Miniseries · HBO
The Third Day
There are things here you cannot escape.
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
Jude Law
Sam
6 eps
Katherine Waterston
Jess
6 eps
Freya Allan
Kail
6 eps
John Dagleish
Larry
6 eps
Mark Lewis Jones
Jason
6 eps
Börje Lundberg
Professor Mimir
6 eps
Paddy Considine
Mr. Martin
6 eps
Emily Watson
Mrs. Martin
6 eps
Jessie Ross
Epona
3 eps
Richard Bremmer
The Father
3 eps
Tai Golding
1 eps
Tabitha Byron
Dig Girl
1 eps
Mani Lad
2 eps
Stanley Auckland
Boy with Glasses
4 eps
Lauren Byrne
Mya
4 eps
Sonera Angel
Wallpapering Young Woman
3 eps
Nico Parker
Ellie
3 eps
Charlotte Gairdner-Mihell
Talulah
3 eps
Paul Kaye
Cowboy
3 eps
George Potts
Alan
3 eps
Anna Calder-Marshall
Margaret
3 eps
Hilton McRae
Janny
3 eps
Naomie Harris
Helen
3 eps
Joe Blakemore
The Smiling Boy
6 eps
Henry Thomas
Boy
1 eps
Amar Chadha-Patel
Preacher
5 eps
Tom Lawrence
Tomo
4 eps
Will Rogers
Danny
3 eps
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How The Third Day actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
The Third Day reads strongest on Bingeability, Character Depth and Serialized.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
The story
What it's about
A unique story told over two distinct halves, "Summer" follows Sam, a man drawn to a mysterious island off the British coast where he encounters a group of islanders set on preserving their traditions at any cost. "Winter" follows Helen, a strong-willed outsider who comes to the island seeking answers, but whose arrival precipitates a fractious battle to decide its fate.
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.
S01E01 · Signature episode
Friday - The Father
After Sam, a London family man in crisis, rescues a troubled young girl in the woods, he brings her home to the ominous Osea Island, where inhabitants are preparing for a curious annual festival involving the island's history. As he meets Osea's secretive locals, Sam grows increasingly desperate to return to the mainland to make an important call - but the island proves difficult to escape.
- Directed by Marc Munden
- Written by Dennis Kelly
S01E03 · Signature episode
Sunday - The Ghost
Sam is shocked to learn the truth about his connection to Osea and the islanders’ intentions for his future. Later, in a fight for his life, Sam tries desperately to escape their clutches and make it back to the mainland in one piece.
- Directed by Marc Munden
- Written by Dennis Kelly
S01E04 · Signature episode
Monday - The Mother
Winter. Helen surprises her two daughters, Tallulah and Ellie, with a trip to Osea Island for Ellie's birthday. After finding that the cottage she booked is suspiciously no longer available, Helen scours the island for a place to stay, but finds resistance at every turn.
- Directed by Philippa Lowthorpe
- Written by Dean O'Loughlin, Kit de Waal
S01E05 · Signature episode
Tuesday - The Daughter
As the islanders prepare for a fateful birth, Helen reveals her true intentions in coming to Osea and, after joining a search party, is pressed on her past. A peculiar girl befriends Ellie and offers to take her to a mysterious place closed off to outsiders.
- Directed by Philippa Lowthorpe
- Written by Dean O'Loughlin, Kit de Waal
S01E06 · Signature episode
Last Day - The Dark
Helen protects her family as tensions come to a dramatic conclusion.
- Directed by Philippa Lowthorpe
- Written by Dennis Kelly
S01E02
Saturday - The Son
Plagued by a disturbing dream, Sam awakes to find himself in a compromising situation and, having missed the morning crossing to return to the mainland, spends the day trying to learn more about the islanders’ beliefs. After a series of confusing and terrifying events leaves him shaken, Sam quickly plots a way off Osea with Jess, but is convinced to stay put as the islanders prepare for a dry run of their big event.
- Directed by Marc Munden
- Written by Dennis Kelly
Recently aired
Latest Episodes
S01E06 · Signature episode
Last Day - The Dark
- Directed by Philippa Lowthorpe
- Written by Dennis Kelly
S01E05 · Signature episode
Tuesday - The Daughter
- Directed by Philippa Lowthorpe
- Written by Dean O'Loughlin, Kit de Waal
S01E04 · Signature episode
Monday - The Mother
- Directed by Philippa Lowthorpe
- Written by Dean O'Loughlin, Kit de Waal
S00E01
The Third Day: Autumn
- Directed by Marc Munden, Felix Barrett
- Written by Felix Barrett, Dennis Kelly
S01E03 · Signature episode
Sunday - The Ghost
- Directed by Marc Munden
- Written by Dennis Kelly
S01E02
Saturday - The Son
- Directed by Marc Munden
- Written by Dennis Kelly
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
- Photo unavailable
Felix Barrett
Creator
Dennis Kelly
Showrunner
Marc Munden
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Cameron Roach
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Liz Lewin
Executive producer
Dede Gardner
Executive producer
Jeremy Kleiner
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Kate Crowe
Executive producer
Philippa Lowthorpe
Executive producer
Brad Pitt
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Dean O'Loughlin
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Kit de Waal
Writer
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Marc MundenExecutive Producer
- Cameron RoachExecutive Producer
- Felix BarrettExecutive Producer
- Liz LewinExecutive Producer
- Adrian SturgesProducer
- Dede GardnerExecutive Producer
Writing
- Dean O'LoughlinWriter
- Kit de WaalWriter
- Dennis KellyWriter
Direction
- Marc MundenDirector
- Philippa LowthorpeDirector
Cinematography
- David ChizalletDirector of Photography
- Benjamin KračunDirector of Photography
Music
- Dickon HinchliffeOriginal Music Composer
- Cristóbal Tapia de VeerOriginal Music Composer
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- Amazon VideoBuy
- Apple TV StoreBuy
- HBO Max Amazon ChannelStreaming
- Fandango At HomeBuy
- YouTube TVStreaming
- HBO MaxStreaming
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