140 sailors, one icebreaker, and a continent that wants to kill them. What could go wrong?
Season 1 • Episode 4
LatestWith the Endurance taking in water due to a faulty valve and stuck, powerless, at the mercy of the sea, the crew move fast to avoid capsizing.
Built especially for the challenging conditions of Antarctica, HMS Endurance is the Royal Navy’s only ice patrol ship and its only one capable of breaking into the icy wastes of Antarctica. We join the elite, 140-person crew as they embark on a four-month expedition in perhaps the most extreme and hostile environment on the planet. Follow the extensive and diverse duties of the Royal Navy and the British Antarctic Survey, and the trials and tribulations that the frozen continent brings. In the first episode, Return to the Ice HMS Endurance prepares for another season in Antarctica. Captain Bob Tarrant has taken her there for the last two years but in 10 days time he must hand over to a new captain and is determined that the ship is ready for the ice before he leaves. Faced with a series of engine problems, can the crew get the vessel ready for both a long and dangerous journey and a new commander? Then bad news from home causes further problems as the ship leaves the Falklands.
Production
Filmed in actual Antarctic conditions, not a cozy studio.
Direction
Tight narrative around captain transition creates unexpected tension.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
HMS Endurance nearly sank in 2008 after flooding; this series documents her final operational years before decommissioning in 2011.
The Royal Navy's Antarctic mission dates to 1943 and secretly supported Cold War intelligence gathering—this 'survey' ship likely knew more than she admitted.
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