The Terror - Horrible from Supper

King William Island is like the pipe dream for those leaving the ships marooned for “home” as many of the ill officers start to mentally deteriorate, the tins of food offer poisoning, and desire to eat “anything” begin to set up in the minds (and hunger reaches from the inside) of many. A conversation to Dr. Goodsir from one of the disturbed crew about the burning flesh of those that died in the burning carnival stirring up hungry thoughts is an example of that. The revelation later about Hickey emphasizes the descent (reports of cannibalism do attest to this historically) that officers begin to take when there are few available options for sustenance. Leaving the confines of the ships out into that unpredictable, cold white, as Crozier sees few other alternatives, as Fitzjames agrees, the lead towards King William Island will face great turmoil thanks to mutiny and dissidence. Hickey is quite a manipulator as certain officers begin to listen to him, particularly those no longer attune to the merits of command.

Goodsir collapses to rest in sorrow at the loss of Morfin

*** / ****

“18 miles was all they made, our rescue.” Finding the bodies of the sledge party that was supposed to reach help and return to the ships is like the worst kind of harbinger of doom. What does await the officers ahead? Severed heads as frozen reminders of certain death? Add Cornelius Hickey, quite mad and reminiscent to a ferocious grizzly with the taste of bloody human flesh, seizing upon his opportunity to feast on officers during a search party (right after one such officer, who had been giving him fits regarding his homosexuality and penchant towards defying authority, found friendly, sharing Eskimos with seal meat), and it’s quite clear that the wrong ingredients can accumulate to create rather unpleasant results. The environs continue to provoke thoughts of foreboding and why not? Without the proper tools and survival items at their disposal, the Arctic could certainly prove to be too daunting, unyielding, and unrelenting. The Terror just continues to be one of my favorite gems of the year, although it never really altogether caught on with viewership on AMC. I could see this being quite an appropriate winter binge. I think the timing of the show’s release is questionable…this would seem to be just right for December/January. Mr. Morfin (Anthony Flanagan) begs to be “put down” due to his suffering, and he’s soon accommodated…this is the big event of the episode that serves as Hickey’s excuse to motivate officers towards his side. Crozier’s secret involving the dead sledge party that was supposed to return, if this were foretold it would definitely make matters worse. But the knowledge of seal meat available, kept to Hickey because he didn’t want others knowing, and friendly Netsilik out there more than willing to share if approached honorably, offers us an even greater tragedy.

Knowing that there are so many lost expeditions in the annals of history, it offers plenty for the imaginative, creative mind. So shows like The Terror are prime and ready for television. Fruit for those who could take history and give their own unique spins on what might have been, if there is an audience for such that is, the right storytelling tactics and artistic reenactments of those who braved the unknown in the mission plan of discovery and exploration could produce an enriching, enlightening experience. I think The Terror might be better suited on Netflix or a streaming service (or OnDemand for AMC), as a cult series stumbled upon by those who might have missed it during its initial run.