About Dying for Global Warming (HBO's The Head)
Post 997:
Big time spoilers:
I chose to go blind into this six-part series because, well, it’s only six parts. And the premise looked simple and interesting. I always like a good murder mystery set in an isolated location. This story takes place in Antarctica at a research station. Winter and darkness are upon a group of disparate but seemingly harmless colleagues. And then the bodies start dropping.
What you got here is a grislier version of an Agatha Christie type situation set in a really interesting place. The isolation and harsh conditions play on the psyches of the characters as much or more than the fact that people are bleeding out everywhere and no one knows who’s doing it.
I sort of did. Well. I did and then I didn’t. Then I did again. It’s a pretty crafty little story. Lots of red herrings. And it truly does a good job at keeping the tension up. It’s not like these people can go run for help. They’re on a slab of frigging ice. Oh, and of course the radio is down.
It almost lost me about episode four, but then I got pulled back. A few little nuggets start getting tossed our way. We learn that the main male protagonist’s wife is not the angel he thought she was. She wants credit for stopping climate change. This means covering up murder and blackmailing an entire group of people, essentially ruining their lives with shame and guilt. Because she cares about the world so much. Science!
The bad man who set the whole thing in motion by getting handsy and ultimately violent with a subordinate scientist is a real piece of crap. We know that from the beginning. But he gets played. Everyone gets played. It’s pretty nice, Antarctic justice—served up cold. Sorry, I had to.
The one sort of negative thing I’ll say is that the person who is behind most of the violence is a bit psycho. She deserves revenge, but geez. Oh and she murders at least one completely innocent guy. Another protective male goes down for the count. Sorry about that stabbing, honey.
The killer is just really good at manipulation and killing in a way that seems too easy. I still enjoyed it. And there isn’t a decent person in this deal besides the guys that show up to find the aftermath of the mayhem. So… entertaining!
All in all, pretty nice. You’re in and out, six hours where you can be glad you don’t live on an ice cube having to research global warming. Because that’s just ironic if you have any kind of sense of humor.
Cheers and see you after.
