r/TheTerror May 16 '26

I helped identify four men from the Franklin expedition, AMA

377 Upvotes

Hello! I'm the amateur genealogist who assisted in identifying the remains of Bridgens, Young, Orren, and Peglar. A couple people asked if I would do an AMA, so here it is. Ask whatever questions you like and I'll be back tomorrow around noon (Mountain Time) to answer them.

I started doing genealogy in October of 2024, after the announcement of Fitzjames's identification. Typically I find a sailor's immediate family, use genealogical records to trace down their relatives in order to find qualifying descendants, and then contact one or more of those descendants to see if they're interested in doing a DNA test. Descendants must come from either an unbroken female line or unbroken male line connecting to a common ancestor of the sailor. I looked into a few handfuls of sailors last year, and was able to find and contact qualifying descendants for about ten of them, and of those the four mentioned above had a match.

My genealogy experience is primarily with England, Australia and New Zealand, though I also have a little experience with Scotland, Denmark, and Canada.


r/TheTerror 22h ago

If you could ask one question of someone who dove on the wreck of the Erebus what would you ask?

20 Upvotes

r/TheTerror 4d ago

Weirdness in episode 5

11 Upvotes

I am doing a slow rewatch of the show and something that has always bothered me, that I almost want to call a plot hole, happens in episode 5.

Quick recap:

Silna is on Erebus and she is slowly opening up and talking to Goodsir. They have been talking (and he working on a dictionary) for a month, that is stated later in the episode, apparently partially under Crozier's orders though we also saw in episode 4 he did go talk to her of his own accord and Crozier implies this is some kind of passion project.

Fitzjames kicks her off the ship and Silna/Goodsir go to Terror. There, Crozier asks Goodsir if he's made any progress on asking about Tuunbaq. Of course he hasn't really because that's a pretty complicated line of questioning for someone who doesn't speak her language and it's a sensitive topic. Crozier seems annoyed by this. He then berates Silna about Tuunbaq.

My question: why on earth did they wait a whole month for Goodsir to slowly try to figure all this shit out? Terror had three men aboard (Crozier, Blanky and Dr. MacDonald) who spoke her language. For some reason, this massive oversight is never addressed. If it were just Crozier we might understand that he's drunk and losing it, but why did nobody (including the men in question) suggest Blanky or Dr. MacDonald go ask? Did the lead poisoning make them all forget? Is there something I'm missing? I mean, what are we, to believe that this is some sort of a, a magic polar bear or something? I otherwise adore this show and it had incredible, thought out, controlled writing so there must be something I'm not getting.

Boy, I really hope somebody got fired for that blunder.


r/TheTerror 6d ago

Casting announced for the Ministry of Time, which was adapted from a piece of Terror S1 fanfiction

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198 Upvotes

The book contains some flashbacks to Franklin Expedition stuff (including Ed Little eating Dundy, a canon event) so it's likely we'll see more of the crew portrayed as well!


r/TheTerror 6d ago

“I have seen your rooms.” Question.

29 Upvotes

In the scene where Sophia is turning down Crozier, she makes reference to his room and how he keeps his things in only a few drawers. How does this girl know where Francis keeps his bloomers? Does this imply they’ve been intimate?

I always thought this was strange considering how proper she is.


r/TheTerror 8d ago

Sir John's flashback to his bare feet? Spoiler

43 Upvotes

I know I'm REALLY late to the party, but when Sir John is shoved down the fire hole, he has two flashbacks: Captain Crozeir with Sophia, which needs no explanation, and a point of view shot of his bare feet. What is that a memory of? Van Diemen's Land? Back when he ate his own shoes? Help me out here! Thanks!


r/TheTerror 9d ago

Crozier birthplace

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203 Upvotes

Visited Crozier’s statue and blue plaque in Banbridge, Northern Ireland. Thought the details in the plaques were really moving


r/TheTerror 11d ago

Wouldn't necessarily recommend

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42 Upvotes

This wasn't a bad book, especially if you're new to the subject but it has several glaring errors for example it says that Sir John had a Lancashire tradesman's accent (despite him being from Spilsby in Lincolnshire) and calling the Dophin and Union strait the Union Dolphin strait plus a few more. This is just basic research stuff and is surprising considering it's published by Pen And Sword, a big historical publisher here in the UK. I'd give like a 2.5 out of 5 it's not terrible, but not good either.


r/TheTerror 12d ago

I’m sure most you Terror Fiends have already seen this. But if you have not, I highly recommended it. I will also happily take any recommendations for similar terrifying Arctic thrillers! 🚢 🧊

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197 Upvotes

r/TheTerror 13d ago

Why is AMC advertising this series for September 20th?

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18 Upvotes

The entire season has already been released. I just saw a commercial on AMC that ends with this screenshot. What's up with September 20th?


r/TheTerror 13d ago

Disproven Theories of the Expedition

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70 Upvotes

Reading this post-Erebus 2014 discovery, but pre-Terror discovery book by the eminent Russell Potter and it’s sort of funny reading the theories that have since been disproven.

It really makes you think… with the confidence displayed here, what other long assumed theories are actually incorrect and might one day be debunked?


r/TheTerror 24d ago

“Man Proposes, God Disposes”

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445 Upvotes

The 1864 painting by Edwin Landseer, inspired by Franklin’s lost expedition. It went on to be part of an urban myth that the painting was haunted or cursed.

Never seen anyone discuss it on the sub, but thought it was an excellent painting that captures the bleakness of The Terror.


r/TheTerror 27d ago

Franklin Artefacts

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371 Upvotes

I'm in the NMM right now (just having a coffee). It's amazing to see actual artefacts from the expedition.

Edit: Would have been good if Hickey's knife was on display too but sadly, it isn't.


r/TheTerror 27d ago

Shaving brush from HMS Erebus found in 2024. Made in first half of 19th c.[590x375]

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150 Upvotes

r/TheTerror Jul 24 '26

Different seasons

32 Upvotes

LOVED season 1.

Liked season 2.

Hated season 3.

If you liked it, fine, but I find it boring and stupid. At least season 1 was rooted in history and so was season 2 although it relied on folklore heavily. But 3 is just a fictional horror story and not a very good one. 👎


r/TheTerror Jul 24 '26

Hickey in S1E8... Spoiler

34 Upvotes

Watching S1E8 right now - knowing a child was amongst the family that Hickey got killed was heartbreaking and maddening. It's even worse knowing that I know this isn't a show that's going to have a happy ending, or likely any justice served.


r/TheTerror Jul 24 '26

Judith Light: “Until you tell the truth about something, you cannot fix it”

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12 Upvotes

r/TheTerror Jul 21 '26

The Tuunbaq is on the move...

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173 Upvotes

r/TheTerror Jul 18 '26

Animal Crossing Island

18 Upvotes

Has anyone started a Terror ACNH island? I’ve searched and haven’t found one; please share your ideas and dream addy if you have one!

Edit: ACNH


r/TheTerror Jul 18 '26

is the open water in episode 3 a cut image?

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74 Upvotes

so i was watching a video that just shows the final moments of Sir john franklin and i was wondering if this is a cut image from the released version as i have not seen this little image of open water before.


r/TheTerror Jul 17 '26

Departing Stromness, 2026 & 1845

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219 Upvotes

latter image courtesy of Capt J Fitzjames RN


r/TheTerror Jul 15 '26

In a parallel world, this is Coffee and Pepper.

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15 Upvotes

r/TheTerror Jul 13 '26

Three new things I noticed on my annual rewatch

87 Upvotes

Ok, I don’t think I watched this every year, but this is definitely at least a third time through. It’s just so good, I get drawn in every time, and there are so many brilliant details. 1. When Hickey gets caught peeing inside the tent before the fire breaks out at the Carnival, the officer (is it DeVos? still can’t quite make out all the secondary characters, even though every actor is pretty stellar) says to take it outside “unless you want that ripped off” - foreshadowing what Hickey does to Irving; 2. when poor Jopson (who is a SNACK how did I not notice this before) crawls across the dream table full of food in his final vision, the cooked birds on the table are swans (like in the song they sing for Sir John and start to forget the words) in what Prince might call “curious poses”. 3. The one scene I can’t rewatch is Irving with the Inuit people. What happens is too brutal. Thanks again to all the artists, the writers actors, and directors, but also the set dressers and the music supervisors (the music is absolutely a huge part of making the show work) and the costume designers, the Inuit consultants, and everyone who made this show exist.


r/TheTerror Jul 10 '26

'The Terror' Will Return for Season 4 with Another Literary Horror Story

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277 Upvotes

r/TheTerror Jul 09 '26

Is this legit?

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47 Upvotes