'The Third Day' Episode 2 Review: Sam's memories continue to haunt and leave countless questions in their wake
Spoilers for 'The Third Day' Season 1 Episode 2 'Saturday - The Son'
Osea Island is more than just a mysterious place that Sam (Jude Law) wandered into. The local inhabitants can barely be trusted regardless of their supposedly kind manner. What adds to the terror and intrigue of the show is partly the fact that Sam doesn't know that yet. Or does he? By now, he has pointed out how he feels like he's been here before - Mrs Martin (Emily Watson) had also said how she recognizes him vividly. But where and how is Sam's connection to the island established - has he really been here before and cannot remember it?
Episode 2 of the HBO limited series 'The Third Day' gives audiences (just a little bit) insight into Sam's son and what might have happened to him - his 6-year-old son Nathan was killed by an asylum seeker and his body was found on the mainland. It is also revealed that this was quite a long time ago but ever since, every year, Sam comes down to pay his respects. Only this time, he seems to have gotten entangled in the chaos, madness and sheer lawlessness of Osea Island.
It is hard to not judge 'The Third Day' in a linear fashion for the series does not work like that. Filled with riddles and uncertainty, 'The Third Day' is fueled by fear and paranoia of the protagonist, our tragic hero Sam and everything he is to confront. As was the case with the premiere episode, the show continues to be beautifully shot in the midst of the wilderness and sea. But you mustn't get fooled by the visuals for they are here to haunt Sam (and by extension, you, the audience). With two episodes in, the show moves at a slow pace and watching it requires great effort, but a strong cast and creators make it a worthy watch.
As we delve deeper into what happened to Sam and his son all those years ago, it becomes evident that there are ghosts in his pasts. Regrets and pain he cannot shrug off - it looms over his head day and night and threaten to take over him. There are so many questions that come to mind when trying to summarise Episode 2 - who are the strange mask-clad people trying to kill Sam. Are they trying at all or is it all a figment of his imagination? Why does Epona's father blame Sam for her death? Or does he? Is Jess to be trusted at all? And what goes on in the big house?
As we find out more about his son, Sam finds out more about letting go and moving on. "Agony is bespoke, yours is yours, and theirs is theirs," he tells Jess (Katherine Waterston) one afternoon. Grief wants mayhem and chaos - it only wants to destroy. And inside Sam, only grief rages.
Although moving at a calculated pace, director Marc Munden does an impressive job of keeping the audiences stuck to the screens with haunting visuals and a very true, dreadful, raw storyline. Law as the troubled father Sam is a pitiful character we hope makes it out of the island.
'The Third Day' airs on Mondays from 9-10 pm ET on HBO. The episodes will be available to stream on HBO Max following the airing on the network.