The reviews are positive without exception, and most critics land in the same place: this is a handsome, well-acted, slow-burning horror that earns its dread. The praise clusters on atmosphere first, the sense of Arctic isolation and the steady accumulation of cold, hunger and men turning on one another, and on the cast second. Jared Harris is named more than anyone, with Ciarán Hinds and Tobias Menzies close behind. Several critics also single out the production design, which they find convincing as history and unsettling as horror.
The reservations are mild and do not cluster. The Telegraph finds the supernatural element unnecessary. Vulture thinks ten hours is too long. The Guardian wants more claustrophobia from the ice and notes uneven pacing, while Variety calls it fine as far as it goes, the coolest note here. The spread is narrow, from good to outstanding, with Collider at the top declaring it one of the scariest series in years.