The Below Netflix series has handed Stranger Things star Charlie Heaton a new kind of monster to face, and it has climbed the charts fast. The six-episode limited series arrived on October 8, 2026, and Netflix’s Tudum reports it reached the No. 1 spot in the weekly Top 10.
Heaton plays Wade Penney, the oldest son of Josh Hartnett’s stubborn fisherman. He has also spotted a funny link back to Hawkins. Here is what the series is about, who is in it, what critics think, and what Heaton said about the Stranger Things connection.
Table of Contents
- What the Below Netflix series is about
- Who plays Wade in the Below Netflix series
- Charlie Heaton’s Stranger Things connection
- What critics are saying about the Below Netflix series
- Who made it and where it was filmed
- Frequently asked questions about the Below Netflix series
What the Below Netflix series is about
The Below Netflix series takes place in Snook’s Arm, a small town in Newfoundland, Canada. Its lead is Calvin Penney, a big-hearted but stubborn fisherman still haunted by his father’s mysterious death decades ago. When an unidentified sea creature starts terrorizing the town, Calvin teams up with a visiting marine researcher to confront it and uncover the island’s buried secrets, according to Netflix Tudum.
Variety adds that the story opens in 1986 with a traumatic event, then jumps forward forty years. Tudum notes that the first scene in the trailer shows a house being towed across the sea before something drags it underwater. Creator Jesse McKeown says he wanted to begin with a family’s moment of uncertainty and then let something horrible happen.
The tone mixes local myth, suspense, and humor. Netflix describes the Below Netflix series as a twisty thriller about family, community, and change.
Read more: Vecna’s True Identity
Who plays Wade in the Below Netflix series
Charlie Heaton plays Wade Penney, Calvin’s oldest son. The Hollywood Reporter’s review describes Wade as a slightly unhinged character defined by his love of hallucinogenic mushrooms and off-roading on an ATV. The same review says Heaton looks like he is enjoying playing him big.
Josh Hartnett leads the cast as Calvin, with Mackenzie Davis as marine researcher Fonda Howander. Willow Kean plays Ruth, the harbourmaster and Calvin’s older sister. Ruby Stokes plays Mary, Rohan Campbell plays Jay, and Kaleb Horn plays Noah. The Hollywood Reporter also notes that David Wenham arrives at midseason as a character named Steve.
For fans of Heaton’s most famous role, our breakdown of Jonathan Byers shows how far Wade is from the quiet, put-upon brother of Hawkins.
Read more: Jonathan Byers in Stranger Things
Charlie Heaton’s Stranger Things connection
The link between the two shows came from a Netflix clip posted on X on October 12. ComingSoon reported on October 13 that Heaton noticed his opening scene in both Stranger Things and the Below Netflix series is the same: he is cooking breakfast.
When a co-star asked what appeals to him about cooking breakfast, Heaton answered with a simple reason:
“It’s wholesome. I like eating breakfast.” — Charlie Heaton, as reported by ComingSoon
Heaton, now 32, broke through as Jonathan Byers in 2016. Wade could hardly be more different. Heaton also told Tudum that he spent time in bars outside St. John’s soaking up the local culture, and he said Newfoundlanders “want to look after you.”
What critics are saying about the Below Netflix series
Reception has been positive overall. Wikipedia reports an 82% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 34 critic reviews. Variety called the show a perfectly paced thriller, and RogerEbert.com said it is one of the year’s best.
Not every critic went that far. Collider praised the brisk six-episode run but said it only goes so deep into its most interesting themes. IndieWire described the Below Netflix series as a silly creature feature that looks and sounds great without offering much beyond that. The Hollywood Reporter landed in similar territory, calling it likably silly.
Several reviews single out the accents. Variety joked about Hartnett’s Newfoundland accent, and Tudum says Hartnett listened daily to a local radio station of fishermen discussing their trade to get it right.
Who made it and where it was filmed
Jesse McKeown created the series, and Tudum lists him as a writer on The Umbrella Academy and 19-2. Karen Walton, Perry Chafe, and Natty Zavitz wrote the episodes. Jamie Childs, Helen Shaver, and Stephen Dunn directed them. Executive producers include McKeown, Jessica Rhoades, and Hartnett.
The Below Netflix series was filmed in Newfoundland, and McKeown says he has visited the province for years and wanted to set something big and epic there. The production also cast local actors, which Collider says makes the visiting mainlanders in the story feel like outsiders.
For the full cast guide and creator interviews, Netflix Tudum’s Below guide has the details.
Frequently asked questions about the Below Netflix series
When did the Below Netflix series come out?
All six episodes were released on Netflix on October 8, 2026.
Who does Charlie Heaton play in the Below Netflix series?
He plays Wade Penney, the oldest son of Josh Hartnett’s character, Calvin.
What is the Below Netflix series about?
A fisherman in a small Newfoundland town fights to protect his family and community when a mysterious sea creature begins terrorizing the town.
Is the Below Netflix series connected to Stranger Things?
There is no story connection. The link is Charlie Heaton, who noticed his opening scene in both shows is the same: cooking breakfast.
What do critics think of the Below Netflix series?
Reviews are generally positive, with an 82% Rotten Tomatoes rating from 34 critics. Some praise its pacing, while others find it silly or shallow.
