'The Third Day' Episode 3 Explained: What is Sam's true connection to Osea Island and its weird locals?
Spoilers for 'The Third Day' Season 1 Episode 3 'Sunday - The Ghost'
One should have little doubt that the HBO miniseries 'The Third Day' tells a convoluted tale of death, grief, and closure. Sam (Jude Law) arrives at Osea Island at the beginning of a weekend to pay tribute to his dead son. He has meetings scheduled back home so the idea is that he will be returning soon. If only.
It is soon revealed that no matter how much he tries, Sam cannot quite literally get off the island. What he doesn't know yet (and neither does the audience) is that his connection to the island runs way deeper than he can fathom. Haunting visuals, an eerie soundtrack, and sinister characters accompany Sam on this journey on self-discovery -- one that he did not want to indulge in by himself.
The final episode of 'Summer', which marks the end of the first part of the two-part six-episode miniseries, reveals this connection. Ever since he got on the island, he told everyone that the place feels familiar to him because his grandfather was stationed here. But that is not the complete truth. As it turns out, Sam is a descendent of the island's founder Frederick Nicholas Charrington, whose grandson was Sam's grandfather. Charrington established the island to practice Christianity intertwined with Celtic lore. According to this belief, Osea is the soul of the world and needs a father in these dark times. And that father is Sam.
It was Sam's grandfather who decided to flee the island, never to return. When Mrs Martin (Emily Watson) tells Sam about this, she adds that his grandfather did not want to participate in the ritual sacrifices that keep Osea balanced. Now the person who sits on the throne as the head of this cult, Sam's grandfather’s brother, is a "f**king moron," as Mrs Martin said, adding, "He was never supposed to sit in that role. Ever since he took over, Osea's decayed."
And so the islanders get set to replace him with Sam. Getting him here on the pretext of his son's death, even Epona (Jessie Ross) finding him and bringing him back is no coincidence. She is set on a mission to bring him home and is successful in doing so. The entire plan was made by Mr Martin (Paddy Considine).
Towards the end of his chapter, when Sam tries to leave the island, Jess (Katherine Waterston) turns against him for the sake of her children and it can be understood that she was playing him all along (no matter how much one would have liked to believe otherwise).
'The Third Day' airs 9-10 pm EST on HBO. The episodes will be available to stream on HBO Max following the airing.