9 – The C, the C, the Open C

This episode’s title “The C, the C, the Open C” refers to a poem found in the real Peglar’s journal: “The C, the C, the open C / It grew so fresh, the Ever free.” But in choosing this particular line from the mysterious journal,  I’m almost certain the writer of this episode was referring back to episode six, when Bridgens gave Peglar Xenophon’s Anabasis to read in order to prepare mentally for the march out. In the Anabasis, when the Ten Thousand, after their long arduous march, finally spot the shore of the Black Sea they famously shout “Thalatta! Thalatta!” or, “The sea! The Sea!”

We set sail from Greenhithe three years ago. Greenhithe is a village in Kent, England, where naval training took place.

Crozier sure has come a long way in speech giving since he declined to give one for the leads parties. South!

More than God loves them.  In episode one, after complaining about Crozier’s attitude and commitment, Fitzjames said, in contrast to Crozier, “I think you love your men more than even God loves them, Sir John,” To which Franklin replied “For all your sakes let’s hope you’re wrong.”

Just a bit of interpretation. Goodsir has always put the most optimistic spin on his patients’ aliments, but now, as he’s been shanghaied by Hickey’s mutineers, he has no sympathy or interest in comforting Hickey’s second, Gibson. “For what should I prepare?” “To die, Mr. Gibson.”

Major Spoiler: I speak not only of James. I’ll not leave any of you alone either. Crozier looks directly at Jopson when he says this. In probably the most tragic part of the series, after Crozier is kidnapped, Little does leave the sick behind, and Jopson wakes to see them abandoning him, assuming it’s Crozier who made the decision, and then he fucking dies thinking that.

The hartshorn and camphor are having very little effect, sir. Hartshorn is a medicine derived from the horns of male red deers used to treat diarrhea and dysentery.

Tiny possible minor spoiler: The initials ‘JF’ on Fitzjames’ boots aren’t shown without purpose. “Hide him in the landscape. I don’t want him found and pawed.”

Possible small spoiler: A friendly face among them. Hickey’s group has a spy in Crozier’s group.

The ring Goodsir finds around Gibson’s neck is of course the ring he promised to deliver to David Young’s sister in the first episode. Hickey stole it from the casket, and then gave it to Gibson as a bribe. Goodsir presumably works all this out. Pathetic Gibson was so in love with Hickey he wore it around his neck until the day Hickey murdered him for food. It’s like Sam finding the lemblas bread Gollum threw away.

Most of the diaries and letters used in the show are real artifacts later found by researchers, but, sadly, Blanky’s map is fictitious.

Although Hickey “has things well in hand,” Hodgson, the only officer in the group, is made to sit alone and eat off of china with a fork and knife, humiliatingly.

Papists are of course Catholics, rare and discriminated against in 19th century England, and in that context Hodgson is confessing to Goodsir.

This is a facsimile of the real Peglar’s journal, and the voice over is Peglar reciting a poem that was written in it. Bridgen’s is reading it, presumably for the first time, and sees the eye drawing in it which, in the show, is the same as the tattoo on his left forearm (barely visible here), so Peglar sketched Bridgen’s tattoo in his journal.