The Third Day

A unique story told over two distinct halves, "Summer" follows Sam, a man drawn to a mysterious island off the British coast where he encounters a group of islanders set on preserving their traditions at any cost. "Winter" follows Helen, a strong-willed outsider who comes to the island seeking answers, but whose arrival precipitates a fractious battle to decide its fate.

The Third Day (2020) is a British-American folk horror mystery miniseries created by Dennis Kelly and Felix Barrett for HBO, a six-episode limited series told in two halves. Jude Law plays Sam, a grieving man drawn to an island off the British coast where the islanders are determined to preserve their traditions at any cost, and Katherine Waterston plays Jess, the strong-willed outsider whose arrival stirs a fractious struggle over the island's future. Supporting roles go to Freya Allan as Kail and Paddy Considine as Mr. Martin, with Emily Watson as Mrs. Martin. The engine is a search for answers that keeps running into ritual, secrecy, and a community that closes ranks around its customs. The first half, Summer, moves through the island's rituals from Sam's side, while Winter reframes the same events through Helen's arrival and the tensions it creates. Each half is built as a slow, unsettling accumulation of dread rather than a case of the week, and the story is anchored by themes of grief, trauma, and the cost of belonging. The tone is eerie, melancholic, and claustrophobic, with an immersive theatre sensibility shaping its staging. Fans of The Wicker Man, Midsommar, and The Leftovers will find resonance in its folk horror atmosphere and its grief-driven unease.

Audiences rate the miniseries mixed, with its ambitious two-part structure and island atmosphere praised while its dense mythology and uneven payoff divide viewers.

• The Wicker Man (1973)shared folk horror island ritual dread and communal cult menace
• Twin Peaksshared slow burn mystery with grief and a missing child at the center
• Midsommarshared isolated community secrets and mystery tinged with supernatural unease
• The Leftoversshared grief-driven psychological dread and fractured family trauma

Created by

Dennis Kelly, Felix Barrett

Release Date

2020-09-14

Episode runtime

60 min

Rating

6.4 / 10 (238)

What is The Third Day about?

A grieving man and a determined outsider each find themselves pulled into a closed island community whose traditions turn dangerous.

What is The Third Day like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Third Day as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.

Is The Third Day violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Third Day as moderate.

What did critics think of The Third Day?

Audiences rate the miniseries mixed, with its ambitious two-part structure and island atmosphere praised while its dense mythology and uneven payoff divide viewers.

Which shows are like The Third Day?

Shows with a similar feel include The Wicker Man (1973), Twin Peaks, Midsommar, and The Leftovers.

How long is The Third Day?

The Third Day: 1 season, 6 episodes.

Is The Third Day still running?

No, The Third Day has ended.

Where can I watch The Third Day?

In United States, The Third Day streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max.