31 Days of Halloween: Moar TV

Below, 2026, Netflix
Carrie, 2026, Amazon

This was the show I was anticipating for this season. 

A few months ago, I remember there being trailers for two media releases regarding the mythological Kraken. One, the Norwegian movie I watched and was disappointed with, but I couldn't find any evidence there was another movie released, ignoring any mockbusters that showed up. But it turns out, it was this TV series.

Its not like they are hiding anything -- 1986, fishing village in Newfoundland (actually set in NF) is being relocated, complete with the (floating) family home being towed by a small fishing boat. This  is something they actually did during the resettlements of the 50s to 70s, to bring families from isolated fishing communities closer to services. Their house gets snagged and when dad goes to inspect the cause, the house, and dad, are sucked down below. His son gets a brief look at a gargantuan eye before they cut the rope and the house is gone.

Fourty years later. The new community is suffering what the old one did and is in danger of resettlement once again. Most money is made from the distillery, made from ice burg water, and tourism. Calvin Penney (Josh Hartenett, Trap), the now grown kid from the opening, makes a meagre living pulling ice from the water and selling to the distillery, but the latest chunk turns out to be more stinky mucus than water. He brings it to scientist Dr Fonda Howander (Mackenzie Davis, Halt and Catch Fire) to find out exactly what it might be. Meanwhile he deals with his kids, including Wade (Charlie Heaton, Stranger Things), the son who has stayed with him, and Mary (Ruby Stokes, Lockwood & Co) who lives in Montreal, but has come home for a visit, BF in tow. 

Not as much goes on in this first episode, as did with Carrie. Its more about exposing the viewing audience to the setting, which is faithful in geography, not so much in the casting and accents. Newf will always be a challenge, especially the remote community accent which can be unintelligible to the average ear, but the success of these actors ranges from barely passable (I wasn't sure Mackenzie Davis was even trying) to mostly authentic. They do a cute scene where Wade talks to his AirBnB tourists while setting them up with a fried baloney breakfast, and it took me a moment to realize they were challenged in understanding what he was saying. But they toss in a "Screech-in" ceremony, for the tourists, to ask forgiveness, or invite mockery, depending on your viewpoint. This show will not be treated gently by actual Newfoundlanders.

But the monster. What will it be? Probably the same as the movie, in that the climate affecting changes by stupid humans are waking up things that should have been left asleep, or in deep oceans. There's no hint of Lovecraftian background, so it was just end up being a big squid. Still, I am onboard.

***

Carrie episode two spent its time dealing with the fallout of the tampon-shower-first-period-bullying incident, and introducing the remaining supporting cast, including teachers Miss Desjardins (Amber Midthunder, Prey) and Mr. Peist (Rahul Kohli, iZombie), as well as principal Grayle (Matthew Lillard, Scream), and guidance counsellor Mr Morton (Tim Bagley, Grace and Frankie). We also get to know more about the Queen Bitch Chris Hargensen (Alison Thornton, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency), who quite frankly, is not having a good family life either, and setting us up to be conflicted by "nice girl" Sue Snell (Siena Agudong, Resident Evil) who spends equal time going along with the terrorizing led by Chris, as she does in questioning her own actions. Despite her "niceness", I suspect she will play a larger part in the final events than the interviews are leading on.

Also, Carrie's mom is being setup as quite the villain. She was not a prepper's "kept woman". She was her own religious fanatic, building her own xenophobic viewpoint of the world outside their house, and her simultaneously protecting Carrie from it, as she is poisoning the girl to any honest understandings. Luckily, Carrie is more than up for the task, both thoughtful and a quick learner. Problem is that with puberty's awakening, her powers are becoming.... more prevalent, and she's realizing she has some control.

Still not sure how I feel about the Xavier School for the Other Psychic Girls side plot -- wonder if they will attempt to connect it with Firestarter and its franchise.