Fortitude

:

Season 1
Season #: 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 98 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 69 out of 98
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 98
  3. Negative: 14 out of 98
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User Reviews

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  1. PoeticDumpling
    Feb 26, 2015
    10
    Each week this show gets weirder and weirder and better and better... this show isn't just another murder mystery... it is different... for that it wins major points. Just finished episode 6 and I am on pins and needles to see the rest of the season.
  2. mac5
    Mar 30, 2015
    10
    Fortitude is wonderfully weird, atmospheric and dark. With its equally strange and cold inhabitants, it captures the barren and hostile environment of living in remote wilderness and cautiously invites you to imagine living amongst them and experiencing the ambiguity of the next instalment of this eerie mystery. I love it.
  3. zouz123
    Mar 16, 2015
    8
    Nice twisty show that will give you hints and keep you guessing. It is indeed slow, but not boring, and has a good cast and a cool unconventional setting. Enjoying it immensely
  4. brutus1
    Mar 16, 2015
    10
    Really like the show. Super who done it. Not too many show keep me guessing,like this one. Writers of so many other shows don't keep the suspense. I feel like we are treated like morons,with no intelligence,when it comes to figuring out the who done it aspect of a show. PBS with their English mysteries is another good one for me,at least. I need a little more stimulus and enjoy theReally like the show. Super who done it. Not too many show keep me guessing,like this one. Writers of so many other shows don't keep the suspense. I feel like we are treated like morons,with no intelligence,when it comes to figuring out the who done it aspect of a show. PBS with their English mysteries is another good one for me,at least. I need a little more stimulus and enjoy the figuring out part, instead of watching some detective (except for "backstrom" another good series). Infrequent a little convoluted,but still enjoying the series. Thumbs up for an older baker… Expand
  5. thebomb
    Mar 19, 2015
    9
    Fortitude is not like any other murder and mystery crime series. Every single episode leaves you wondering what is going to happen next and bit by bit you get to know what's going on. It will probably need a bit of patience to get attached to it since Fortitude appears very confusing at first. The cast is brilliant, you'll see "newcomers" and well known actors such as Stanley Tucci (who isFortitude is not like any other murder and mystery crime series. Every single episode leaves you wondering what is going to happen next and bit by bit you get to know what's going on. It will probably need a bit of patience to get attached to it since Fortitude appears very confusing at first. The cast is brilliant, you'll see "newcomers" and well known actors such as Stanley Tucci (who is outstanding in this!) come together in this thrilling show with its absolutely fitting setting and theme.

    Give this show a chance, it deserves one!    … Expand
  6. Bhakti
    May 9, 2015
    9
    What a weird mystery show. But what a good one. Starting like a Scandinavian thriller series (The killing, The bridge etc.), although this is a British one, turning after about half the series into a series full of unexpected surprises and plots. Well acted by its actors of several nations. Fortunately there are plans to make a second series.
  7. pmchai12
    Feb 9, 2016
    10
    This show works in so many ways. The acting is superb, the writing wonderful, and the Arctic setting is persuasive--an inhabited island attempting to reinvent itself through the construction of a hotel built into the ice. The multi-faceted plot keeps the viewer wondering what in the world is going on until the final episode. A science-fiction element to the plot heightens the mystery.This show works in so many ways. The acting is superb, the writing wonderful, and the Arctic setting is persuasive--an inhabited island attempting to reinvent itself through the construction of a hotel built into the ice. The multi-faceted plot keeps the viewer wondering what in the world is going on until the final episode. A science-fiction element to the plot heightens the mystery. Though the acting is uniformly good, I find myself especially taken with the characters played by Michael Gambon and Stanley Tucci.… Expand
  8. Sunny33
    Apr 26, 2017
    0
    Can someone please tell me what this show is about? I'm at Episode 9 on Season 2. This movie seems to be made up of spare parts from someone's nightmare. I'm serious....what's the point? Are the writers deliberately obscuring the data that would make this show make sense?
  9. GSF1
    Apr 11, 2015
    3
    Fortitude lacks a coherent plot and the storyline that it has is contrived and annoying. The characters are undeveloped and un-engaging. It seems as though the writers tried to superimpose humanity on them by creating an absurd degree of emotional turmoil for every main character that manifested in soap opera revelations and melodramatic confrontations and speeches at many points in eachFortitude lacks a coherent plot and the storyline that it has is contrived and annoying. The characters are undeveloped and un-engaging. It seems as though the writers tried to superimpose humanity on them by creating an absurd degree of emotional turmoil for every main character that manifested in soap opera revelations and melodramatic confrontations and speeches at many points in each episode. Because the characters uniformly lack pathos, it just felt like an embarrassing display of emotion without context. It also made this cast of fine actors appear to be overacting much of the time. Points for the visual experience only.… Expand
  10. oDjento
    Feb 13, 2015
    6
    First episode in and the main thing i can ay is this: i am interested. There hasn't been too much character building and some parts just feel so oddly made along with being a bit convoluted at parts. However, the story is the interesting part at the moment as it's giving you little teases but leaving you in enough darkness to make it a mysterious watch. Acting seems decent overall, nothingFirst episode in and the main thing i can ay is this: i am interested. There hasn't been too much character building and some parts just feel so oddly made along with being a bit convoluted at parts. However, the story is the interesting part at the moment as it's giving you little teases but leaving you in enough darkness to make it a mysterious watch. Acting seems decent overall, nothing amazing but couldn't call anyone out for being bad yet really, and direction overall is kinda average. However, what gets this from a 5 to a 6 is the fact that you have no idea fully what is going on yet. I will continue watching this to see what ends up in conclusion of it. I will adjust my score as the series progresses but from episode 1 i'm giving it a 6/10 so far. Oh on a side note, whoever the sound editor was on this did an awful job. There's almost always a wind sound or buzzing kind of sound in every scene but gets cut out whenever dialogue comes in. It's extremely frustrating at some points.… Expand
  11. KristiMac
    Dec 10, 2015
    0
    This show was highly recommended by a friend whose taste I respect, and hence I tried very, very hard to like it - somehow I watched the entire season. Despite its intriguing premise and awesome setting, t's probably the poorest-quality BBC series I've ever seen. Acting quality is limited, cliches are abundant, dialogue is what you'd expect from some dumb network primetime show in theThis show was highly recommended by a friend whose taste I respect, and hence I tried very, very hard to like it - somehow I watched the entire season. Despite its intriguing premise and awesome setting, t's probably the poorest-quality BBC series I've ever seen. Acting quality is limited, cliches are abundant, dialogue is what you'd expect from some dumb network primetime show in the US. Stanley Tucci is useless. The sheriff - while very easy on the eyes - has a totally unbelievable school-kid crush that reduces him to middle-school maturity. Just awful all-around - exacerbated by its untapped potential.… Expand
  12. Humlo
    Apr 29, 2015
    2
    Fortitude started out with great potential, after episode 6 it lost the plot and just ran out of ideas. I was so disappointed that I had to back track and see what did miss. They made a mess out of a unique TV series and this was so disappointing It left me Flat.
  13. leelogan
    May 4, 2017
    0
    This is one of the worst shows I have ever seen. it almost has to be seen to be believed. Just when you think it can't get any worse, it does. Terrible writing and extremely annoying characters, even the high calibre of actors couldn't save it. Please see the other negative reviews, they are perfect.
  14. Bo33y
    Jan 30, 2015
    5
    The settings, theme, case, interesting enough to see conclusion.

    The characters, castings don't pull it off well, the content is stretched. Had this series descended into SyFi, some thing, almost bearable, otherwise painful watching drama unfold. Laughably comical attempts. Apex rage monsters reanimating. Throw lutefisk (herrings), charlie chaplin investigates the townsfolk of drunken    The settings, theme, case, interesting enough to see conclusion.

    The characters, castings don't pull it off well, the content is stretched. Had this series descended into SyFi, some thing, almost bearable, otherwise painful watching drama unfold. Laughably comical attempts. Apex rage monsters reanimating. Throw lutefisk (herrings), charlie chaplin investigates the townsfolk of drunken wind chimes, cluedo is now played until scenario ends.

    I believe a subtitled version would have worked better with any killing here.    … Expand
  15. RichardGonci
    Mar 29, 2015
    4
    I was really disposed to like this show at first, but now, it takes real "fortitude" for me to keep watching. My basic premise is that any show, no matter how bleak, has to have a few sympathetic characters. At this point, only the character portrayed by Stanley Tucci remotely fulfills that role... and even he is slipping. I can no longer recommend this show to any one who is not alreadyI was really disposed to like this show at first, but now, it takes real "fortitude" for me to keep watching. My basic premise is that any show, no matter how bleak, has to have a few sympathetic characters. At this point, only the character portrayed by Stanley Tucci remotely fulfills that role... and even he is slipping. I can no longer recommend this show to any one who is not already on anti-depressant meds.… Expand
  16. mastertouch
    Mar 1, 2015
    5
    This show allows its self conscious artistic focus to intrude on what should be the first matter in a mystery/murder story - the story. We are constantly presented with fabulous scenery and wonderful spectacle that diverts us but doesn't tell us anything about what is going on in the story - except that it is
    a very very cold place. Why can't anyone die there -- can't they fly the body    This show allows its self conscious artistic focus to intrude on what should be the first matter in a mystery/murder story - the story. We are constantly presented with fabulous scenery and wonderful spectacle that diverts us but doesn't tell us anything about what is going on in the story - except that it is
    a very very cold place. Why can't anyone die there -- can't they fly the body to a cemetery somewhere
    else? The long meaningful looks that the characters give each other and the general slowness and
    deliberation in everything revealed is annoying and very tedious. At times the speech seems muttered
    and difficult to hear and many shots have the main characters at the side of the screen. Is this place a
    town or part of a country? Why does nothing tell us enough to be interested in the story or to at least
    understand most of it. Maybe lots of scenes were cut out? I will attempt to continue watching but will
    try to do so in the morning when I am less likely to laugh or fall asleep.    … Expand
  17. handmade32
    Apr 6, 2015
    6
    For those who remember Twin Peaks, the wonderful, weird, engaging, psycho-thriller from David Lynch,.... well Fortitude isn't one of those. No really likeable characters except for Alena and the investigator, DCI Morton, and a number of real life fails, ...perhaps its the unrelenting bleakness and cold. However, you'd think that as more than half the cast are supposed to be beFor those who remember Twin Peaks, the wonderful, weird, engaging, psycho-thriller from David Lynch,.... well Fortitude isn't one of those. No really likeable characters except for Alena and the investigator, DCI Morton, and a number of real life fails, ...perhaps its the unrelenting bleakness and cold. However, you'd think that as more than half the cast are supposed to be be Icelandic-Nordic-Russian types, you'd think they might be used to the conditions

    Minor fail 1: A highly competent, stoic physician and medical researcher and late baby boomer, names her daughter 'Shirley', a 40's- 50's name, ...really!?

    Major fail 1: Said Dr. Allardyce doesn't notice that her daughter is becoming morbidly obese over time to the point that it is life threatening, at the hands of a psychopathic 'feeder'. Very unlikely!

    This series isn't Twin Peaks Nor is it Lost (before it got ridiculous), The Wire or Broadchurch. At Episode 7, I'm giving up    … Expand
  18. Delilah53
    Apr 12, 2015
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I am amazed that anyone could rate this series (apart from the marvellous scenery). Cast turned into 'zombies' because - wait for it - they were infected by killer wasps from a prehistoric mammoth. Wasps not only ate their insides and sometimes exploded out of every orifice, but also caused said zombies to slash and disembowel others.
    Lost all credibility around episode 3. No amount of high quality casting could make up for derisory plot.
    Come on... please!!!    … Expand
  19. bellmooney
    Apr 13, 2015
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It started well enough and has by now degenerated into unintended comedy. The immature poetics are of the Frankenstein variety, cobbled together into an ungainly mess, but somehow watchable just to see where the ridiculousness will all end among such a stellar cast trying to accommodate the genre trampling script. The show has however achieved a wonder moment of self recognition at the end of episode 10, with the faux-tough, pretending-to-love schoolteacher (aka the writer / director) watching his bloated well fed girlfriend (aka the script), sail off into to a faux epic Norske ending (the burning boat going to Valhalla). Deeply satisfying and hilarious.… Expand
  20. shoulderoforion
    Mar 19, 2017
    7
    Over the top but different, I dig the Scandinavian world apart setting, Tucci makes everything better. Dug this season, was looking forward to the next one.
  21. HiDef-Jules
    Sep 3, 2015
    10
    A wonderfully original and intriguing series. Great acting, cinematography and excellently constructed. The complex narrative was handled perfectly to maintain a sense of intrigue and foreboding throughout - highly recommended.
  22. erom1943
    Aug 30, 2017
    6
    This show had huge potential that was thrown away in the second half of this season. I watched the first 5 or so episodes with baited breath, and was treated to one mysterious turn after another. And then things got unreal. Over the top is another way to put it. Concept and acting was fine, but then plot revelations started leaning toward the outer limits. Irrational reactions to bothThis show had huge potential that was thrown away in the second half of this season. I watched the first 5 or so episodes with baited breath, and was treated to one mysterious turn after another. And then things got unreal. Over the top is another way to put it. Concept and acting was fine, but then plot revelations started leaning toward the outer limits. Irrational reactions to both personal issues, as well outside events, made this plot less and less believable. And.....believability is what makes a sci fi mystery enjoyable (to me). As always, Stanley Tucci was superb. Hate to see him go.… Expand
  23. TheMikeT
    Jul 21, 2015
    9
    A wonderfully dark and morbid story with a great cast - and one standout questionable casting choice.

    Why is Stanley Tucci in this show? How is it that an American is investigating for Scotland Yard? Had they run out of British character actors to play policemen? I find that hard to believe. I suspect it was a sop to North American audiences and, while I admire Mr.Tucci for his body    A wonderfully dark and morbid story with a great cast - and one standout questionable casting choice.

    Why is Stanley Tucci in this show? How is it that an American is investigating for Scotland Yard? Had they run out of British character actors to play policemen? I find that hard to believe.

    I suspect it was a sop to North American audiences and, while I admire Mr.Tucci for his body of work, found his character completely out of place in this story.

    But enough about production decisions... this show has such a great cast:
    Richard Dormer as the Sheriff - troubled, torn and twisted - he's no white hat.
    Sofie Grabel as the mayor, captivating as always.
    Christopher Eccleston as the head of the research station - always a quality performance.
    Nicholas Pinnock as the very flawed Search and Rescue pilot.
    Jessica Raine as his long-suffering wife and a stand-out performance from Darwin Brokenbro as their son.

    And the inimitable Michael Gambon - adds a touch of class to any production.

    I looked at it this way: my wife hates 'spooky' programs, abhors Sci-Fi, doesn't really enjoy graphic bloody scenes - and she loved it. This was THE show she would ask me about when it came to 'what do you want to watch tonight, dear?'

    Class will out. Brilliant premise, brilliant writing and a top-notch cast. I would watch it again, even now knowing what happens.    … Expand
  24. gxm143
    Aug 12, 2017
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. An excellent series, well acted and unpredictable. But fair warning, there are plenty of stomach turning scenes: canibalism, human disembowelments, self-castrations, bears eating humans. I had to turn away.… Expand
  25. Kamamura
    Aug 3, 2022
    2
    The beginning was interesting mainly due to the setting, but the more the "story" advanced, the more it was obvious, that the script writer, whoever she or he is, cannot write. It mixes way too many tried and tested props of the genre including zombies, and the result is a nauseauting ghoulash. The main problem is the broken logic of the plot and "clever" characters who act like totalThe beginning was interesting mainly due to the setting, but the more the "story" advanced, the more it was obvious, that the script writer, whoever she or he is, cannot write. It mixes way too many tried and tested props of the genre including zombies, and the result is a nauseauting ghoulash. The main problem is the broken logic of the plot and "clever" characters who act like total morons. Mediocre.… Expand
  26. scottmurphy911
    Sep 16, 2018
    8
    Amazing visual filming, strong cast, action packed and intense. Quite a few twists and turns in this sci-fi, horror, murder mystery mix. I just finished season 1 and am struck with how much this could have been written as a collaboration of Crichton and King. Few holes that I am hoping will get filled in season 2. Overall Excellent!
  27. WorldofLucky
    May 14, 2018
    8
    Fortitude is a fictional location in Artic Norway, with an unusual population consisting of a lot of people not from Norway. It is almost a direct comparison to the way that Alaska was for the USA for a long time, comprised not of locals but of people from different parts of the country/world trying to either start something new, or get away from something old.

    The basic concept is    Fortitude is a fictional location in Artic Norway, with an unusual population consisting of a lot of people not from Norway. It is almost a direct comparison to the way that Alaska was for the USA for a long time, comprised not of locals but of people from different parts of the country/world trying to either start something new, or get away from something old.

    The basic concept is about a company trying to build a vacation getaway/go to location in the artic, while there are also a research facility and some sort of mining/oil location. All of this is in danger when a headless body is discovered, a murderer is lose and there is something more then a banal human doing the killing.

    The acting is great, and the writing makes it feel like these people do know each other. You can feel them sort of group together when Stanley Tucci comes in as a British investigator for the death, and Tucci’s struggle to find out what actually happened.

    The whole storyline is over by the end of the season, they wrap up the killer and supernatural parts of it cleanly, leaving the show with a solid conclusion. I very much enjoy this with British shows, the idea that the season can stand alone.

    The one down part is the show does drag a little. It gets slower in the middle then I would like, and that could be my American take on shows, but they could have reduced this from a 12 episode show to a 10 episode show and it would have only been better

    I suspect part of this is the show starts to have a lot of relationship drama, where they really shouldn’t be, and slows down the story just for drama’s sake. Never a good thing.

    Pros: Excellent acting, writing, location.

    Cons: Could have been a little shorter, a little less relationship drama that went nowhere.

    Caught my interest enough I will have to see what Season 2 will be about.    … Expand
  28. geewah
    Jan 12, 2021
    7
    What starts out as a regular murder mystery quickly changes tact in this compelling series.

Awards & Rankings

59
#59 Best TV Season of 2015
57
#57 Most Discussed TV Season of 2015
66
#66 Most Shared TV Season of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Vox.com
    Reviewed by: Emily VanDerWerff
    Jan 29, 2015
    80
    Fortitude turns out to be an intriguing blend of things a bunch of different nations' television networks do really well.
    Read full review
  2. The Huffington Post
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    Jan 29, 2015
    80
    Fortitude reminds me of "Borgen" because neither show is loud; nothing about this kind of drama is bombastic or outsized. Fortitude takes its time as it builds up its icy, workaday world and depicts the day to day lives of its residents.
    Read full review
  3. RedEye
    Reviewed by: Curt Wagner
    Jan 29, 2015
    100
    An enigmatic and engrossing whodunit that should move to the top of everyone's DVR queue.
    Read full review
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