The Third Day Episode 1: The Father Early Review

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the premiere of HBO’s newest mini-series, The Third Day, was pushed from the summer to the fall (premiering at this year’s TIFF) to presumably fill a content void. Featuring the likes of Jude Law and Naomi Harris, this twisty-turny mystery promises to thrill us through the upcoming weeks but will the wait be worth it? Based on the first episode, featuring the former, and some haunting cinematography it may very well be.

Synopsis: After Sam, a London family man in crisis, rescues a troubled young girl in the woods, he brings her home to the ominous Osea Island, where inhabitants are preparing for a curious annual festival involving the island’s history. As he meets Osea’s secretive locals, Sam grows increasingly desperate to return to the mainland to make an important call – but the island proves difficult to escape. (HBO)

When it comes to The Third Day, there is clearly a lot going on but this first episode was just the beginning as most first episodes go. The Father saw a man named Sam (Law) in some sort of personal, life or death crisis that took him to the woods where he happened to stumble across a young girl named Epona (Jessie Ross) in danger though there appeared to be more going on. However, she was not exactly the most forthcoming. From there, this new crisis took precedent as a result of his former work as a counselor with at-risk youth. Perhaps against his better judgement, Sam agrees to help her by offering to drive Epona back to her home, the secluded Osea Island.

This point was where the story actually began as the small town of Osea Island seemed like a normal tight-knit town but there was just something off about it. It was just hard to put one’s finger on it. Nevertheless, Sam proceeded with Epona if anything, to find the truth and make sure she was safe. Unfortunately, that task would be easier said than done. Those who have seen any of the promotional material may know the particular quirk of Osea Island, the fact that its accessibility was dependent on the change in tide that obscured the road going into the island. Only adding to this overwhelming sense of urgency of course was the island’s inconsistent phone service that was set to get even worse as it geared up for its annual festival.

Sam’s inner conflict was tending to Epona while still addressing his own issues but this episode essentially saw him go nowhere with either. The bureaucracy and the mysterious traditions of the island certainly proved to be a challenge here though whatever extent that challenge will go remains to be seen. The de facto characters that represented the island were the Martins (Paddy Considine, Emily Watson), an influential couple who ran the local pub, a central location on the island. While they were very welcoming to Sam, it was clear that they were hiding something. While they took an interest in Epona, the extent of their connection to her was unclear. They seemingly implied that the whole town was somehow connect to each other which kind of makes sense.

Meanwhile, Sam was not the only outsider on the island as he stumbled upon a woman named Jess (Katherine Waterston) who was visiting for the festival and appeared unaware of whatever was off with the island and its people. They did not get off to the best start but they were fun to watch together.

In the end, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone that Sam wasn’t getting off the island at least right away as the episode ended with the confirmation that there was indeed something off going on while the mystery surrounding him maybe wasn’t so clear-cut either.

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, follow us on Instagram, and also like us on Facebook. Also subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.