“Interesting how people who swear they aren’t monsters usually are.”

Staring down the barrel of a gun, Xavier and Sinatra are at a standoff. With the two unsure of where to go next, the penultimate episode of Fogleman’s sci-fi saga takes them back to the most important event in the history of humanity.

Just like its title, “The Day” focuses on the day the extinction event that destroyed humanity occurred. Hotly anticipated since the beginning of the series, the 60-minute extravaganza succeeds in paying off the constant drips of information fed through every episode so far.

Fogelman’s effectiveness in creating a doomsday scenario stems from the insular lens used to create a tense and chaotic atmosphere. For the most part, the story takes place exclusively within the White House and follows Xavier and Cal’s journey as the Versailles protocol is enacted. As they journey step by step, the mood around them visibly changes as the inevitable end grows closer, and those left to fend for themselves eventually descend into panic and sheer desperation.

For the series’ trio as well, their moods and actions change distinctly as they approach safety. Unlike the masses, however, they know full well that they have the means to survive. It presents an ethical dilemma for them, adding extra weight to their actions.

Xavier’s last hours in the White House present a test of his emotional strength and moral compass. During these hours, he’s distracted. Due to the unpredictable nature of the disaster, his wife, Teri, is miles away in Atlanta and has no way of reaching him. Having to come to terms with his loss results in gut-wrenching scenes as he steps up to become a single father.

The only one more affected by these chains of events is President Bradford. Throughout the episode, he’s seen wrestling with his own lack of power and the unfair decisions being thrust upon him. These break the camel’s back, leading to Cal’s decision to take action once he sees history repeating itself in Paradise. Connections that are brought together due to Marsden’s successful, nuanced performance.

Sinatra’s reactions during this episode are part and parcel of her ever-evolving status as a monster. Unlike Cal or Xavier, she never shows a hint of regret or reluctance. To her, the deaths of billions are natural, so long as she gets her sanctuary. The only thought she spares for the surface dwellers is that they might die quickly during a nuclear holocaust. So, when the show returns to the present day, it is in perfect keeping with her character development that she uses Xavier’s daughter as leverage to escape the situation.

Tense, atmospheric, and utterly devastating. “The Day” successfully pays off a several-episode-long mystery. Throughout its 60-minute run, the story pushes its main characters to their limits and reveals more layers to their moral fibres. Additionally, every actor/actress is on top form, and Fogelman’s direction for the episode vividly creates the horrors of doomsday.

There are very few times where a story captures the essence of perfection; “The Day” does it within the first minutes.

I Give The Day: 10/10