Anker is the patriarch of the Danish family aboard the Kerberos. He defers to his wife and her deep religious beliefs when their voyage to the New World takes an unexpected turn. However, Anker has his doubts that God even exists.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Anker used to be a farmer, but became a priest after influence from his wife, with whom he has three children.
Tove's pregnancy[]
Anker prays for assistance as Tove endures unexpected pain. Despite her reluctance to seek outside help, Krester returns with a doctor, who reveals that the baby has seemingly gotten tangled up in the umbilical cord, and in order to save it, Maura has to turn it around.[1]
Anker leads a prayer session, informing the passengers in third class not to fear the Prometheus and assuring everyone that God will protect them after discovering the missing ship that disappeared over four months prior.[2]
Ada's death[]
Anker and Iben begin to fear the worst after Ada goes missing aboard the ship. When Tove returns after failing to find her, Iben claims that it's through prayer that they find the right path. As for Anker, all he can do is cry whilst holding Ada's doll. Unfortunately, they learn that Ada died due to unknown causes.[3]
Anker needs God's voice to guide them through these dark times, but he doesn't talk to him like he does Iben, Anker admits. Tove wonders that if, like her mother, he also believes the boy is evil. Anker is not certain, but he's at least considering the idea. He then places his hand on Tove's stomach and says that perhaps God gave her a gift with her child, allowing her to carry the light inside of her. However, Iben claims God told her that the devil will try to take everything from them, and that is something Anker refuses to allow to happen.[4]
Krester's death[]
A strange ticking sound aboard the ship appears to put many of the passengers in some kind of trance, in which they're compelled to throw themselves overboard, including Krester, who Anker is not fast enough to save. Following his death, Iben succumbs to the ticking, forcing Anker, Tove, and Franz to restrain her before restraining themselves until the ticking ceases.[5]
While the rest of the passengers head down to the engine room to get the ship started back up, Anker remains in the bridge with Ramiro. They're to stay behind with Sebastian and learn the inner workings of the telegraph, so they can send a distress signal with their coordinates. Anker confesses that he never wanted to be a priest. He was a farmer, like his father and grandfather. They didn't have a lot of money, but they were happy. But then something happened, and after that, his wife began hearing God's voice. He told her had had bigger plans for them. Anker also confesses that he's never heard God's voice himself, and if he's being honest, he doesn't actually believe there is a God. As Anker begins to sob, Ramiro takes his hands and says that all his sins will be forgiven.
The light turn back on in the bridge and the ship begins moving once more. However, Anker is concerned with the fact that there's no one to steer the ship, as Sebastian left the bridge. Ramiro first uses a map to find the nearest island, and then Anker begins reading books to hopefully learn how to steer the Kerberos, however, inside the books, he discovers the same phrase written on every page: "May your coffee kick in, before reality does."[6]
Drowning on the Kerberoes[]
With the storm worsening, the passengers make their way to the engine room to warn the others about the threat it presents of capsizing the ship. However, Iben refuses to follow behind Ramiro and Clémence, a false priest and a whore, any longer. Iben believes this is God's will, but Tove tells her that God can't save them and proceeds ahead, though Anker says goodbye, deciding to stay behind with Iben, who he cannot leave behind. Uncertain how much time they have left together, she suggests they pray, refusing to leave the hall even as it fills with water. In their final moments, Iben and Anker hold each other close as they're engulfed by the water.[7]
Appearances[]
Season 1[]
- The Ship
- The Boy
- The Fog
- The Fight
- The Calling
- The Pyramid
- The Storm
- The Key (credit only)
Gallery[]
