In the cold, eerie darkness of 1617 Norway, the men of the Arctic village Vardø are claimed by an unexpected and violent storm, leaving the women to fend for themselves in a world that’s abruptly transformed. Without their fathers, brothers, and husbands, the women of Vardø find empowerment in their new roles, foraging the sea and hunting the land, crafting an existence defined by their own resolve. However, the fabric of their newfound independence begins to fray with the ominous arrival of Absalom Cornet, a Scottish commissioner on a mission to extinguish witchcraft. Accompanied by his innocent Norwegian wife, Ursa, Cornet carries the threat of persecution, igniting fear and suspicion amongst the villagers. As Maren Magnusdatter navigates this treacherous new landscape, her bond with Ursa deepens, challenging the very conventions they're at the mercy of. 'The Mercies' is a tale of loyalty and betrayal, survival and subjugation, as it traverses the thin ice that separates freedom from fear under the heavy shadow of oppression—a shadow that threatens the essence of Vardø itself.