Netflix’s gripping limited series Below takes a dramatic pivot in its fifth episode, abandoning its apparent supernatural horror to deliver a pointed commentary on climate change, corporate exploitation, and ecological collapse. Created by Jesse McKeown, the six-episode thriller stars Josh Hartnett as Calvin Penney, a hardworking Newfoundland fisherman, and Charlie Heaton as his troubled son, Wade, navigating a desolate and rapidly changing coastal community.
Set in the battered fishing village of Snook’s Arm, the series initially establishes an environment thick with dread and unexplained phenomena. Calvin struggles to sell contaminated ice to local vodka breweries, boats mysteriously vanish, and a massive, foul-smelling iceberg occupies the local harbor. Residents develop a mysterious illness leaving them desperately thirsty, while Wade suffers a severe bite and experiences vivid, terrifying hallucinations that point toward a monstrous marine creature lurking in the dark waters.
From Unexplained Phenomena to Corporate Greed
The narrative’s shift becomes unmistakable in the fifth episode, titled “Little Pot Rock.” The mysterious woman haunting Wade’s visions is revealed to be Maggie, a resident of an isolated island. This revelation strips away the supernatural shroud surrounding the town’s strange events, anchoring the plot firmly in real-world tragedies. Instead of dealing with an unexplainable phantom, the characters confront tangible threats driven by human negligence.
As marine researcher Dr. Fonda Howander (played by Mackenzie Davis) helps piece together the puzzle, it becomes clear that a giant squid and an altered marine ecosystem are central to the crisis. Rather than relying solely on monster-movie tropes, McKeown uses the creature as an allegory for environmental devastation. The unfolding catastrophe is deeply tied to the historical collapse of local fisheries, government resettlement programs, and the unchecked corporate greed that accelerated the region’s decline.
Critics have noted that while the back half of the series rushes through its mythology to tie up plot threads, the overarching message remains striking. The true monsters of the story are not the ancient leviathans hiding in the Atlantic trenches, but rather the individuals and corporations willing to sacrifice their communities and the planet for selfish gains.
A Portrait of Grief and Stubborn Nostalgia
At its emotional center, Below explores the human cost of refusing to adapt to a changing world. Calvin Penney is haunted by a childhood trauma from 1986, when he was forced to cut the towline between his family’s moving house and their boat, resulting in his father’s drowning. Decades later, Calvin stubbornly rejects government resettlement offers, desperately trying to cling to a dying industry and a decaying past.
Through stellar performances by Hartnett, Heaton, and Davis, the series balances regional drama with environmental urgency. The remote Newfoundland landscape functions almost as an independent character-cold, indifferent, and bruised by the realities of a warming planet. Below ultimately transitions from a standard creature feature into a sobering reminder that as the oceans rise and ice melts, ignoring environmental degradation is a luxury humanity can no longer afford.
Key Takeaways from Netflix’s Below
- Genre Shift: The series pivots away from supernatural horror in Episode 5, explaining eerie events through environmental and corporate factors.
- Core Themes: Creator Jesse McKeown blends a giant squid narrative with real-world issues like climate change, localized fishing collapse, and corporate greed.
- Star-Studded Cast: Features Josh Hartnett as Calvin Penney, Charlie Heaton as Wade, and Mackenzie Davis as scientist Fonda Howander.
- Setting as a Character: Filmed on location in Newfoundland, utilizing the rugged landscape and local culture to amplify the atmospheric tension.
