TV Review: The Third Day Rises As A Creepy Look At Faith And Grief
Sometimes, a person fights for his life even if he doesn’t want it, or she only holds on to it because of the ones she loves. In essence, people survive, even if they don’t thrive, because survival is instinctual but thriving is a “spiritual” concept. While some debate whether human beings need to “thrive” in life, they definitely need to survive and HBO’s The Third Day analyzes humanity’s resistance and resilience in the face of its own doom, even if it is desired.
Premiering on HBO on September 14 at 9PM EST, Jude Law is magnetic as Sam: a normal, sweet guy whose desire to do right for a stranger leads him on a slow, burning descent into madness. All the directors and writers do a magnificent job of using surrounding sounds and stunning, tweaking images of nature to make Law’s growing madness feel organic. After all, what is crazier or more insane-inducing than earth and its inhabitants? Thus, audiences see Sam “losing it,” but they also witness a community of “the lost;” a people whose faith leads them into murder and belief that a dad taking a detour is a godsend destined to somehow save them. Thus, everyone is so welcoming, cheery, and passing drinks to Sam until the fire, blood rituals and nightmarish hallucinations need to be ignited.
The Osea residents fuel his mania with violent, other-worldly creepiness and ominous messages like, “The darkness is coming” and Osea needs its “Father” as if town a few hours from London really needs a demigod to Lord over it. Thus, aesthetically, The Third Day feels similar to Midsommar and Hereditary in eeriness and the weird dynamics born between people and belief. You willmeet some “off” characters like, the “banally” evil couple ,The Martins (played in strange glory by Emily Watson and Paddy Considine) and the two-faced Jess (a vulnerable performance by Katherine Waterston): all whom use Sam’s personal losses to maneuver him to their “higher callings.” Yet, Sam’s character is used to make an intriguing point; if we don’t deal with our grief we leave ourselves open to those willing to cause us more. Thus, Naomi Harris’ Helen feels like a glass of clear water next to Sam’s fog; she is not so easily swindled and maddened by Osea’s darkness.
The Third Day: Official Trailer | HBO
Harris’ Helen’s resistance transforms the show and juxtaposes Sam’s crumbling heartbreak. They both embody the many ways you can react to your own devastation and their bond fills the show with some intriguing plot twists. Ultimately, what I loved about Law’s Sam and Harris’ Helen is that they are not “bad guys.” This tiny note becomes vastly important in letting The Third Day distinguish itself from other apocalyptic islands/ deranged scenarios where characters have to confront their mortality and sanity. Usually, the character is holding a deep, dark secret/ sin that has caused them to enter their Black Mirror episode. Instead, Sam and Helen and are two regular, good people with their quirks, kindnesses, hopes, flaws, errors, tragedies, and negativities, but nothing for you to say, “I hope Osea totally eviscerates them!” Thus, they are highly relatable and emblems for something a LOT of people feel right now, especially in these Corona Times; you just keep going even if “going” feels tiring and useless.
So often, resilience is discussed as something you have to be because you do have to be it. Yet, The Third Day discusses resilience as something you already are. These characters are not looking back on their life with an “I Survived” t-shirt. Their ability to survive is automatic to them, even if frustrating and unwanted. Hence, Third Day may be philosophical and fantastical, but it is also one of the realest shows to depict bereavement and how disheartening it can be to lose someone or something you defined as your heart.
