The Terror

Despite the favorable rating, I can’t say I liked it. The biggest disappointment of the first season was its departure from the great novel on which it was based. I didn’t like the second season simply because the intended mixture of drama and horror didn’t work out very well. Well, seeing it once was enough for me. I recommend reading “The Terror” by Dan Simmons instead. (17/02/2020)

The first season (!?!?- what on earth is the second one going to be about???) was a major disappointment. The first episode was still quite good, but then everything went downhill (except for two glimmers of hope towards the end - episodes 7 and 9). The biggest problem for me was that the show failed to create a good atmosphere, so it didn’t draw me into the plot. There was obviously no suspense as I just couldn’t care less about the fate of the people involved. What I found impressive was Jared Harris’ performance, James Fitzjames underwent the most interesting development, and I enjoyed the events surrounding Cornelius Hickey. However, the CGI monster was terrible, and a lot of the things felt artificial. A strange fog always seemed to roll in out of nowhere at the right time, while there was no steam coming out of the characters’ mouths let alone rising from the mauled bodies in the supposedly minus fifty degrees. And the ending... No way. It wasn't enjoyable in the least. (22/07/2018)

The show promises a dense atmosphere, plenty of tension, and hopefully some spine-chilling moments. So far, it delivered exactly what I expected from a pilot — an introduction to the plot, a rundown of the main characters, and the perfect weather to watch on a hot summer day. (20/07/2018)

Either I wasn’t in the right mood for the second episode, or the creators are setting me up for disappointment. While the story has a gloomy atmosphere, it’s not nearly as intense as I had imagined. There was hardly any tension, not even during the first monster attack. Plus, I felt there were too many dull moments. (20/07/2018)

I’m quite disappointed. The most atmospheric part of the show is the opening credits and music. The creators are struggling to create that same atmosphere in the actual scenes, and unlike the book, I’m not feeling any real tension. (21/07/2018)

I'm giving this episode the same rating as the previous one since they're on par quality-wise. However, if the creators think that just because both ships are stuck in the ice, the plot should stagnate too, my rating will drop next time. (21/07/2018)

The CGI Tuunbaq and an action-packed fight in the Terror's rigging didn’t make up for the lack of quality atmosphere and well-built tension. I thoroughly enjoyed Dan Simmons' book, but his dark, horror-filled story has been turned into a dull show with no spark. (21/07/2018)

Feels like the creators were just winging it. They must've realized the show was missing something, so they cranked up the action and completely ditched the suspense and atmosphere. I really don’t get it — couldn't put the book down, but this is just boring. (21/07/2018)

Wow, this was a serious jump in quality. I’ve accepted that The Terror isn’t really a horror series, but thanks to Cornelius Hickey, episode seven had an unexpectedly gripping plot. Finally! I had a great time watching it. (22/07/2018)

I’m not sure what went wrong here. Just when I was praising an episode for finally creating some atmosphere thanks to Hickey, they hit us with one filled with fake fog, even faker tension, and a bizarre fight with a CGI bear-person. (22/07/2018)

Glad to say the atmosphere is back after the last episode's letdown. Brutus really stepped up, transforming from the most annoying character to one of the most likable. But once again, the standout moments came from the main villain (and no, I don’t mean the Tuunbaq). (22/07/2018)

This really won't do. Honestly, if I had to resort to cannibalism, I wouldn't eat someone raw just to fit some writer's silly marinating idea. The book had a strange ending, but at least it made sense, unlike this TV version. (22/07/2018)

The second season was by no means above average (not even slightly). At first, I was pleased that the authors chose a Japanese community in the US during World War II as the setting, but it quickly became clear that they bit off more than they could chew. They should have focused on just one of the themes because the drama wasn’t dramatic enough and the horror wasn’t horrific enough. Actually… there was no trace of horror at all. Although my expectations of the second season weren’t high, it was a disappointment. (17/02/2020)

So, after the letdown of the first season, my expectations were rock bottom for the second. But hey, the opener with a solid atmosphere left me pleasantly surprised (albeit cautiously). (15/02/2020)

So far, tension and that eerie vibe are few and far between, mostly tied to Yuko, who hasn't been in the spotlight much yet. But hey, I'm okay with it since I'm picking up some history lessons on the side. It seems the distinction between Nazism and democracy boils down to the brutality level and one extra suitcase. (15/02/2020)

Well, this episode fell flat for me. The storyline was a snooze-fest, and camp life seemed oddly serene, considering the circumstances. Even the one violent scene failed to ignite any excitement. The highlight? The Japanese dubbing of the film and its flawless sound had me mildly amused. (15/02/2020)

After the disappointment of the last episode, this one was a pleasant surprise with its rich atmosphere and engaging storyline. Initially, the slow pace on Guadalcanal had me worried, but as Yuko's character took center stage, things really picked up. The quality of the atmosphere was top-notch, and I'm hopeful that the creators can keep it up. (15/02/2020)

Well, this one didn't quite live up to expectations (following my thoughts on the previous episode). The story's pace took another dip, and either the fifth episode was too deep for my liking, or it just didn't grab me. The stuff happening at the camp was kinda dull, and if it weren't for the ending, the same would apply to Guadalcanal. (16/02/2020)

The first half did a solid job of clearing up some lingering questions. It was necessary for the story, though it did feel a tad drawn out at times. The second half didn't quite hit the mark for me, especially when Chester/Taizó spoke to Mr. Nakayama. If he had used that tone before entering the camp, I bet he would've been slapped with a mackerel. (16/02/2020)

Aside from the nod to Frankenstein's Bride in the episode introduction, it was a rather dull affair. While events unfolded, the episode sorely lacked atmosphere and tension. I couldn't even muster any connection to the departing characters, so their fate didn't quite grip me. Injecting some horror into the mix might improve things. (16/02/2020)