William Pilkington is a character in AMC's The Terror. He is a royal marine on HMS Erebus.
In The Show[]
He is first seen on the main deck of Erebus when Sir John gives his speech in episode one. He later appears in episode 3 as part of the rescue party sent out to retrieve Sir John after he is attacked by the Tuunbaq. He and the other marines continue to battle the Tuunbaq until it is injured and driven away in episode 5. He speaks with Cornelius Hickey briefly at the carnivale in episode 6 and he is later seen eating alongside Hickey and Thomas Armitage regarding Neptune's rations in episode 7.
He accompanies Captain Francis Crozier, Thomas "Tom" Hartnell, Hickey and others to the site where Lieutenant John Irving and Thomas R. Farr was killed in episode 8. Later after the attack from the Tuunbaq on the main camp he joins Hickey's mutineers.
Throughout episode 9 he and the others engages in cannibalism and expresses concern regarding Hickey's leadership and how it might be better to return to the ships. In episode 10 before the last battle, Pilkington is ordered to fire a shot to draw out the Tuunbaq and he states that killing the creature will provide them everything they need for survival but is soon killed by the Tuunbaq while trying to defend himself.
Trivia[]
- In the original book, Pilkington doesn't join Hickey's mutiny but instead dies on the same day that Fitzjames and Le Vesconte do.
- Also, it was Pilkington not Sgt. Bryant who shot Lady Silence's father in the original book.