Summary
In the first season of AMC’sThe Terror, the series follows Captain Sir John Franklin’s doomed expedition to the Arctic in the 1840s, which just so happens to be a real and terrifying incident.The Terroris a horror anthology seriesthat first premiered in 2018. Every season follows a new story rooted in some of the most horrific times in history. For example, season 2 takes place in an American Japanese internment camp, whileThe Terrorseason 3will delve into the disturbing conditions at a psychiatric hospital. However, season 1’s Arctic travels are particularly haunting.
A basic overview of the horror show’s first season is thata British navy officer led an expedition into the Canadian Arcticin 1845. Though Franklin had vast naval knowledge and two ships at his disposal, the HMS Erebus and the HMS Terror, the trip was disastrous. Both ships became icebound, leaving the crews stuck for over a year. Eventually, the survivors decided to leave the boats, hoping to find safety on shore. Ultimately, those crew members vanished, never to be seen again. The tragic fate of Sir John Franklin’s Arctic mission makes it a particularly chilling historical tale.
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The Franklin Expedition & Northwest Passage Explained
The Northwest Passage Was Entirely Explored (Almost)
The main reason why Franklin’s expedition occurred in the first place was because the crews were going to explore the last unnavigated sections of the Canadian Arctic. In particular, the men set out to explore areas of the Northwest Passage, which is a lane of the Arctic Ocean above North America that essentially separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Pacific Ocean.Franklin’s mission was not only to see these unexplored areas, but also to collect magnetic data in the hopes of it helping future navigation (viaHistory Extra.)
Who Was Captain Sir John Franklin?
Interestingly enough, Captain Sir John Franklin was the last pick to lead the 1845 Arctic expedition, (viaSandler.)The Second Secretary to the Admiralty, Sir John Barrow, had various other captains in mind, but almost all of them declined due to their distaste for the frigid atmosphere of the Arctic. Though Franklin was Barrow’s last choice, he was mostly well-suited for the position.Franklin had been seafaring since the age of 12(viaLamb,)and prior to the 1845 trip, had helmed two other successful expeditions into the Arctic. Franklin captained the HMS Erebus.
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Who Was Captain Francis Crozier?
While Sir John Franklin led the HMS Erebus, Captain Francis Crozier helmed the HMS Terror. This made Crozier Franklin’s second-in-command. Like Franklin, Crozier began sailing at a very young age and gained valuable experience throughout his career sailing on important expeditions (viaSmith.)Notably,Crozier was a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Societydue to his significant scientific findings during his missions. Later, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society (viaThe Royal Society.)Yet, Crozier’s experience was not enough to save him from the terrors of the Franklin expedition.
When The HMS Erebus & Terror Were Last Seen
The First Leg Of The Franklin Mission Explained
The HMS Erebus and HMS Terror set sail from Kent, England on August 02, 2025.There were 110 crewmen and 24 officers aboard the two ships, creating a grand total of 134 men. The ships first sailed to northern Scotland to get fresh water before their voyage. Then, from there, they spent a month sailing across the globe to Greenland (viaCookman.)The month of June was likely the most calm that the Franklin expedition ever saw. For those 30 days, the crew had water, food, and a clear mission. After July 1845, they wouldn’t be so lucky.
The Terrorseason 1 has the biggest cast of anyThe Terrorseason so far.
The last time the crew of the Franklin expedition were seen was in Greenlandin July 1845. The Erebus and Terror docked at Disko Bay to gather more food and water before traveling into the desolate and icy landscape of the Arctic. At this time, the crew wrote what would be their final letters to the outside world. The crew ended up being reduced to 129 men, as several left due to illness. Later in the month, two whalers spotted Franklin’s crew in Baffin Bay. That was the last time anyone saw the Erebus and the Terror (viaCyriax.)
How Did The Ships Get Trapped In The Northwest Passage? Where They Went Missing
The Fate Of The Erebus & Terror Explained
It isn’t entirely clear what occurred to the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, but some theories have been formed. One important document that provided significant information was the Victory Point Note, which was written by the Erebus and Terror crew and stashed on King William Island. This note revealed that the ships docked on Beechey Island during the winter of 1845 to 1846. Then, in the summer of 1846,the ships set sail and became trapped in the ice surrounding King William Island. It is believed that the boats were never able to sail again after that (viaStenton.)
The ice of King William Island seems to be the final resting place of the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror.
The ice of King William Island seems to be the final resting place of the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. With so much ice in the area, the ships were unable to break through. They could not move forward or backward. Ultimately, this meant that the men were stuck with no way of getting more food or water. On top of that,the Arctic conditions were not particularly habitable. This situation led to the deaths of many in the Erebus and Terror’s crews, including Sir John Franklin.
What Happened To The Crews? Likely Causes Of Death
Murder, Scurvy, & Hypothermia
What makes the Erebus and Terror’s situation so disturbing is that most of the crew’s deaths were likely slow and painful. There were various ways in which the men aboard those ships perished. First and foremost,the harsh Arctic conditions probably led to cases of hypothermia and frost bite. From there, starvation and thirst were major issues. Many men likely contracted scurvy from a lack of certain food groups. Furthermore, disagreements or fear upon the boat could have led to violence. Bones later found at the wreck hint at potential cannibalism (viaBattersby.)
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The Wreckages Of The Ships Weren’t Found Until The 2010s
How The Erebus & Terror Looked Upon Discovery
Although search parties were sent out in 1848 and many years after that,the Erebus and Terror were not found until 2014 and 2016. The Erebus was found first at the bottom of Wilmot and Crampton Bay (viaChase).The ship was found in good condition and countless artifacts found inside were taken by search crews. Two years later, the Terror was found sunk south of King William Island in Terror Bay. Once again, the ship was well-preserved and teams recovered various objects from the wreck (viaWatson).
The Legacy Of HMS Erebus & Terror
How The Terror Reshapes The Franklin Expedition
The doomed mission of the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror have long been remembered as a brutal tragedy. Sir John Franklin is often commemorated as a hero, despite claims of cannibalism. Despite the mission’s difficult end, the situation did lead to some important discoveries. Because of how many search parties were sent out to search for the ships,the Northwest Passage was eventually explored to its fullest extent. Though Franklin himself was unable to make it through the area, other ships were (viaCyriax.)
The Terrorteaches audiences about a notable piece of history that may have otherwise been forgotten.
Furthermore, AMC’sThe Terrorrevives Sir Franklin’s story. The horror show sheds light on just how horrifying the scenario likely was, and makes the tale more engaging than just reading from a history textbook.The Terrorteaches audiences about a notable piece of history that may have otherwise been forgotten. In this way,The Terrorseason 1 and its consequent seasons are not entertaining, but important.
The Terror
Cast
The Terror is an AMC original horror anthology series based on the novel by Dan Simmons. The show follows the Royal Navy as they explore the ocean to locate the Northwest Passage to improve travel and trade. However, the perilous journey proves to be more than any of the crew expected, leaving them at the mercy of harsh elements and the slowly slipping sanity of the crew.
