I was excited to learn that this was coming to BBC iPlayer in March 2021. There is such a great cast with Jared Harris (Captain Francis Crozier), Tobias Menzies (Commander James Fitzjames) and Ciaran Hinds (Captain Sir John Franklin). It’s also quite an accolade to have Ridley Scott on board as Executive Producer.
The production design transports viewers to the icy Arctic aboard The Terror and Erebus. This for me, couldn’t be faulted along with the costume design. It was a delight to see all the detail that had gone into creating this world in which a monster lurks.
One of the problems of this series has to be the sound. It’s a common occurrence on television series to find that you have to turn the volume up full blast to be able to decipher what the actor’s are saying, only to be frightened by the sudden loud music score o
r action sequences. The sound was a real problem in the first episode, making the viewing a bit of a frustrating experience. It seemed to improve over the next few episodes but there were times when this happened again and I was left wondering what was being said. Is it actors not speaking properly? The sound recordist not capturing the conversation? Or is it a problem in post? Who knows but it needs to be fixed to make the whole experience enjoyable.
The pace of the series is a tad slow at times. I wonder if ten episodes is too long to keep up the suspense? I felt that the terror of the situation was losing tension and reverting to the old horror film technique of using gore instead. For me, this is a disappointment, as I can only take so much before I have to look away. Granted, it’s not like a Hollywood slasher film but seemed to rely a bit too much on disturbing the viewer rather than telling a good story.
Overall, this series is worth the watch for the performances of the actors alone. It’s an enjoyable trip into another world full of mystery and terror. Watch the trailer below for a taster.
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