16 Benedict Cumberbatch Things to Watch After You See Doctor Strange
By Lacy Baugher
Benedict Cumberbatch as Edmund Talbot in “To the Ends of the Earth” (Photo: BBC)
To The Ends of the Earth
Based on a trilogy of novels by William Golding, To the Ends of the Earth tells the story of a perilous nineteenth century sea voyage from England to Australia. Bourgeoisie Cragglethatch stars as Edmund Talbot, a young man on his way to take up a government post secured for him by his rich godfather. The bulk of the series takes place on the ship itself, making the whole thing a sort of slightly more depressing version of Master and Commander.
This miniseries really loves to show viewers what it a grim situation getting stuck on a ship this long would be for anyone. A general air of disgustingness permeates every scene. Everything is either sweaty or smelly or damp. Everyone is drunk or violent or unwell. It certainly feels realistic – particularly when I consider the fact that one of the worst things that could ever happen to me would actually be to get stuck sailing on a tall ship to Australia for five months.
Cumberbatch is aggressively charming, and it’s hard not to root for his occasionally bumbling Talbot. The supporting cast features several similarly stellar actors, though Jared Harris (whom you probably just watched in The Crown) steals the show as Captain Anderson. Other familiar faces include Sam Neil, Joanna Page, Charles Dance and more.
At several points, the plot teeters on the edge of the ridiculous. (I mean, really, we’re supposed to believe that this many terrible things happened on one ship?) But on the whole it’s quite entertaining, generally fun, and even a little bit funny in places. (Drunk!Cumberbatch is still my favorite Cumberbatch.) It’s worth a Sunday afternoon when you’re bored.