The Terror - Season Finale Review - One of the Best Shows of 2018

My review and recap for the Season Finale of 'The Terror' on AMC.
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[@marcwa74]

I had no idea this series was this good. To my disappointment, when I looked for reviews/ recaps on KZbin, there are very few. More people should be watching it.

[@joelhenry5489]

This story is about choosing how to die, which in turn is about choosing how to live.

[@neuralmute]

Wonderful observation. Strictly philosophically, is it better to be a Crozier, a Fitzjames, a Blanky, a Goodsir, or a Hickey in that respect?

[@mikereger1186]

FitzJames went full Arnie with the rockets, and as for that little touch where Blankey stuck loads of forks to himself before the creature comes for him... nice touch.

[@cleverusername9369]

"The Terror" = "Master and Commander" + "The Thing" + "Lord of the Flies"

[@volpe7685]

Absolutely brilliant show! And the fact AMC took a chance and green lighted this gives my high hopes for more experimental and original shows in the future

[@Elnont]

Tobias Menzies really shone in my opinion, his acting was brilliantly complex.

[@Alice_Long]

I just watched the series in 2024. Tobias Menzies was great!

[@paulmazierski5945]

Scurvy wasn't the primary issue; it was lead poisoning and botulism.

[@neuralmute]

I've been following all the archaeology going on around the Franklin Experdition, particularly since the ships were found, and bones found at all the Franklin camps showed definite signs of scurvy. It may not have been the sole cause of death; starvation, lead poisoning, tuberculosis, and botulism all played parts as well, but there were a lot of people who died out there. Interestingly enough, the most recent research has shown that their lead poisoning was perhaps not as widespread or catastrophic as was previously believed. Analysis of the bones of the English urban poor from the same time period has revealed lead levels nearly as high as those found in the bones of the Franklin crew. Remember - they had no idea how toxic lead was back then, and used it for everything, right down the pipes that everyone in London was drinking their water from...

[@stingywingy1607]

Paul Mazierski and lack of food, poor clothing, and the cold, and paranoia/going crazy, and infection, and the supernatural aspects.

[@vxr8mate]

Yes, the lead poison caused their madness. The Captain would have fed on fresh food and eventually seal from the Eskimo.

[@yeoshow1984]

“You'll eat your shoes again.....You'll eat worse.”

[@csheets40]

Ohhhhh......I'm already on "The Terror" withdrawal.........

[@neuralmute]

It's kind of like Crozier's DT's, except that I've got a neverending supply on hand, on my hard drive... ;)

[@maurirish1]

Me too!

[@michaelcarney6280]

Amazing show amazing range of actors. Love Jared Harris great actor

[@samanthab1923]

Richard Harris (Dombledore 1) was his dad & Rex Harrison his step dad!

[@michaelcarney6280]

@@samanthab1923 I knew Richard was his dad an amazing actor with a great history of films. Don't think I know who Rex is I'll have to look him up

[@samanthab1923]

Michael Carney You'll be delighted. Great English actor. Everything from Julius Caesar to Dr Dolittle.

[@mayasej]

I had watched the expanse just before and when i saw him I was like, wait, I know Anderson Dawes!

[@jimwind7589]

You left out Goodsir washed himself w the poison too. His skin absorb some of it and then dried on his upper dermus. Also he made the comment to capt Cozier " there is much beauty here" and on his moment of death he had colorful visions of beautiful things. Not sure if they did it on purpose but it seemed black and white at times, the bleakness of the environment devoid of color. Good revue.

[@melinabee3]

Excellent observation; not a complete thought here but also ties in w his photography skills as it was black and white

[@philmitchell909]

@@melinabee3 apart from they made the captain slice his own bit of meat of.. fell like that wouldn't have happened

[@QuasarSniffer]

Couldn't agree more. The Terror was one of my favorite TV experiences this year as well. Even though it was a tale of high seas adventure, which I love, its narrative progressed in a totally unpredictable way. Coupled with some fantastic performances, it's an extraordinarily compelling piece of television. If any more Dan Simmons books are adapted by AMC, I will surely be watching. Thanks once again for the great review!

[@frankzappa951]

Best tv show in a while. Great acting from all especially Jared Harris.

[@mikereger1186]

Quite a few standout parts in it. Goodsir, FitzJames, Franklin, Hickey... among others who didn’t survive as long.

[@btenn6969]

Wht did Edward have those piercings on his face

[@philmitchell909]

Have you found out yet

[@Sambrowski10]

This was deliberately ambiguous based on first hand accounts. The Inuits described a man as having chains attached to his face. The show creators wanted to use as many of these first hand accounts as possible, even if they were ambiguous and without explanation.

[@philmitchell909]

@@Sambrowski10 thanks

[@similaritiesendhere]

He pierced his face for the same reason that the doctor lit himself on fire and Hickey tried to appease the Tuunbaq. They became disconnected from reality due to "reasons". The Tuunbaq isn't the only native "spirit" in this story. When Lady Silence saw the butchered corpse of Goodsir, she was more worried about the sailors becoming wendigo-like beings. The pantomime she does where she gestures the entire expedition will be devoured is a reference to the Tuunbaq and the wendigo. Even Captain Crozier devours his past self (pride) to survive at the end.

[@btenn6969]

I think so in one of the replies

[@yeoshow1984]

I was cold just watching the show.

[@lifegood3322]

Almost 2025 and I'm finally around to watching this masterpiece! Yes it was hard to watch sometimes! Glad to hear I'm not the only one feeling that! Thanks for the breakdown!

[@maurirish1]

I just finished the series last night! I enjoyed this show immensely!

[@jayjenkins6021]

Good review... but they also were suffering from lead poisoning. The water tanks on the ship, although the most technically advanced for its day, they were made of lead or sealed with lead. The food tins were also sealed with lead. I had numerous problems with the depiction of their journey. The ships had an amazing variety of extraneous stuff... costumes, huge library etc... they also seemed to squander their resources constantly. Most of the men were clean shaven for the whole voyage. They also spent a very long time outdoors with no hats, thin garments. The arctic is damn cold even in summer. They always had tent flaps open with total disregard for the cold. We only saw one case of frostbite and the doctor amputated one little toe. I saw no complaints of the bitter cold. That took me out of the story. Overall I enjoyed it but the flaws bothered me.

[@sarapatricius8473]

Love your review! .. Can't wait to hear more reviews!

[@DGVI1]

This is the best show I’ve seen in a long time. Well done to all involved!

[@adampoll4977]

Amazing show. Beautifully shot, but it's the visceral reality of the characters that make it so good. Dr Goodsir was exactly that, but I couldn't help remember the actor playing a joyfully sadistic torturer/assasin in a UK series "Utopia" (and I thoroughly recommend that series - it's a crime it only got 2 seasons).

[@mksongbird]

where is jessica hyde?

[@asikbanget5041]

I haven't read the novel, but it seems from some discussions with those who have, in some aspects the narrative in the film is better than in the book. The finale is much more touching in the film. The narrative on Hickey is also more plausible in the film. Anyway, probably it's a matter of mere taste.

[@danbuckley8835]

Tremendous series, all of the actors did a great job, the CGI was very realistic and superbly done! Very much look forward to seeing more of these stories in future.

[@HRH-vc6jj]

I have not read the book but this is one of the best tv shows ive ever seen, just there was one scene on the last episode i didnt quite understand, the guy with the gold chains on his face..whats that mean? It doesnt make any sense to me..

[@Jeselena_8]

1001 Helen Of Troy I read that was an actual real account of one of the Inuit witnesses. They reported a man was found with chains in his face. Nobody really knows why...added cruelty while slipping into madness perhaps?

[@venuswilliamsinfurs]

This show was completely unflinching and compelling - Loved the themes of morality, mortality, masculinity, colonialism, and survival.

[@FCSchaefer]

Good review, James; I read the book, loved it, but the ending was altered somewhat for the TV show, and maybe that was because the book's ending worked well on a printed page, but might not have been as satisfying on TV. I'm not complaining, the final showdown with the creature was as good, and as terrifying, as anything you will see in the movies. And do pick up a Dan Simmons book, especially Summer of Night, you won't be disappointed.

[@michaelcastro9026]

Spoiler Does anyone know why Mr. Edward had all those gold chains on his face when Francis found them?

[@mikereger1186]

I wondered about that too. Either we missed something earlier, a scene was cut, or he just went totally Cujo before he met his end. Gold chains don’t just insert themselves on your face, though...

[@elizabethandreassen1012]

Thank you!! I have been scrolling through comments trying to find someone else who was wondering about the chains. To me it seemed odd and out of place.

[@maddymez5394]

I was wondering if they froze to his face somehow, and he finished the job by making piercings

[@shangc2781]

Okay, I know you wrote your comment a year ago and may not be interested anymore but in case you were, the chains were based on an Inuit account of a body they found. We don't know why he was wearing them in the show because we don't know why the body the Inuit found was wearing them either. It was yet another creepy historical unknown

[@mechtheist]

I started watching the show after seeing this, so thank you for turning me on to this show. Really good. Almost as frightening as the two real-life accounts I've read of 'rounding the Horn'. I can't imagine trying to live in the cold conditions in this show without any modern tech . Think of the sailors trying to sail in freezing weather with gale force winds making zero progress for months, the ropes they often have to climb up and down all iced up, and .... I shiver just thinking about it.

[@Nobody18718]

just got finished reading the book, very good read and highly recommend it... any other suggestion of Dan Simmons books

[@jaybest1736]

Great review thanks, I agree this was an excellent show, very well done and intelligent. I will be looking up Dan Simmons as well.

[@susannagaitis6631]

I agree this was the best show of 2018

[@lindaholland5413]

Came upon this book in a thrift store. What a suprise! I bought it because of the review by Dean Koontz. I love his stories so I figured if Dean likes it so will I. And what a ride! The series was good but my minds eye more colorful. Haven't read any other of his books, but will. Thanks for sharing.

[@neuralmute]

For what it's worth, my favourites are The Abominable, which feels like the start of Terror - Mt. Everest, but then becomes an entirely different animal, apart from the survival horror aspect, and The Fifth Heart, in which Henry James meets Sherlock Holmes in Paris, while Holmes is having a rather serious existential crisis, having deduced that he is, in fact, a fictional character. It just gets better from there, and of course, Mark Twain has the best lines. ;)

[@youtuberlight6976]

such a neat, clean languaged and heart felt review! thanks

[@mctapoutos7426]

Such a great production values in this show ( first season ) show was released weekly in Poland and Ireland and what I did is I dvr the whole show and binge it

[@Food4thought1234]

I just found this show because of Tic Tock.. Never heard of it.. but the acting, filming, everything so good. Felt like you were actually there.. I was hoping you touched on the ending.. I couldn’t figure out if he found the woman and had kids, or just another lady. Also, the final scene with him and the little girl. Wasn’t too sure the meaning. But loved the show. Hope season 2 is just as good.

[@nonsequitor]

The big problem with the cans was lead from the soldering hence dark gums. The bear looked to me to be based on the short-faced bear from North America in the paléolithic: check em out if you're not familiar there were crazy. Also, Wow man: totally missed the poisoning thing ; was too sick :-/ thanks for the recap!

[@patriciablue2739]

Matt Mountain The bear had a human face!

[@mikereger1186]

In a smeagol-ish sort of way yes. It also had a more pronounced neck and limbs compared to an actual bear, suggesting it was almost half man; the cruelty it showed when arranging severed heads or dead men on the ship in earlier episodes implies more human intelligence.

[@furtherback6131]

My dude. Are you aware a second season for this show was made about 1.5 years after the first came out? It is amazing television. Well worth your attention.

[@danuk4000]

I was a little disappointed that it didn’t end the way it did in the novel, seeing as it was so true to the book (when it came to major plot points) . I was expecting it to end pretty much as it did in the novel or completely differently, and it landed in the middle..which was ..I don’t know, I’m still soaking it in .Overall it was an amazing show though.

[@mctapoutos7426]

How it end in the book ? Sorry for bad English not my native tongue

[@samanthab1923]

Marc Pavl Lebenic I'd like to know too. They found the ships recently in Terror Bay. Crouzer's desk was found in tact.

[@AJ-tp9bk]

Great re-cap! You thoroughly covered everything so my boyfriend can now understand what he just watched. Thanks - excellent job!

[@mctapoutos7426]

Get a new boyfriend

[@AJ-tp9bk]

Ok. This is so old. @@mctapoutos7426

[@AJ-tp9bk]

I voted myself up1 I do miss Toonbak, though.

[@mctapoutos7426]

I bet he's a cool dude sorry for a stupid joke sometimes I'm like 16 years old 😂

[@AJ-tp9bk]

@@mctapoutos7426 It's ok. I'm perpetually 16. You made me start reading about Toonbak, though, so that's good. Night!

[@braintumor9429]

You should focus on how and why the tunbaaq dies while killing hickey, I think it has to do with with impure soul shit

[@deanamccombs9672]

I've read all his books. The Hyperian series, Ilium and Olympos are fantastic. Carrion Comfort is one my faves, and very creepy.

[@fabianespinoza991]

Glad I came across this show, it was a great watch. One thing bothered me though and I only really noticed it toward the end. Hickey or imposter Hickey looked healthy as a horse compared to the other men! Did this bother anyone else?

[@samgrimes7263]

Fabian Espinoza omg I kept saying the same thing 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@SmashFan2012]

I thought the same thing. He seemed the least affected by ailments. (He & the Captain) Do you think he was avoiding the canned food after he figured out it was dangerous? If so, what other options of food did he have ...

[@Phrancis5]

Awesome show, but I don't quite understand the ending. How did Mr. Hicky know to cut off his tongue in an attempt to tame the Tumbach (sp)? Why did such a huge creature die so quickly of poisoning when the smaller poisoned men survived much longer? Was the doctor ultimately trying to poison the creature? Did Francis and lady Silence have a kid at the end and why didn't he want to be found by the rescue party? Captain's survivor guilt? Shunning western civilization?

[@mikereger1186]

Creature didn’t die of poisoning. If he was that toxic (!) Hickey would not have been walking about. Nope, Mister Teeth and Claws simply choked on a Hickey Steak, held in place with a big chain. Karma...

[@erynlasgalen1949]

So, Season One rather than limited series? Does this mean a Season Two or not? There doesn't seem to be anywhere left to go with this story. Also, they may have found the Northwest Passage, but with the possibility of being trapped in ice with no thaw the next year, it doesn't seem to be all that useful as a trade route.

[@mikereger1186]

Point of interest... had the expedition gone round the other side of the island, they might have escaped the trap in the first place. Season One does sound a bit silly with the whole crew gone. The only way to follow up would be with the rescue expeditions, or possibly John Rae or McClintock’s landbased expeditions years later. But without the increasing onset of dread, the creature and the mystery of what happened, it could never achieve the same effect.

[@MrHelloBacon]

I loved this mini-TVserie. Perhaps instead of "based on true events" it should be "inspired by true events"? . . . Awesome actors and photo.

[@mikereger1186]

Well, not all the crew were accounted for... and what remains were found can’t be labelled as one member or another. Although there is an almost “Holy Grail” like wish to see if any legible documents can be recovered from the newly discovered wrecks of the Erebus and Terror themselves... but you’d expect the Captains or their successors to take the log with them when they abandoned the ship, since it is for the ship’s company and not just the vessel itself...

[@ogarcia515]

I thought Dr Goodsir asked Crozier to eat from the bottom of his feet TO WARD OFF THE TUUBAQ, something he learned from Silna (Lady Silence). It's the reason that Tuubaq didn't attack Crozier.

[@mikereger1186]

It was simply busy eating Hickey. Crozier would have been the next course for dinner, he wasn’t ignored.

[@truthof7382]

He told him to eat the bottom of his feat to avoid eating the poison.

[@SallyImpossible]

"The Terror" was a great book and a great show.

[@plazaro100]

The Best Show!

[@stevesantos205]

Awesome show, was well put together and kept me hooked the whole time..looking forward to more..shout out to the Flash/Ming shirt bro!! 👍

[@cb1982]

Excellent novel. Well done mini-series. Spot on review and last but not least... way to rock that Ming the Merciless T-shirt!

[@66RainySuper]

Guessing that is the end of story even though they call it the season finale not the series finale

[@mikereger1186]

Unless the Night’s King shows up, yes that’s their lot. Although the story of the rescue expeditions is worth a Wikipedia session too.

[@poochies0316]

I liked that you really had to pay attention to the final blow to the tuunbaq it was Francis pulling the ingested body /arm that had chain attached to it , he tried to wrap the chain around its neck but he swiped him away giving him those wounds , so with half of Hickey in his maw and Francis pulling the body out, it choked him. Plus sure the poison was doing its part as well.

[@mikereger1186]

There was a certain karma to the creature dying by being choked.

[@Simpleburger1968]

I really enjoyed the series (though I think the "monster" elements could have been done differently). A few things I'm not clear on - most of all - what is the meaning of the very final shot of the series ?.....is he dead ? is he sleeping / resting ?....

[@131alexa]

He's hunting seal - you wait silently till one comes up for breath at a hole in the ice

[@melinabee3]

Really thoughtful analysis. This show was under hyped

[@davidsimpson8192]

Great review of a great final episode of a brilliant series that has entered my top ten of TV series ever.. Alond with Breaking Bad, Band if Bothers, X Files to name a few 👍.. This is a brilliantly crafted and acted tale 💯

[@magicman3163]

What was hickeys backstory

[@beadbop]

The man calling himself "Hickey" met the real Hickey in England, and after finding out he was going on the Franklin Expedition, the phony "Hickey" stabbed the real Hickey, stole his papers, and dumped his body in the canal. As per actor Adam Nagaitis, the show runners allowed him to craft his own backstory, including etching his real initials, E.C., in the top of "Hickey's" storage locker. Whether Adam will ever reveal what E.C. stands for, only he knows for sure!

[@BravoSixGoingDark]

Insightful recap. Thanks.

[@jmichealsmith99]

good review! Thanks!

[@ucielsola]

Very nice video! suscribed as hell!

[@MrSpqr84]

This was an awesome show!

[@Geep615]

Does anyone know the meaning or reasoning behind the piercings in the sailors face that crozier comes across in the end

[@AlysiaRidingDolo]

Anonymous Anonymous that’s the main reason I clicked on this video. I had hoped someone would cover it.

[@Geep615]

Me too. I looked it up and the general idea seemed to be that his own men did to him as a sort of insane retribution, because he was an officer and went against the group by wanting to rescue Crozier.

[@lisadr5806]

Anonymous Anonymous Found this explanation for the facial piercing on The Terror Twitter page: "This grim Crozier discovery comes from actual reports in Inuit testimony, which described finding one man's remains as "positively festooned" with jewelry, as depicted. An uncanny, inexplicable artifact."

[@menevetsny]

I'm confused, the finale is next week, watching on AMC. The whole schedule debacle is screwed up.

[@mksongbird]

this show gave us the closest thing we'll most likely ever get to a Utopia (Channel 4) reunion with Paul Ready (Goodsir) and Alistair Petrie (Dr. Stanely) in the cast. find a way to watch that show if you can.

[@davidromero3803]

I thought the food was poisoning them from the use of lead positioning not spoilage. A new canning technique used in the era. Only one doctor was hip to it. Scurvy and spoiled food would never make the creature sick. It was lead.

[@SilverScale.]

Dang... it gave you a nosebleed?!

[@sirraf23]

I definetly have to watch this. On a side note, I see you have the Wheel of Time series on your shelf behind you. That is my all time favorite fantasy series ever. Glad to see you have such good tastes. 👍👍

[@MrObiwan1]

Great series :)

[@jonathanlanning832]

I want to know what happened off camera to the guy at the end of the season who had the gold chains dangling on his face. What happened to him and those other men?

[@cathywilde2756]

That was Lt. Little, he died in Croziers arms, saying 'close'. An Inuit at the time reported seeing one of the men with chains in his face, and the TV writers used it in the series, as they used so much historical details throughout the show

[@cesverc]

Great review. I feel the same exact way about this series. I must correct you on something, though: throurought the series, they made it very clear that scurvy wasn't the primary issue: lead poisoning was. They repeated all the time "it's not scurvy, it's something else", and Mr. Goodsir used the monkey as a subject to prove it. The blue line on the gingivas is called Burton's line, a typical lead poisoning sign.

[@nileshbeliraya9456]

I never understood why Crozier was kidnapped my Hickey and his men.

[@cathywilde2756]

Hickey saw Crozier as his only equal on the expedition, and wanted to humiliate him

[@miguelbonifacio9038]

What happened to lieutenant little?

[@TheLightskribe]

I love the show How is it that Capt cozier Understand the language but didn't understand the cultureThey could of Caught seals and ate dinner like the natives

[@mikereger1186]

The same way that speaking French does not make you a Frenchman. Culture is way more layered than language is.

[@cathywilde2756]

It seems that King William Island in those years had almost no wildlife, so there was nothing for the crews to hunt. It takes years to learn how to hunt seal. The English crews didn't understand the Inuit, like most colonialists, they saw them as inferior

[@barbaracondon674]

Lead Poison - Lead sealing the tin cans cause the real crew to go mad.

[@mikereger1186]

Botulism alone would have been enough; it’s been suggested that the lead levels were not unusual for the period in question (eg lead in most plumbing pipes etc).

[@taiwaneil]

I don’t think there will/ could be a second series. The story has already played out.

[@petersandoval9617]

read Song of Kali and Swan Song.

[@theflorgeormix]

best show since Mad men opinion

[@jeffsmith2022]

A wonderful series to be sure,but ite Hollywood after all. I plan on reading the book...Lead poisoning old boy...(Crosea) old boy? Come on...

[@davidromero3803]

Gene wolf would be amazing anything

[@patriciabilinkas3911]

As one who has read the book and done independent research on the real expedition, I found the show dragged along. I so wanted the ending to match the hopeful one from the book.

[@coreysaylor4736]

He's not Scott Manley he's not Scott Manley he's not...

[@markgconnors7932]

Lead poisoning was making them crazy and sick, not scurvy.

[@neuralmute]

The most recent analysis of bones left by the Franklin Expedition members shows that they were sick and crazy from both, as well as tuberculosis, starvation, botulism, and hypothermia.

[@sre1236]

Killing eve is phenomenal

[@noneinparticular2338]

Has the monster being created to mask the very fact that they went all mad due to shit food and poor decisions ?

[@thrinaxadon9]

😆 "Crow-zee-ay"

[@3arpy3ka1]

Professor X? Is that you?

[@Jeselena_8]

This is more like a recap than a review...

[@DaxVJacobson]

I read The Hyperion Cantos from my roommates bookshelf in the 90s was very good, brutal slow backwards time travel parasitic ai living inside the portal technology the society depended on

[@armagedon515]

IMO One of of the most depressing show of 2018. I stop watching after episode 7. I couldn't take it anymore.

[@mikereger1186]

You’ll love Chernobyl then. Only 5 episodes.

[@proudsaiyanprince2651]

How did you watch the whole series and still manage to mispronounce the characters names?

[@wreckanchor]

I thought it was nearly un-watchable. BAD.. I guess thats why they make different kinds of ice cream.

[@captaincrunch1707]

Interesting series but I'm not a fan of the symbolism crap, just have people act real and talk real

[@bettybreeze78]

Really wanted to watch this show. Does anyone know how I can watch this in the UK? Will it be released in on Netflix?

[@iluvatarchem]

The show is not made for Americans m8. It wouldnt be a success. The fact that you complain for the release date says a lot on its own lol. You didnt even noticed that the main thing in the show was led poisoning and not scurvy. I mean that attention span is amazing..What were you doing when they were explaining it. Waiting for the bear to appear lol?

[@timwalkerfukyt]

this dude cant say the names right doesnt understand lead poising dam dude i never comment but read your history first and get the info straight here to help

[@samanthab1923]

He seems overly fond of detailing the most disgusting parts of the series. Don't need a refresher.

[@knarffit]

Could have spared us your nosebleed stories

[@samanthab1923]

Agreed

[@unhombrelobo]

"SPOILER ALERT" would have been appropriate in your title

[@OldSchoolMinded]

4 months later.. do you realize how dumb your comment is? Or has your brain continued to shrink?

[@Extrasolar84]

DUDE you need to grow a beard asap. No offense

[@Extrasolar84]

EPIC review btw