The six-part Netflix limited series Below concludes with a revelation that reframes its central conflict, shifting the focus from a mysterious sea creature to human greed and environmental concerns. The finale sees protagonist Calvin Penney (Josh Hartnett) confront the truth behind the escalating events in his hometown of Snook's Arm, Newfoundland.
A Family's Awakening
For much of its run, Below presented itself as a creature feature, with an unidentified cephalopod terrorizing the town and exerting a strange influence over Calvin's son, Wade (Charlie Heaton). However, the penultimate episode unveils a hidden mining permit, revealing the wealthy Crocker family's intention to exploit the town's cobalt and copper deposits. Simultaneously, marine biologist Fonda Howander (Mackenzie Davis) discovers that the creature is a mother defending her nest within an iceberg. This duality sets the stage for the finale: the monster is a refugee, and the supposed saviors are the real antagonists.
"The whole story has been a kind of slow awakening for Calvin," creator Jesse McKeown told TIME. "That's what the finale is: eyes wide open. What are you going to do now?"
Calvin's journey culminates in a powerful speech to his children, acknowledging that the town's struggles were not a curse but a result of the Crockers' exploitation. "All my life, I thought we was cursed, like there was something in our blood, boiled in our bones," Calvin declares. "Blaming myself for every little thing that went wrong... Turns out, there is no curse. There's only the Crockers."
The Creature's Plight and Human Response
Fonda, initially focused on the scientific implications of the creature, grapples with its fate. Her colleague Barry's death fuels a "deep well of rage," yet she argues for the creature's right to be studied rather than eliminated. The military, spread thin due to wildfires, is eager to resolve the threat, aided by the Crockers. Jim Crocker (Greg Bryk) views the creature as an opportunity, offering Fonda exclusive access to its remains, a proposition she ultimately rejects.
Davis described Fonda's decision as the end of "comfortable denial." "It's easy to turn a blind eye to it until it's placed very baldly in front of you," she said. Fonda's curiosity turns to defiance when Jim Crocker attempts to coerce her, culminating in a physical confrontation.
A Newfoundland Solution
Inspired by local iceberg harvesting practices, Calvin devises a plan to move the creature's iceberg nest out of the harbor. This unconventional solution, described by McKeown as a "simple but genius Newfoundland kind of idea," involves the Penney family working together to tow the massive ice structure. The Crockers, meanwhile, see the creature as a means to clear the town without resistance.
McKeown frames Below as a narrative about three families, representing the clash between the traditional fishing class and the capitalist merchant class, a dynamic he likens to Newfoundland's history of overfishing.
Calvin and Wade successfully tow the iceberg, confronting Jim Crocker and asserting their refusal to be manipulated. Fonda, witnessing the Crockers' exploitative tactics, disavows their funding and strikes Jan Crocker (Natasha Henstridge) when she attempts to interfere.
An Ominous Horizon
The series concludes not with a definitive victory, but with a somber warning. Calvin and Wade, having protected the creature and their town, find themselves facing an overwhelming expanse of icebergs on the horizon. This imagery, initially seen as a source of income, now represents a stark climate change reality.
"The fact that Calvin sees all these icebergs coming his way should be good news," McKeown explained. "But after everything that he's been through, he looks at that now and goes, 'Oh sh--t, what does this mean for our future?'"
While McKeown considers the story complete, he emphasizes the ending's existential message. "Climate change eventually will make refugees of us all," he stated, suggesting the show's themes extend far beyond its Newfoundland setting.
For Hartnett, Calvin's arc is about learning to trust others and recognizing he doesn't have to bear the world's burdens alone. The final scene, with Calvin and Wade gazing at the encroaching ice, signifies a shared understanding of the challenges ahead, leaving viewers to ponder a future increasingly defined by environmental instability.