User Reviews

A quietly gripping episode at this point. General character work and overriding conflict for the most part with a couple of interesting developments, then a huge twist towards the climax. I wasn't expecting the twist and to be honest it disappointed me on a personal level, but it certainly pulls the rug out from under your feet.

You can see "Made in USSR" in russian in the bottom of chronograph when Goodsir making photo of Franklin before attack of Bear. It's about 26:31. Very Fun )))

This episode has so many good things going for it, but among the best is learning about our main characters. We get to see a little more about Sir John Franklin and his motivation and desperation to change his muddy name by finding the Northwest Passage, his decisions ultimately lead the ships into the inescapable situation they are in now. His drive to change himself and his stubbornness and most importantly his inexperience keep him from listening to reason, but there is also a humble loving and caring side of Franklin, he treats his people with respect and seems to genuinely care about them and seems devastated about Graham Gore's death. Ciarán Hinds is also one hell of an actor. The scene with him and Crozier arguing is so powerful, I had to watch it twice. Jared Harris is outstanding in that scene, all the emotion he conveys for Crozier without saying a single word as Franklin chews his ears out is incredible, what a great cast this show has. The last scene with Franklin is absolutely amazing, everything about it is perfect. The snow drifting down, the eerie music, the chaos and gore that unfolded, all of it is masterfullly done. Down to the moment where Franklin is taken, it even maintained that level of disorientation the book had in the very same part, and for translating that so well, I give them props. What a brutal ending for such a complex and interesting character. I find it clever to take him away right as his story is developing, right when he and Crozier are at odds and we might expect conflict rising between them. Instead, we don't just get the shock of his death, but we see Crozier tossed into this situation he doesn't want. His expression as he looks down into the bloody pit where Franklin is as Fitzjames, the new second in command now, is screaming desperately, seemingly helpless, and Crozier commands the men as if it doesn't affect him. The show must go on, even though chaos just took the commander of the expedition. This episode is just completely perfect.

The dead eskimo from the previous episode is unceremoniously dumped into a hole in the ice. His daughter distraught and horrified by this. She refuses to speak and is dubbed Lady Silence.

Maybe the beast is there to protect the Inuits in some ways.

The episode has a startling confrontation between Franklin and Crozier. As this is only the third episode, it seems their relationship has reached the point of no return already.

Crozier wants to send out for a rescue party fearing they are in a desperate situation. The outpost is 800 miles away. Franklin is having none of it and wants everyone to stay put. He wants to lose no more lives. This led to the argument between the two men.

By the end of the episode, Franklin has been killed by the beast. He ventured onto the ice to give his men a morale boost. Franklin is thrown into the same icy hole as the eskimo.

There are flashbacks in this episode to give more shade to Franklin. However there was no future for one of these men. So his death was not as shocking.

Now Crozier is in charge. He has to deal with the dangers of the beast but also people in his crew who have more loyalty to Franklin than him.