A Japanese-American family are interred by a paranoid US government in World War II, but a more pressing threat is the evil from their homeland that has followed them across the ocean

I must confess to being surprised when I read that AMC’s tale of the fateful voyage of the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror was being followed up – it was a complete story with a definite ending. Instead, while this season continues the umbrella title of The Terror, the story is not based on Dan Simmons’ novel, but instead a more recent tragedy.

A young lady stabs herself through the ear with a hairpin, setting into motion the concern that evil spirits have followed the new generation of Japanese-Americans; they are already conflicted between keeping their old traditions and fitting in to their new home on Terminal Island, California. Chester (Derek Mio) is born in America, reassuring his parents Henry and Asako (Torchwood’s Naoko Mori) that the new generation are not bigoted… and how wrong he is. Aside from being idealistic he also has a Mexican immigrant girlfriend, Luz (Cristina Rodlo) and it’s evident that things are about to go very wrong.

Star Trek’s George Takei serves as a consultant on the show (he and his family were interned in the 1940s) as well as playing community elder Yamato-san, a man that has seen it all. The fact that this terror has happened within living memory brings an added verisimilitude to the show, and sadly the points being made about immigration have not been resolved in the intervening 75-plus years.

In the episode’s closing minutes, Executive Order 9066 is brought into force and the community ripped apart. Paranoia and desire for revenge following the attack on Pearl Harbor see thousands of people of Japanese ancestry displaced to camps, for fear that they may be helping the enemy, and it’s this horror that’s brought to the fore in the season opener.

Verdict: The supernatural elements are present but are dialled-back in the first episode of AMC’s historical horror series which doesn’t want to show its hand too early. Excellent period design and likeable characters mean that we’re invested in this quality show from the off, raising the age old question about who the real monsters are. 8/10

Nick Joy