Fortitude (TV series)

Fortitude
Genre
Created by Simon Donald
Starring
Opening theme "Peeling Off the Layers" by Wildbirds & Peacedrums
Composer(s) Ben Frost
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 1
No. of episodes 12 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Simon Donald
  • Anne Mensah
  • Cameron Roach
  • Patrick Spence
  • Frith Tiplady
  • Andrew Woodhead
Producer(s) Matthew Bird
Location(s) Iceland
Running time 49 minutes
Production company(s)
Distributor Endemol UK
Release
Original network Sky Atlantic
Picture format 16:9
Original release 29 January 2015 (2015-01-29) – present
External links
Website

Fortitude is a British psychological thriller television series created and written by Simon Donald. A 12-episode series was commissioned by Sky Atlantic in 2013, and started airing on 29 January 2015.[1][2][3] The series is set in the fictional Arctic Norwegian settlement of Fortitude. On 9 April 2015, Sky Atlantic recommissioned the show for a second series consisting of 10 episodes.[4]

Location

Fortitude is a fictional community located on Svalbard in Arctic Norway. It is described as an international community, with inhabitants from many parts of the world (population 800 inhabitants and 4 police officers).[5] The series was filmed in both the UK and in Reyðarfjörður, Iceland.[6][7]

Casting

American actor Stanley Tucci appears in his first British television role as Detective Chief Inspector Morton from London's Metropolitan Police, who has flown to the peaceful close-knit community of Fortitude, as the local sheriff, played by Richard Dormer, investigates a violent murder. Christopher Eccleston plays Charlie Stoddart, a British scientist who leads the arctic biology department at the Fortitude arctic research facility. Michael Gambon portrays Henry Tyson, a wildlife photographer who is dying of cancer.[8] The Killing star Sofie Gråbøl plays the governor of Fortitude in her first UK television drama role.[9]

Cast

Main cast

Recurring cast

Episodes

Series 1 (2015)

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date UK viewers
(millions)[11]
1/2"Episode 1/2"Sam MillerSimon Donald29 January 2015 (2015-01-29)1.53
In the town of Fortitude, photographer Henry Tyson accidentally shoots a man being mauled by a polar bear. Sheriff Dan Anderssen convinces Henry to leave the scene and leave everything to him. Three months later, Liam Sutter faints after taking a walk with his friend, Carrie Morgan. Liam's parents, Frank and Jules Sutter, look after him, as he is feverish and will not open his eyes. Professor Charlie Stoddart is approached by a man named Jason who has found the carcass of an extinct mammoth. Stoddart tells Governor Hildur Odegard that he will not release his report, which would allow a hotel to be built into the nearby glacier, as he believes further carcasses can be found in this area. Scientist Vincent Rattrey discovers the murdered body of Charlie Stoddart. Sheriff Anderssen was also at Stoddard's house, and Rattrey is arrested on suspicion of killing Stoddart. Meanwhile Frank and Jules have a row after Jules reveals she has asked for her son to be taken to the mainland hospital, because she believes her son's illness to be something far more than mumps as first thought by Dr. Allardyce (who Jules has said she doesn't trust). Frank is clearly not happy at this, and he and Jules argue; soon after Jules takes off in her car leaving Frank to tend to Liam. Frank's mistress Elena Ledesma turns up at the house and they have sex in the nearby garage. Liam wakes up, opens up his bedroom window, and climbs out onto the snow bare-foot. Jules returns home some hours later to find Liam awake and talking and saying he is hungry, much to the relief of his parents. His parents go into the kitchen but soon hear him screaming that his feet are on fire - his father pulls back the covers to discover he has frostbite on both his feet. Liam is admitted to hospital and a staff member explains what will happen to Liam while he is there as a result of his condition and comments on their poor parenting. Jules confronts Frank in the hospital waiting room while Liam is asleep in his hospital room.
3"Episode 3"Sam MillerSimon Donald5 February 2015 (2015-02-05)1.26
Sheriff Andersen and the police close in on their murder suspect, while DCI Morton who turns up in Fortitude follows a different line of inquiry. It is revealed DCI Morton left London before Stoddard's murder was reported. The chief suspect for the murder of Charlie Stoddart is Natalie Yelburton, another scientist who works with Dr. Stoddart and is missing. Dr Stoddart, Yelburton and Rattrey were to meet at Stoddard's home presumably to discuss the glacier area potentially being a huge scientific find and possibly to corroborate Stoddart's report to the Governor, which would halt the development and building of the glacier hotel. Such a discovery thwarts the plans for the hotel to be finally built.
4"Episode 4"Richard LaxtonStephen Brady12 February 2015 (2015-02-12)1.10
5"Episode 5"Richard LaxtonSimon Donald19 February 2015 (2015-02-19)1.15
6"Episode 6"Hettie MacDonaldSimon Donald26 February 2015 (2015-02-26)1.15
7"Episode 7"Hettie MacDonaldTom Butterworth & Chris Hurford5 March 2015 (2015-03-05)1.05
8"Episode 8"Hettie MacDonaldBen Richards12 March 2015 (2015-03-12)1.00
9"Episode 9"Nick HurranStephen Brady19 March 2015 (2015-03-19)1.03
10"Episode 10"Nick HurranTom Butterworth & Chris Hurford26 March 2015 (2015-03-26)0.87
11"Episode 11"Sam MillerSimon Donald2 April 2015 (2015-04-02)0.82
12"Episode 12"Sam MillerSimon Donald9 April 2015 (2015-04-09)1.06

Reception

Critics gave positive reviews. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave the first season an 88% rating with an average score rating of 7.7 out of 10 based on 26 critic reviews. The critical consensus reads "Fortitude's fine cast, deliberate pacing, and chilling setting provide the show with more than enough of the titular quality."[12] Metacritic gave the first season a score of 75 out of 100, which indicates "generally favorable reviews" based on 15 critic reviews.[13]

Broadcast

In the United States and Canada, the series premiered on 29 January 2015 (the same date as the UK) on Pivot and Super Channel, respectively.[14][15] The series debuted in Australia on 15 February 2015 on ABC.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Sky Vision announces FORTITUDE presales in advance of star-studded launch at MIPCOM". Sky Vision. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  2. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (24 January 2014). "Stanley Tucci, Michael Gambon, Christopher Eccleston to Star in Sky's 'Fortitude'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  3. ↑ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (19 December 2014). "Pivot Sets Jan. 29 Premiere for Stanley Tucci Drama 'Fortitude'". Variety. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Rigby, Sam (9 April 2015). "Fortitude renewed for second series by Sky Atlantic". Digital Spy. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  5. ↑ Gilbert, Gerard (27 January 2015). "Our fascination with the Arctic from Greek myths to Sky Atlantic's new drama Fortitude". The Independent. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  6. ↑ Wareing, Charlotte (25 January 2014). "Harry Potter star Michael Gambon to join Stanley Tucci for new Sky Atlantic drama Fortitude". The Mirror. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  7. ↑ Davis, Serena (27 January 2015). "Fortitude: behind the scenes of Sky's most expensive drama ever". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  8. ↑ Jeffery, Morgan (24 January 2014). "Stanley Tucci, Christopher Eccleston to star in Sky Atlantic drama". Digital Spy. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  9. ↑ "The Killing star Sofie Gråbøl in new British TV drama". The Telegraph. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Eames, Tom (2 February 2016). "Fortitude series 2 adds Dennis Quaid, Game of Thrones star Michelle Fairley, Robert Sheehan and ER's Parminder Nagra". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  11. ↑ "Weekly Top 10 Programmes (See relevant weeks and scroll down to Sky Atlantic)". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  12. ↑ "Fortitude: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "Fortitude: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  14. ↑ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (19 December 2014). "Pivot Sets Jan. 29 Premiere for Stanley Tucci Drama 'Fortitude'". Variety. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  15. ↑ Moore, Frazier (29 January 2015). "Fortitude a gripping murder mystery set in Arctic". The Star. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  16. ↑ Knox, David (23 January 2015). "Airdate: Fortitude. Returning: Broadchurch.". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 January 2015.

External links

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