The Third Day (TV series)
A folk-horror series set on a mysterious island.
Felix Barrett and Dennis Kelly created the drama-thriller series The Third Day for HBO and Sky Atlantic. It debuted on 14 September 2020 in the US on HBO, and the following day in the UK on Sky Atlantic.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Drama
- Mystery
- Thriller
- Creator
- Felix Barrett; Dennis Kelly
- Composer
- Cristobal Tapia de Veer
- Stephen Dobbie
- Dickon Hinchliffe
- Country
- United Kingdom; United States
- Language
- English
- Episodes
- 6 (+ 1 special)
- Executive producers
- Brad Pitt
- Dede Gardner
- Jeremy Kleiner
- Dennis Kelly
- Felix Barrett
- Marc Munden
- Kate Crowe
- Philippa Lowthorpe
- Producer
- Adrian Sturges; Gareth Collins
Facts from the source article.
Premise
The story follows a man and a woman who each travel to a mysterious island at separate points in time. The show is divided into three linked sections. In "Summer," directed by Marc Munden, Sam, played by Jude Law, is pulled toward a strange island off England's coast and meets locals determined to uphold their customs no matter the cost. "Autumn" was a 12-hour live broadcast from the island, described as a major immersive theatre event, allowing viewers to experience the story as it unfolded; it included Law and singer Florence Welch. "Winter," directed by Philippa Lowthorpe, follows Helen, played by Naomie Harris, a determined outsider seeking answers whose presence sparks a fierce conflict over the island's future.
Production
The series was commissioned in June 2019, with Jude Law cast in the lead role. Marc Munden directed the first three episodes, with Dennis Kelly writing. Katherine Waterston, Paddy Considine, and Emily Watson joined the cast in July, followed by Naomie Harris and John Dagleish in August. Philippa Lowthorpe directed the final three episodes. Kit de Waal and Dean O'Loughlin co-wrote two episodes with Kelly. Filming began in July 2019 in Essex and Kent, including locations such as Fog Signal Station at Dungeness, Hever Castle, and Chislehurst Caves.
Release
Originally slated for a May 2020 debut on HBO and Sky Atlantic, the series was removed from the schedule that April because the pandemic delayed its post-production. It later moved to a September 14 premiere in the U.S. and September 15 in the UK. The opening episodes of both "Summer" and "Winter" debuted at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11. The "Autumn" live event aired live on Sky Arts in the UK and was also available for free streaming via Facebook on October 3.
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the miniseries has a 79% approval rating based on 48 reviews, with an average rating of 7.00/10. The critics consensus describes it as an intriguing addition to the folk-horror genre with an arresting atmosphere and captivating performances. Metacritic gave a weighted average score of 70 out of 100 based on 16 critics, indicating generally favorable reviews.
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