REVIEW: The Terror, Season 1 Episode Eight 'Terror Camp Clear'
REVIEW: The Terror, Season 1 Episode Eight 'Terror Camp Clear'
Paranoia is a human emotion that can allow for some truly great drama, and The Terror is a show that is full to the brim with this form of sheer anxiety. Characters often question who they can trust, alliances are formed and seeds are sown by those who do not believe in their leader.
But if there's two people who do seem to believe in each other, it's captains Francis Crozier (Jared Harris) and James Fitzjames (Tobias Menzies). The pair have what becomes quite a revealing conversation regarding James's past and anxieties, which leads to quite a genuine show of affection from Francis towards James. James, it seems, suffers from imposter syndrome, where he believes he is a 'fake' and shouldn't be where he is, but Francis reassures and even labels him his 'brother'. The pair have come a long way across this series, beginning as quite distant colleagues on-board the two ships, and now bearing a close and almost familial relationship.
Not every moment in this episode is sweet, as we get a rather brutal moment early on, when we see the dead body of John Irving, gutted with flesh wounds. It's quite a gruesome sight, and those with a faint stomach should probably look away. The effects team have done an amazing job at making something so horrible look real and convincing, although for some it is probably too good a job.
Mr Hickey (Adam Nagaitis) is up to no good once again, spreading unrest and causing mischief throughout the camp. In this episode he puts his planned mutiny into full force, and it becomes clear that he's holding no punches. For he was the man who killed John Irving, and he uses it as his way to assert dominance by claiming it was caused by Lady Silence's (Nive Nielsen) people declaring war on the camp. Mr Hickey is truly despicable, like a sort of twisted marine version of Guy Fawkes, and you just love to hate that guy.
It's hard to feel bad for him when the captains decide he should be hanged for his crimes. Especially when they reveal that he has been secretly keeping seal meat to himself, away from his fellow ship mates. Yes, this man, who knew full well that they had been struggling with food rations, found some meat and kept it to himself. This show does a great job for sure in creating this hissable villain, who in some ways through his conniving and manipulation almost seems like a greater threat than the Tuunbaq.
The series has, so far, bounced back and forth over whether Lady Silence can be trusted, although you've got to feel sorry for her here. In this episode she discovers the bodies of people from her land, who she claims were friends, and although Nive Nielsen spends the entire scene mute, you can really feel her loss. Nive Nielsen delivers a subtle yet effective performance, and one that immediately allows you to relate to this poor woman. By this point, it feels as though Lady Silence has lost as much as the crews of the Terror and the Erabus.
Overall, 'Terror Camp Clear' is another excellent instalment in The Terror. The CGI of the Tuunbaq may continue to be a little dodgy, but Mr Hickley makes for a great villainous schemer, and there's some truly memorable moments here. The Terror has so far provided a series that is very unlikely to be forgotten anytime soon.
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What are your thoughts on The Terror's eighth episode? Let me know in the comments section.
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