'The Third Day' Episode 4 Review: An intriguing entry by Naomie Harris on the ominous island
Spoilers for 'The Third Day' Episode 4 'The Mother'
There is obviously something (bad) happening at Osea Islands. But when Helen (Naomie Harris) makes her way to the Island along with her two daughters, Tallulah (Charlotte Gairdner-Mihell) and Ellie (Nico Parker), all she wants to do is give her daughter a birthday surprise. Unbeknownst to her, however, Osea is a place full of dark secrets. The place is no longer as friendly as it used to be when we first arrived at the beginning of the show.
Episode 4 'The Mother' begins the second chapter of 'The Third Day' that focuses on the mother. The third part of the series titled 'Winter', this chapter is directed by Philippa Lowthorpe.
Once they cross the causeway, Helen, Tallulah and Ellie see a boat on shore with 'OUT SHE DIE' painted across the base. While the girls find it creepy immediately, Helen pushes on inside the island luring them with promises of a birthday. Buildings everywhere around the island are painted with disturbing pictures of a figure opening his wounded crotch. Ever since their arrival, Osea Island and its people have ensured that Helen knows she is not welcome here. But Helen repeatedly says it is important for the family of three to have this holiday.
The audience is not directly informed about Helen and her life. It is understood that they are struggling financially, have a religious grandmother that Ellie adores, and have underlying tensions. As the show makes revelations about them, it doesn't once tell the real purpose of Helen bringing her kids along to this mysterious place.
That is till the very end till we finally get to know that Helen is actually Sam's (Jude Law) wife and that Ellie and Tallulah are the two daughters that he kept talking about when he first arrived at Osea. The final three episodes are set to center on Harris' Helen who has now arrived at the island to get answers about her husband's now months-long disappearance.
Directed by Philippa Lowthorpe, 'The Mother' carries forward the tense energy from the first chapter 'Summer'. As a viewer, it feels like there is more at stake given the fact that we're now watching a mother and her two young daughters try and navigate the treacherous island. The entire episode is shrouded in mystery it is evident that Helen is hiding something from her daughters about the real reason for coming here.
'The Mother' foreshadows the oncoming disaster for this family. And in the midst of all the ominous rituals happening on the island, we hope they can catch the causeway out in time.
'The Third Day' airs 9 to10 pm EST on HBO. The episodes will be available to stream on HBO Max following the airing.
