This discovery leads Calvin to Dr. Fonda Howander, a scientist portrayed by Mackenzie Davis, who runs the local science center and possesses a keen understanding of the shifting environmental patterns of the region. As Calvin and Fonda begin to investigate the source of the contaminated ice, the social fabric of Snook’s Arm begins to unravel. Wade, who struggles with ADHD and attempts to self-medicate through a volatile combination of alcohol and hallucinogenic mushrooms, becomes involved in a horrific accident that sends shockwaves through the family. Simultaneously, the residents of Snook’s Cove begin to exhibit increasingly erratic and disturbing behavior, leading Calvin and Fonda to the terrifying realization that something catastrophic is occurring within the water itself.
While the series is a gripping watch from start to finish, it is not without its minor distractions. Much will likely be made of Josh Hartnett’s attempt at a specific Newfoundland accent, which at times leans toward the "hilarious" rather than the authentic. However, this quirk does little to diminish the power of his performance. Hartnett brings a grounded, soulful quality to Calvin, capturing the weariness of a man who has spent his life trying to outrun a ghost only to find himself standing exactly where his father fell. His chemistry with the rest of the cast, particularly with Charlie Heaton and Willow Kean—who plays Calvin’s sister and the town’s no-nonsense Harbor Master, Ruth—provides the emotional anchor the show needs to balance its more fantastical elements.
McKeown’s writing offers a beautiful and often heartbreaking snapshot of an eroding community. Snook’s Arm is a place where everyone knows everyone else’s business, but where secrets are nonetheless kept as a means of survival. While Calvin’s children and his sister Ruth recognize that the town is running out of time and resources, Calvin remains stubbornly determined to save it. He digs in his heels, clinging to the hope that the town can be revitalized, even as a massive, prehistoric iceberg emerges from the water like a sentinel of doom. As the residents descend into chaos, the connection between the current environmental upheaval and his father’s death forty years prior becomes impossible to ignore.
At a concise six episodes, with each installment running 45 minutes or less, "Below" avoids the narrative bloat that often plagues streaming limited series. It is an engrossing experience because it functions on multiple levels. On the surface, it is a creature feature, with a horrifying entity lurking in the periphery of the frame. But beneath that genre exterior, the show is a meditation on the human condition. It explores the desperation of a man trying to hold onto a decaying past, the complexities of a grieving family, and the way in which systemic greed can create monsters far more dangerous than anything found in the ocean.
