1899 Season 1 Episode 1 – 4 Review: The Ship, The Boy, The Fog, The Fight

The creators of Dark have brought viewers a new dark, twisty mystery. Taking to the high seas, everyone’s harboring secrets and on the run on 1899 Season 1 Episodes 1 through 4.

The first hour drops you right in the middle of the events, and you spend most of the episode trying to catch up and settle into this world filled with people with secrets, fears, and a palpable sense of dread attached to each one. 1899 Season 1 Episode 1, “The Ship,” is a profoundly atmospheric introduction to 1899, setting the scene for this mystery thriller that has you at the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

The Passengers & Their Pasts

We first meet Maura Franklin, a young woman on the Kerberos, a ship that set sail from England to America during “The Ship.” From the opening scene, it’s clear that Maura is running from something or someone and that she is searching for something.

But Maura isn’t the only one running from something, it seems. In its first four episodes, viewers are introduced to bits and pieces of the lives of Captain Eyk, Jerome, a stowaway on a mission, and Ling Yi, a young woman hiding a heartbreaking sin.

Having the main story of each episode focused on these flashes of some aspect of each character’s past is a smart way to quickly get viewers some context as to who these people are. It’s also ideal because through it all, you’ll still be wondering what circumstances in these people’s lives caused them to all converge on this ship.

Interwoven through the mystery and dread, these character introductions and exposure of their secrets, fears, and flaws also allow us to see the humanity in them. This aspect is best shown by introducing Krester, Olek, Angel, Ramiro, Lucien, and Clemence.

Unfortunately for Maura, who is more than likely meant to be the protagonist in this ensemble, her story fails to be as engaging as the others throughout the first four hours. By the time Ling Yi’s story becomes the narrative focus during 1899 Season 1 Episode 3, “The Fog,” I find myself more invested in the arcs of Ling Yi, Olek, Krester, Angel, Jerome, Lucien, and Clemence.

These stories manage to strike an intriguing emotional chord in such a short amount of time. The cast plays the angst, fear, sadness, and shame so well that your heart breaks for most of them.

1899 Season 1 Episode 4, “The Fight,” helps elevate these emotional character stories in different ways, bringing heartache for Krester in the face of Ada’s death, revealing a bit more of Lucien and Clemence’s relationship, and much more.

The Prometheus & Its Contents

The ship at the center of the entire series, The Prometheus, comes with its own questions as Eyk and other members of the Kerberos join in on the investigation of the long-missing ship. Aside from some questionable machinery, a young boy is the most intriguing discovery. Found in a cupboard.

When the Kerberos members find him, the starkly eerie appearance is enough to set them on edge. On a ship alone, how could he possibly have been the only one to survive whatever happened?

It incites paranoia and fear in the passengers and crew, stoking some Iben, Anker, and their religious zealots on the lower decks to call for the boy’s death. Though it could add some interesting commentary about fanaticism and mob mentality, the story doesn’t seem interested in taking that detour.

Which seems like such a missed opportunity.

The Questions & Final Thoughts

The first four episodes set the tone for the series’ back half, building not only to the tense stand-off and the horrifying consequences that follow. The final moment on “The Fight” elevates the story from an ominous, supernatural costume drama into sci-fi territory.

Coincidentally, the end of “The Fight” is when the frustration begins to set in, as you start questioning everything you see, like many of the characters. But it will make you want answers, keeping you locked in.

Overall, the first 4 episodes do an admirable setting up of the premise and provide the context. I appreciate the multilingual aspect of the story, with the passengers and the crew members speaking their native languages.

What did you think of the first four episodes of 1899? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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1899 Season 1 is out on Netflix now.

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