(Original post at The National Student)
Uncharted is a weirdly disjointed episode of three distinct parts- the jungle wanderings of castaway Claire, her recovery-come-captivity at Father Fogden’s home, and her blissful reunion with Jamie.
Waking up in the ocean, Claire finds herself drifting in the shallows of a nearby island. Intrepid explorer that she is, Claire goes in search of civilisation in an attempt to warn Jamie of his potential arrest.
Her experience walking through the wilderness is convincingly horrible, as Claire battles heat, thirst, and local wildlife over a three-day trek. Kudos to the makeup department for transforming someone as ethereally beautiful as Caitriona Balfe into a sweaty, ant-riddled mess.
Yet, despite the emphasis on Claire’s journey, the first third of Uncharted doesn’t add much to the story beyond discomfort, and at times it’s simply dull.
It takes until Claire finally collapses and is rescued by former priest Father Fogden for the episode to really heat up.
Father Fogden, whilst being a well-meaning sort of guy, is clearly affected by the death of his beloved wife Ermenegilda fifteen years ago. When he’s not grieving Ermenegilda, Fogden spends his days smoking psychotropic plants and talking to a coconut named Coco as part of a highly prescient homage to Cast Away.
Ermenegilda’s mother Mamacita is no fan of Claire and her futuristic zip technology. Although she’s all for kicking Claire out, Father Fogden insists that Claire must stay and recover before she can be shown the way to Jamaica. Naturally, Claire’s having none of this.
Luckily for Claire, the Artemis is undergoing repairs after storms that killed many crewmen. RIP Captain Raines et al, victims of narrative convenience.
Bethan Ackerley 