover by arresting her boyfriend Maui on suspicion of murder, at Maui and Aumea's house which had been decorated for Aumea's wedding, on Aumea's wedding day, in front of their family.
