The Terror, a historical horror anthology series blending period drama with gripping terror, has been hailed by fans as a 'televisual masterpiece'. The show is inspired by the chilling true story of the 1845 Franklin Expedition and is currently streaming on ITVX and Channel 5 at no extra cost.
Series Overview and Availability
At the time of writing, The Terror is available on both ITVX and Channel 5. ITVX also features the second season, titled Infamy, which tells a completely different story set during World War II. A third season, subtitled Devil In Silver, was released in the US earlier this year but has yet to become available to UK audiences.
Historical Inspiration and Production
The first season follows Royal Navy polar expedition vessels HMS Erebus and HMS Terror as they venture into uncharted waters to locate the Northwest Passage. The ships become trapped in ice, forcing the crew to endure brutal conditions and a mysterious threat. It draws inspiration from the actual 1845 Franklin Expedition, where those two vessels became trapped in the Arctic. Renowned director Ridley Scott serves as executive producer across both seasons. The series is a fictionalised interpretation, with the debut season also based on a 2007 novel by Dan Simmons.
Fan Reactions
Audiences have lavished the series with acclaim, particularly its opening season. One enthusiast proclaimed: 'It's such a masterpiece that I watched it twice, back to back.' Another contributed: 'I binge-watched season one, couldn't stop. Amazing performances.' A fellow admirer wrote online: 'I have watched a lot of horror shows and movies... but nothing makes me feel dread and unease like this one. The pacing is perfect, the atmosphere bleak, the music beautifully haunting, the dialogue is fantastic, and the story is amazing. Best horror show of all time for me.' An individual stated: 'Quite simply, a televisual masterpiece, mixing true-life tragedy, fictional horror and majestic period thriller. A magnificent accomplishment.' Another viewer remarked: 'This is a remarkable series, which takes on a journey of suspicion, disaster, tragedy and terror. The first episode didn't exactly captivate me, but by episode three I was obsessed, and subsequently had to binge watch the whole series.'
Second Season and Future
The second series, Infamy, takes place along America's western coastline during World War II, delving into Japanese bakemono folklore - a malevolent spectre that torments a Japanese American community from Southern California through internment camps and Pacific battlefields. The third season, Devil In Silver, is based on a novel by Victor LaValle and has not yet been released in the UK.
