The overall filming of the show was good and I thought it was well executed.....
I don't think I will be watching again sadly and I wanted to enjoy it.....but the following reasons were deal breakers for me.....
1. Glaring errors in continuity... The Terminally ill character running through the nightclub with a lighted letter which was burning brightly and pretty fully, then the next scene he lays it in the snow and there is only a third of it gone....maybe this was me but it pulled me out the story.....another with the detective with a torch initially in a bright room.....
2. More of a deal breaker for me was the lack of any sympathy or likeability at all for any of the characters at all....there were all much of a muchness, maybe the fault of the script however.....
3. You had to watch it and fill in sections of story yourself, maybe intentionally but doesn't help following the story. One such scene the ill child leaving the house through the window to find his father...the next you see him tucked up in bed and screams out and his feet are in an awful state.....they could have at least shown him climbing back through the window but maybe again that's me being thick (or perhaps I dozed off and he did climb back through)
I have so much other stuff to watch that I don't feel like neglecting to give this another chance, will wait for reviews and opinions of future episodes to give it another try....
Just finished this, I give it a solid 6/10 so far, the opening scene was awesome, but it quickly became apparent that the acting and script are second rate. It picked up for me when DCi Stanley Tucci came on the scene but the hostility to the outside cop coming into someone else's turf was a bit clichéd. Will keep watching.
Re; Ecclestons Character, I can only guess, there will be a lot of reminiscing in the drama as I can't see them flying him to the location for one episode only, but what do I know, apart from the fact I am not a fan of shows that keep looking back......
Yes, the real story will be told in flashbacks. What's the lab been doing? What is the local cop covering up? Then once everyone's up to speed we'll have the monster horror climax. Could do with more adventurous sex in it though. So far it's been very mechanical.
It seemed to me that especially but not exclusively the Police Chief did a lot of staring and not answering questions put to him. There was too much "keeping us in the dark". Considering this was the first episode with lots of characters being introduced it didn't work for me. Maybe I am just slow on the uptake.
It seemed to me that especially but not exclusively the Police Chief did a lot of staring and not answering questions put to him. There was too much "keeping us in the dark". Considering this was the first episode with lots of characters being introduced it didn't work for me. Maybe I am just slow on the uptake.
As its a 12 parter - granted this was a double episode - I liked all the layers as it gave me plenty to think about, I think this will be very good and I'm intrigued as to how these threads will weave together.
A couple of other things no one else has mentioned, Frank came back covered in blood after his clandestine shagging - who's? - and after the mammoth was put into storage there were a couple of zoom in shots to it, is there something sinister in that ice mass thawing out?
There must be something more to the Gambon character - if he is just a dying drunk intent on causing trouble in his last days then a lesser actor could easily have fitted the bill.
My summary of the main queries so far (in spoilers just in case):
1. What were the explorers (stopped by the helicopter) up to?
2. Why did the inscription on the handcuffs upset one of them when he retrieved his gun?
3. Why did Frank come back covered with blood after his "encounter" with Elena?
4. Why was Dan already in Charlie's house and therefore why did he even suspect Vincent at all?
5. What's the deal with the dead carcass – presumably Liam's original illness is related?
6. What's the story with Henry (Michael Gambon's character) doing the shooting (or not) right at the start? (Dan was also already at that scene too). And who was his phone call to?
7. Why was Dan questioning Elena and what's the backstory there aka “the incident”?
8. Eric – the guy in the bear-trap (the governor’s husband?)- do we know anything about him or what he is lying about?
9. The pig – just part of the frostbite research?
10. Any significance in the stuff in the jars in Natalie's house?
11. At the end was that Jason shacked up with Natalie?
My summary of the main queries so far (in spoilers just in case):
1. What were the explorers (stopped by the helicopter) up to?
2. Why did the inscription on the handcuffs upset one of them when he retrieved his gun?
3. Why did Frank come back covered with blood after his "encounter" with Elena?
4. Why was Dan already in Charlie's house and therefore why did he even suspect Vincent at all?
5. What's the deal with the dead carcass – presumably Liam's original illness is related?
6. What's the story with Henry (Michael Gambon's character) doing the shooting (or not) right at the start? (Dan was also already at that scene too). And who was his phone call to?
7. Why was Dan questioning Elena and what's the backstory there aka “the incident”?
8. Eric – the guy in the bear-trap (the governor’s husband?)- do we know anything about him or what he is lying about?
9. The pig – just part of the frostbite research?
10. Any significance in the stuff in the jars in Natalie's house?
11. At the end was that Jason shacked up with Natalie?
Having read all that, I'll have to watch it again now!!
My summary of the main queries so far (in spoilers just in case):
1. What were the explorers (stopped by the helicopter) up to?
2. Why did the inscription on the handcuffs upset one of them when he retrieved his gun?
3. Why did Frank come back covered with blood after his "encounter" with Elena?
4. Why was Dan already in Charlie's house and therefore why did he even suspect Vincent at all?
5. What's the deal with the dead carcass – presumably Liam's original illness is related?
6. What's the story with Henry (Michael Gambon's character) doing the shooting (or not) right at the start? (Dan was also already at that scene too). And who was his phone call to?
7. Why was Dan questioning Elena and what's the backstory there aka “the incident”?
8. Eric – the guy in the bear-trap (the governor’s husband?)- do we know anything about him or what he is lying about?
9. The pig – just part of the frostbite research?
10. Any significance in the stuff in the jars in Natalie's house?
11. At the end was that Jason shacked up with Natalie?
Can't disagree with any of your points. But would like to add a couple more:
Fortitude is 'sold' as the safest town in the world, with just 750 (or so) people, where there is no crime. SO:
1) Why do they have such a huge civic facility for the governor?
2) If there is 'no crime' why do they have such a big police force?
As its a 12 parter - granted this was a double episode - I liked all the layers as it gave me plenty to think about, I think this will be very good and I'm intrigued as to how these threads will weave together.
A couple of other things no one else has mentioned, Frank came back covered in blood after his clandestine shagging - who's? - and after the mammoth was put into storage there were a couple of zoom in shots to it, is there something sinister in that ice mass thawing out?
There must be something more to the Gambon character - if he is just a dying drunk intent on causing trouble in his last days then a lesser actor could easily have fitted the bill.
I thought perhaps his own, suggesting he is also ill? Probably wrong though...
Did anyone manage to make out what the engraving was on the handcuffs?
I think the middle word was 'Vukojebina' which is apparently a Serbian/Croatian word for wilderness or godforsaken place, but I couldn't make out the other two words.
I only got round to watching yesterday, first off the production values are top notch and it looks stunning. As for the actual show, well it was certainly mystifying, I haven't got a clue what's going on but I think I'm going to enjoy finding out.
I'm always prepared to give slow series a chance, as I find they can often be the most rewarding, but it has to offer something. Fortitude offered nothing - loads of characters, none of whom I care about, no real surprises, didn't have much atmosphere.
Comments
I don't think I will be watching again sadly and I wanted to enjoy it.....but the following reasons were deal breakers for me.....
1. Glaring errors in continuity... The Terminally ill character running through the nightclub with a lighted letter which was burning brightly and pretty fully, then the next scene he lays it in the snow and there is only a third of it gone....maybe this was me but it pulled me out the story.....another with the detective with a torch initially in a bright room.....
2. More of a deal breaker for me was the lack of any sympathy or likeability at all for any of the characters at all....there were all much of a muchness, maybe the fault of the script however.....
3. You had to watch it and fill in sections of story yourself, maybe intentionally but doesn't help following the story. One such scene the ill child leaving the house through the window to find his father...the next you see him tucked up in bed and screams out and his feet are in an awful state.....they could have at least shown him climbing back through the window but maybe again that's me being thick (or perhaps I dozed off and he did climb back through)
I have so much other stuff to watch that I don't feel like neglecting to give this another chance, will wait for reviews and opinions of future episodes to give it another try....
Its like a cross between Lost and Twin Peaks!
Tunnel is coming back according to my friend.
I'm only watching now but Dormer's accent inconsistency is already irritating me, if you can't do a Nordic accent properly then don't try!
I don't mind slow burners but this is almost going backwards.
As its a 12 parter - granted this was a double episode - I liked all the layers as it gave me plenty to think about, I think this will be very good and I'm intrigued as to how these threads will weave together.
A couple of other things no one else has mentioned, Frank came back covered in blood after his clandestine shagging - who's? - and after the mammoth was put into storage there were a couple of zoom in shots to it, is there something sinister in that ice mass thawing out?
There must be something more to the Gambon character - if he is just a dying drunk intent on causing trouble in his last days then a lesser actor could easily have fitted the bill.
2. Why did the inscription on the handcuffs upset one of them when he retrieved his gun?
3. Why did Frank come back covered with blood after his "encounter" with Elena?
4. Why was Dan already in Charlie's house and therefore why did he even suspect Vincent at all?
5. What's the deal with the dead carcass – presumably Liam's original illness is related?
6. What's the story with Henry (Michael Gambon's character) doing the shooting (or not) right at the start? (Dan was also already at that scene too). And who was his phone call to?
7. Why was Dan questioning Elena and what's the backstory there aka “the incident”?
8. Eric – the guy in the bear-trap (the governor’s husband?)- do we know anything about him or what he is lying about?
9. The pig – just part of the frostbite research?
10. Any significance in the stuff in the jars in Natalie's house?
11. At the end was that Jason shacked up with Natalie?
Can't disagree with any of your points. But would like to add a couple more:
Fortitude is 'sold' as the safest town in the world, with just 750 (or so) people, where there is no crime. SO:
1) Why do they have such a huge civic facility for the governor?
2) If there is 'no crime' why do they have such a big police force?
The population is 7500 or so.
How many are actual police and how many are search and rescue?
I thought perhaps his own, suggesting he is also ill? Probably wrong though...
I am so tempted to open this spoiler
I think the middle word was 'Vukojebina' which is apparently a Serbian/Croatian word for wilderness or godforsaken place, but I couldn't make out the other two words.
I was sure they said 700+ not 7500; said there were more bears than people, and to the best of my knowledge there are not 7000+ plus bears.
Edit: just noticed that Alan58 has already made same point #93
Read into that what you want.
I thought that of the Leftovers, is this similar?