JuicyTalk
Major spoilers ahead for Netflix’s Below.Netflix’s Below resolves many underlying mysteries in its ending moments but leaves viewers with one big question. In its early moments, Below almost comes off as a Lovecraftian horror series with shares of Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay. The show even hints at the existence of other supernatural elements in its Newfoundland setting.
However, as Below progresses, the Netflix horror show adopts more of a whimsical tone and inclines more toward sci-fi. It reveals that the central monster that haunts Snook’s Arm is actually a giant squid. With this, Below on Netflix turns more into an eco-thriller, with subtle criticism of how capitalism impacts the environment and erodes communities.
All seems to end well in Below‘s final moments when Josh Hartnett’s Calvin understands the giant squid’s true purpose and saves her from being attacked. Before the show’s final credits start rolling, though, Calvin finds a new set of icebergs floating near the waters that surround Snook’s Arm. Both he and his son, Wade (Charlie Heaton), are stunned by this discovery.
What The Giant Icebergs Mean In Below’s Ending
Although Below intentionally avoids revealing the meaning of Calvin and Wade’s final discovery, their reaction almost confirms that the overarching threat still lingers. Early on in the show, Calvin and Dr. Fonda (Mackenzie Davis) learned that a newly emerged iceberg was made completely out of a strange mucus membrane.
They initially assumed that the giant cephalopod, Mudder, had released the mucus membrane either as a defense mechanism or to mark her territory. However, Fonda later figured out that the iceberg was actually a nest for the giant Squid’s eggs.
The fact that Calvin and Wade discover more such icebergs towards the end suggests that, even though Mudder is dead, many more massive cephalopods exist around them. Just like humans, even the cephalopods seem to be facing the consequences of global warming as it is forcing them to abandon the Arctic and look for colder waters where they can safely release their eggs.
Why Calvin Helps The Giant Squid In Below’s Ending
Like most human characters in the Netflix sci-fi horror show, Calvin antagonizes the giant squid. However, after spending some time at the Little Pot Rock village, he understands that the creature is far more intelligent than they realize. He learns that she maintains a transactional relationship with the people of Little Pot Rock. When they cooperate with her, she, too, cooperates with them and even brings them fish.
Towards the end, Fonda even helps him realize that the squid is not a mindless monster who is killing humans and attacking Snook’s Arm for no reason. She is purely driven by her maternal instinct to protect her eggs. As a result, Calvin takes it upon herself to save her from the attack planned by the Cockers.
He realizes that the Crockers care little about his town’s well-being and are using the giant squid as a ploy to force the residents to resettle somewhere else. Therefore, to save his town and the giant squid from being bombed, he moves the squid far away from the main coast. This ensures the squid does not feel threatened by any humans and, in turn, attacks nobody.
The Giant Squid & Its Purpose In Below Explained
Netflix’s Below eventually reveals that the giant squid, Mudder, was never driven by malice or pure predatory instincts. The sea creature was merely a mother trying to protect her offspring from potential threats. After being pushed out of her natural habitat due to the warming of the ocean, she was just concerned about the well-being of her nest.
Even her aggression towards the people of Snook’s Arm was purely driven by her desire to keep her eggs safe and well-protected. This explains why she helps the residents of Little Pot Rock after learning that they do not threaten her in any way.
Was Mudder The Last Of Her Kind?
The final cliffhanger in Below suggests that there could be several other giant cephalopods like Mudder out there. Interestingly, early on in the show, Dr. Fonda had discovered one egg in a small piece of the iceberg. When she had accidentally opened the egg, a baby cephalopod had emerged out of it and jumped inside her freezer.
In Below‘s ending, she reveals that like all cephalopods, even Mudder must have died while giving birth to her offspring. Even her offspring could not have possibly survived the warm waters around them. However, given how the freezer was probably cold enough to support a baby cephalopod’s life, that one squid might have survived.
Why The Crockers Wanted To Kill The Giant Squid
Calvin and many other people of Snook’s Arm believe that their town is cursed. Food shortages and the decreasing number of fish each year force them to wonder whether resettling somewhere is a better option. After his trip to Little Pot Rock, however, Calvin realizes that Crockers have been pulling all the threads from behind the scenes.
They intentionally put the people of the town through misfortunes to force them out and resettle. Once everyone leaves, they will be able to exploit the supply of cobalt and copper the town sits on. Driven by greed to make more money out of the town, the Crockers use the giant squid as an excuse to blow up the harbor of Snook’s Arm.
They realize that once the harbor is blown to shreds, the town will become completely incapable of functioning and accommodating humans. This, in turn, would give them all the freedom to exploit all natural resources and earn a fortune. Their plan, however, fails when Calvin moves Mudder’s iceberg away from the coast, and even the military refuses to bomb the iceberg.
What Happened At Little Pot Rock?
Jost Harnett’s character awakens in Little Pot Rock after barely surviving an underwater attack from Mudder. This is when he learns that the neighboring village was never fully abandoned. While most of its residents decided to resettle, a few decided to stay. All seems well in the village when its people even show Calvin how Mudder brings them fish every season.
Things, however, soon take a grim turn when Calvin realizes how disturbed the people of Little Pot Rock are by their circumstances. They seem deeply traumatized by the fact that their people were forcefully displaced. Also, they almost serve as a cult that worships Mudder, showing no qualms about sacrificing their own people to the aquatic creature.
The people of Little Pot Rock specifically wanted Wade to stay with them to be able to rebuild their shrinking community. Calvin, however, realizes that something is seriously wrong with them and leaves the village with Wade before it is too late.
How Below Season 1’s Ending Sets Up Season 2
Even though Below season 1 ends with a major cliffhanger, it seems very unlikely that the Netflix show will return for another season. It is being touted as a limited 6-episode series. And despite the cliffhanger, it seems like Below has already run out of stories to tell.
If it still manages to return for another installment, the Netflix show could raise the stakes by showing how many giant cephalopods like Mudder exist. They were only hiding from humans because they stayed in their natural habitat in much colder waters. Global warming, however, has forced them out and encouraged them to give humans a taste of their own medicine.
While this could be an intriguing development in the show’s season 2, Below seems better off having one well-rounded season.
