The Head (2020 TV series) explained

Starring:	John Lynch Katharine O'Donnelly Alexandre Willaume Tomohisa Yamashita Laura Bach Álvaro Morte Olivia Morris Moe Dunford Josefin Neldén Hovik Keuchkerian Sota Fukushi
Num Episodes:	12
Director:	Jorge Dorado
Runtime:	50+ minutes
Company:	The Mediapro Studio
Network:	HBO Asia

The Head is a Spanish-Japanese English-language psychological thriller television series directed by Jorge Dorado for HBO Asia and Hulu Japan. The first season, set in Antarctica, premiered on 12 June 2020. A second season premiered on 22 December 2022. A third and final season is scheduled to air in 2024.^[1]

Premise

Winter has fallen on the South Pole. The sun will soon disappear for the next six months. A small team, known as the Winterers, will remain at the Polaris VI Antarctic Research Station to continue their innovative research, a crucial part in the fight against climate change, under the command of renowned biologist Arthur Wilde (John Lynch). But when spring comes, summer commander Johan Berg (Alexandre Willaume) returns to the station only to find the entire team are either dead or missing. A killer is on the loose, and Annika (Laura Bach), Johan's wife, is missing. If he wants to find her alive, he will have to trust Maggie (Katharine O'Donnelly), the young doctor who is profoundly shaken and apparently the sole survivor from the group.

Cast and characters

Supporting and recurring

• Chris Reilly as Nils Hedlund (season 1), the station's Technician who is shown as conflicted, drinking a lot and more and more affected by Polar T3 Syndrome.
• Tom Lawrence as Miles Porter, the communications officer and one of the longest serving staff at Polaris VI.
• Sandra Andreis as Ebba Ullman (season 1), the station nurse who has spent many winters on Polaris VI already. She misses her kids and her family, but also has an affair with Erik, which is straining on her.
• Amelia Hoy as Heather Blake (season 1), a Computer Officer from Texas who is very athletic and competitive. She is the third newbie on the station, along with Maggie and Aki.
• Mónica López as Astrid Casado (season 1)
• Hannes Fohlin as Gus (season 1)
• Andreas Rothlin as Dr. Micke Karlsson (season 1)
• Philippe Jacq as Damian Fowles (season 1)

Production

The series was shot in a set in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, whereas outdoor scenes were shot in Iceland.^{[2] [3]}

In October 2021, The Mediapro Studio (detached from HBO Asia and Hulu Japan) reported that they were preparing a second season set in a container ship, directed by Jorge Dorado and written by Mariano Baselga (season 1 executive producer) and Jordi Galceran, with cinematography by David Acereto, with Laura Fernández Espeso, Javier Mendez and Bernat Elias credited as executive producers.^{[4] [5]}

In October 2023 it was announced that the producers were working on a third season, which was officially announced and confirmed as the last in December.^[6] Shooting lasted from mid-December to late January 2024.^[7]

International broadcast

The series aired on Hulu Japan, HBO Asia, Canal+, AXN Portugal, and Amazon Video in the summer season 2020.^[8]

In the United States, the series was streamed on HBO Max from 4 February 2021, as a "Max Original".^{[9] [10]}

In the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg, streaming started on Starzplay on February 7, 2021.^[11] While in Brazil, it started exclusively on streaming service Globoplay.^[12]

In India, the series is streaming on Hotstar under "HBO Original" label.^[13]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2024-06-14 . es . Comienza el rodaje de la tercera (y última) temporada de 'The Head' . www.elseptimoarte.net/.
2. Web site: The Mediapro Studio Unveils Banner Antarctic Thriller ‘The Head’. Variety. 4 June 2020. John. Hopewell. Jamie. Lang.
3. Web site: Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Head’ On HBO Max, A Mystery Thriller That Takes Place At An Antarctic Research Station. Decider. 4 February 2021. Joel. Keller.
4. Web site: ‘The Head’ Season 2 in Pre-Production at The Mediapro Studio (Exclusive). Variety. Jamie. Lang. 13 October 2021.
5. Web site: 'The Head' anuncia por sorpresa la producción de su temporada 2, con un carguero como nuevo escenario. Vertele!. eldiario.es. 13 October 2020.
6. Web site: 2024-06-14 . es . Comienza el rodaje de la tercera (y última) temporada de 'The Head' . www.elseptimoarte.net/.
7. 1749881828100419916. El fin de un viaje increíble. Gracias a todos los que la habéis hecho posible, a un lado y al otro de la pantalla. The head forever. #TheHead. Jorge Dorado. Jorge_Dorado_. January 23, 2024. June 14, 2024.
8. News: HBO Asia, Hulu Japan Set Action-Survival Series 'The Head'. Patrick. Brzeski. April 23, 2020. November 13, 2020. The Hollywood Reporter.
9. Web site: The Mediapro Studio Sells 'The Head' to HBO Max, Unveils John Turturro, Big Talk & Guillem Morales Shows (EXCLUSIVE). Hopewell. John. Variety. January 25, 2021. January 28, 2021. January 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210126212643/https://variety.com/2021/tv/festivals/mediapro-studio-the-head-hbo-max-john-turturro-1234891359/. live.
10. Acclaimed International Mystery Thriller THE HEAD to Premiere Exclusively on HBO Max in the U.S. on February 4. WarnerMedia. January 28, 2021. January 28, 2021.
11. News: ‘The Head’ Lands on Starzplay in U.K., Germany – Global Bulletin. Jamie. Lang. January 13, 2021. February 14, 2021. Variety.
12. News: Assista ‘The Head’ no Globoplay. Jamie. Lang. November 24, 2021. November 24, 2021. Globoplay. October 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221005213911/https://globoplay.globo.com/the-head-misterio-na-antartida/t/BK2v5YXLzg//. dead.
13. Web site: The Head. 2022-01-06. Disney+ Hotstar. 2022-10-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20221008012052/https://www.hotstar.com/in/tv/the-head/1260029877. dead.