I really enjoyed the pilot for The Terror, which I wrote about here, so I caught up with the season, catching each episode week by week. The final episode of the season aired last night, and I think it really stuck the landing. I’ll keep things mostly spoiler free since I really want to urge anyone who hasn’t seen the show yet to watch it. I just want to talk about some of the things I loved about it.
For one, Jared Harris is pitch perfect here, and each episode has him working on what seems like a completely different mode, all building up to the finale. There are moments with him that are absolutely haunting and devastating. His journey, and the way his dynamic with his crew kept changing always kept things interesting, and he was able to dramatize those very well. It wouldn’t surprise me if him (and the show itself) will be showered with accolades come the next television awards season.
Though, that isn’t to say anyone else doesn’t shine. Everyone is great here. My favorites among the supporting cast were Paul Ready and Adam Nagaitis, each getting to handle two different extreme reactions to the situation that the stranded sailors have been dealt with. Both of these two characters get incredible payoffs. It’s mostly with these characters that we get to dive into what it means psychologically to respond to the trauma that they’ve faced for the extended period of time they’ve been on the ice.
The finale is an episode in particular where it seems that everyone really pushes themselves to make everything the best it can be. The show is already an incredible production that really looks like you’re stuck in the Arctic with the men, but the final episode seemed like the big showstopper. The cinematography was strong, there were stunning moments of surreal imagery, the effects – both practical and CG – were top notch, and the music by the late Marcus Fjellström, to whom the final episode was dedicated to, really came through in ways it wasn’t in the previous episodes. The score was fairly minimal, except for a handful of crucial moments, during the series, but the use of it in the last episode was beautiful and evocative.
Something that I was a bit worried about was the Inuit. I hoped that the show didn’t reduce them to the sort of cliché, magical-Native-who-has-all-the-answers kind of thing. Their presence was very welcome, provided an interesting dynamic between them – specifically Lady Silence (Nive Nielsen) – and the crew. How funny is it that the Nielsen, playing mute for a vast majority of her screentime, is most known for being a singer? By the way, she’s actually pretty good. But anyway, I think the way the show handles the natives is smart and effective and more humanizing than other narratives would normally treat them. I would like to read about the show from an Inuit perspective if there’s any articles out there.
Another thing that really kept the show going is just how perfectly paced it is. Each episode runs from 45 minutes to an hour or so, and it never really drags. There’s a point around halfway where it seemed like a formula was developing where Jared Harris’ character would be talking to someone in the ship, some drama would unfold, and then some kind of attack would occur offscreen, and he’d be called up for some dramatic revelation. However, as soon as it looked like this was going to be a thing, the show very quickly moved on, and kept moving forward. It’s a very methodically paced show, slow, but each moment feels crucial and necessary, and they build on each character quite well.
Apparently, there’s a chance that The Terror might return for a Season 2 on AMC in the future, but it would be like an anthology series, so it would follow a completely different story. Unfortunately, the showrunners, David Kajganich and Soo Hugh, said that they decided to move on after this was done, so even if a second season is greenlit, they wouldn’t be involved. It’s a shame because I think they accomplished something really special here, but I suppose it would be interesting to see new blood to take on the story, whatever it may be.
Either way, The Terror is really great television. I loved the show, and it gave me something that I have never really seen before and done in a way that I didn’t fully expect. I’m very selective about the TV that I watch, but everything I’ve seen this year has been wonderful between Atlanta, Dear White People Vol. 2, and now The Terror (yeah, like I said, very selective – and also super lazy). If you have a subscription to AMC through a provider, or know someone who does, and you have an affinity for gnarly genre stories but with a prestige dressing, The Terror might be something up your alley. I highly recommend it, and at ten episodes, it doesn’t ask for too much of your time.
So, have you seen The Terror? Have any thoughts about it? Feel free to comment below!