Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Fortitude: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 10, 2015

Police procedural television shows are a dime a dozen these days, with murder the daily diet for most channels. Inspiration is limited, with productions content to provide comfort through familiarity, tracking cops and baddies with all the enthusiasm of an actor trapped in a multi-year series deal. “Fortitude” seeks to shake up formula by changing locations, moving away from the big city, rooms filled with computer screens, and coldly lit labs to head to the Arctic. Moving the action to a remote village north of Europe, “Fortitude” selects snow and depression to set the mood, approaching its tale of murder and paranoia from a perspective of human survival and community intimacy. It’s a cold world out there, with the program endeavoring to use such bleakness to its advantage as it motors through 12 episodes of sex, violence, and observation.

Comparisons to “Fargo” are apt, with the series arc detailing the shock of murder hitting a town that’s never experienced such outward evil contributing to a faint case of déjà vu. Unfortunately, “Fortitude” has no sense of humor, grimly detailing the private lives of townsfolk, many engaged in illegal and immoral activities. It’s stern work, using a substantial amount of time to explore this collision of isolation and intimacy when death arrives, laboring to pad each hour with accusations and secrets revealed, while the body count increases as time goes by.

I wish “Fortitude” was as exciting as it sounds, but creator Simon Donald’s wonderland of despair seemingly takes an eternity to get through, with everything that occurs in the show easily boiled down to five tight episodes. Instead, there’s 12, with a few chapters frustratingly stuck in neutral, failing to advance the plot in any significant way, merely working to extend the life of a program that’s always gasping for oxygen. “Fortitude” seems like such a gimme. With wintry locations, a capable cast, and the promise of weekly evildoing in the middle of nowhere, the production has all the elements to pull off some sense of pace and tension. Instead, the show crawls along, working to drum up interest in flat, lobotomized characters and repetitive conflicts, while a weird “X-Files”-esque turn late in the run only reinforces their theory that Donald and Co. were making this up as they went, throwing everything they could find into the scripts to sustain curiosity. The narrative isn’t a mess, but it feels too random at times, often taking unmotivated (and ridiculous) turns.

Of note is the program’s hard R-rated content, showcasing raw language, full-frontal nudity and softcore sex, and graphic violence. While PBS is distributing the Blu-ray, a company known for artistry and good taste, “Fortitude” retains more of an HBO-esque attitude. Just a warning.

Episodes

Disc 1:

“Episode 1” (49:53)

In the far reaches of the arctic, the town of Fortitude struggles to manage its troubled citizens. Henry (Michael Gambon) is a senior citizen concerned by his part in a possible murder while out taking photographs, questioning what Sheriff Dan (Richard Dormer) was doing in the area. Dan’s search and rescue partner is Frank (Nicholas Pinnock), whose marriage is suffering due to an affair with waitress Elena (Veronica Echegui) and his only son’s grave illness, which sends wife Jules (Jessica Raine) to the brink of sanity. Scientific researcher Vincent (Luke Treadaway) arrives to check on rising environmental toxicity, bonding with local tech Natalie (Sienna Guillory). And Professor Charlie (Christopher Eccleston) is caught in a difficult position when Governor Hildur (Sofie Grabol) hopes to build an elaborate resort in the glacier, only to be blocked by two working class opportunists, Ronnie (Johnny Harris) and Jason (Aaron McCusker), who’ve discovered the remains of a woolly mammoth in thawing permafrost.

“Episode 2” (49:04)

The murder of a local man puts Fortitude into a state of emergency, with initial polar bear reports evolving into a realization that foul play has occurred. Flying in to assist the investigation is DCI Morton (Stanley Tucci), whose very appearance rankles Dan, creating hostilities as the London cop insinuates himself into every procedural step. And Jules struggles with Frank’s elusive behavior when confronted with his infidelity, which accidentally caused his son to acquire devastating frostbite, necessitating a special experimental procedure to help save his feet from amputation.

“Episode 3” (49:06)

As the murder investigation continues, Morton continues to assert his dominance, trying to achieve a greater understanding of the community while sorting through clues the local cops are having trouble decoding. Vincent, recently locked up after discovering the dead body, is released, questioning his decision to visit Fortitude, confessing to Natalie, whose affair with Jason is disrupted when word of the miner’s public scrape with Charlie makes him the prime suspect. And Hildur begins to understand how plans to sink her glacier hotel were being cooked up by Charlie, with a mammoth discovery resulting in the declaration of protected lands.

Disc 2:

“Episode 4” (49:11)

Fearing for his life, Ronnie has taken off into the wild with his young daughter, struggling to find warm shelter while the cops back in Fortitude discover he’s recently stopped taking his anti-psychotic medicine. Hildur resorts to fraud after learning Charlie was ready to kill plans for the glacier hotel. And a bloody shirt discovered in Frank’s bathroom alters the dynamic of the investigation, while Jason, in possession of a mammoth tooth, is questioned about any other discoveries he may have recently made.

“Episode 5” (49:10)

In a fit of rage, Dan beats Frank to a pulp after the discovery of his bloody shirt. Recognizing that local law enforcement officials are too close to the crime, Morton takes over questioning, bringing in Frank and Elena to understand their secretive relationship. During the interrogation process, Elena’s violent history with past lovers is revealed. And locals Markus (Darren Boyd) and Shirley (Jessica Gunning), the town gossips, begin to take their relationship into a fetishistic direction, disturbing Shirley’s mother, Dr. Allerdyce (Phoebe Nicholls).

“Episode 6” (49:49)

With new evidence in play, attention turns to Liam (Darwin Brokenbro), Frank’s son, who’s currently resting inside a hyperbaric chamber to help heal his frostbite injuries. Jules can’t believe her child is now the prime suspect, comforted by Henry, who turns to native magic to help bring Liam back to life. Inching toward evidence that ties the first murder to the most recent event, Morton confronts Dan, hoping to retrieve a full confession with help from a bottle of scotch.

Disc 3:

“Episode 7” (49:47)

As the first pieces of the glacier hotel fall into place, Hildur’s excitement is soured by the information that her husband has been unfaithful. Ronnie continues to run away from Fortitude, but soon realizes that he can’t push his daughter in the same manner. Morton pays a visit to brute Yuri (Emil Hostina), digging deeper into facts surrounding the initial murder in town, while Henry is finally ready to confront what he saw that blurry afternoon. And Shirley, who’s been fighting an illness seemingly nurtured by Markus, unleashes an unusual fury, adding to Fortitude’s woes.

“Episode 8” (49:39)

Another dead body is found, and Hildur is left powerless while away on the mainland taking care of business. Markus is interrogated, revealing curious hesitation when describing his relationship with the deceased, urging Morton and Dan to investigate further. With murder becoming an everyday occurrence, the heavily armed locals are becoming restless, turning on outsiders while the police force attempts to settle fears.

"Episode 9" (49:24)

Finally receiving an opportunity to prove himself professionally, Vincent leads the dissection of a polar bear, looking for answers concerning troubling behavior in the animal kingdom, which may hold a clue to the evil events in Fortitude. Going to extremes, Frank takes Markus hostage, trying to torture answers out of him after his own reputation is destroyed once Liam returns home. And Henry, fearing what Fortitude has become, plans to leave town, settling personal business on his way out.

“Episode 10” (49:02)

After working through a few dead bodies, the science team has discovered an abnormality that might be spreading through the community. Needing more information, Vincent and Natalie turn to Liam for a necessary sample of brain fluid. Elena’s past has returned to haunt her, arriving at a time when she’s been entrusted with the guardianship of Ronnie’s daughter. And Morton travels to the far reaches of town to find Henry, unknowingly putting himself in harm’s way.

Disc 4

“Episode 11” (49:36)

Dan and Hildur are offered a unique opportunity to solve their mounting problems, but trouble doesn’t stay away for long, with a stolen ice drill on the loose, in the hands of rogues. Dan is also forced to confront his urges when he meets with Elena, working out their complicated history. And Vincent and Natalie make a major discovery while digging through the innards of a wolf, helping to identify the horror that’s infiltrated Fortitude.

“Episode 12” (49:40)

The secret of the permafrost is exposed to community leaders, commencing a scramble to stop the ice drill from digging into the snow. Jason is cuffed and interrogated, representing the last hope Hildur and Dan have as they hunt for the source of environmental woes. And Hildur and Eric begin to repair their broken relationship as town’s future remains uncertain.

Fortitude: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The HD-shot series arrives on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation, and visually resembles many similar shows. Retaining a digital appearance, fine detail is best captured on facial responses, surveying the pained and the satisfied with outstanding textures. Locations are also served well, offering a sharp appreciation for the great outdoors. Colors are largely contained to warm interiors and cool exteriors, though costuming and lighting allows for some variety. Hues are stable and communicative, and skintones are true. Crush is present in small doses, blacking out a few evening encounters. Mild banding is detected.

Fortitude: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD sound mix is a straightforward listening experience for a television program. Nothing pushes the range to extremes, finding dialogue exchanges comfortable and clear, managing numerous accents to satisfaction. Scoring is supportive, blending into the background with ease until dramatic moments require specific music needs. Bar visits and the show's theme delivering proper musicianship, with some heaviness to the low-end. Atmospherics are acceptably sweetened, capturing rushing Arctic air and interior stillness.

Fortitude: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Making Of (32:51, HD) covers most of the production effort, using interviews with cast and crew (conducted on-set) to explore character motivations, story arcs, location requirements in Iceland, weather concerns, and set decoration. Platitudes are common, but information on creative achievements and BTS footage is interesting.

Fortitude: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Adding needed zip to "Fortitude" is Stanley Tucci, who brings sarcasm to his David Caruso-esque role, with his character growing smarmier as the story unfolds. It's a compelling performance, but most of the acting does the trick. It's the writing that ultimately does the show in, only delivering a halfhearted pass at a snowbound disaster, often caught trying to manipulate and inflate instead of smartly portioning and executing its lukewarm concept of environmental malevolence.