In the autumn of 1990, while traveling with a small musical group between Naples and Rome, we had a day off in Pompeii. I’ve seen many incredible places, but Pompeii stands out as particularly special to me. Because it was fall and before mass tourism took off, we practically had the entire site to ourselves. There’s something truly unique about wandering almost alone among the ruins of a lost city.
Tom Hiddleston first experienced the magic of Pompeii as a 17-year-old in 1998, and it stayed with him – he believes the site truly feels like traveling back in time. He briefly revisited Pompeii while filming the first season of “Loki,” and now he’s returned for a new documentary, “Pompeii: Out of Time With Tom Hiddleston.” The show premieres Wednesday on National Geographic and will be available to stream on Hulu and Disney+ starting Thursday.
As the title suggests, “Out of Time” focuses less on Pompeii as a thriving city and more on its destruction, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the ruins. The book builds on recent research – notably the work of Steven Tuck and his detailed records – which has identified people who lived in Pompeii and later appeared elsewhere after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. To tell their stories, Hiddleston explains he blends historical facts with his skills as an actor, using imagination to bring the past to life. Hiddleston, a classics graduate whose trip to Pompeii sparked his interest in the subject and even a bit of Latin, is playfully referred to as an “amateur classicist.”
Television
Tom Hiddleston, famous for his role as Loki in Marvel movies, explores Pompeii in a new National Geographic series. The show combines travel, documentary footage, and dramatic recreations to tell the story of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
This documentary centers around three people who lived in Pompeii and Herculaneum, exploring whether they could have been among those who survived the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The presenter gets personally invested in their stories. We meet Avianius, a teenage blacksmith’s apprentice, and Julia Felix, an unusual female entrepreneur running a luxurious spa and entertainment venue. A humorous moment occurs when the host misreads a sign outside her establishment, prompting archaeologist Caitie Barrett to explain the rights and independence of women in ancient Pompeii. In Herculaneum, the discovery of a Roman guard’s belongings on what was once a beach inspires a dramatic re-imagining of the evacuation: sailors are shown preparing boats while the guard urgently calls for passengers, doctors, and orders everyone to leave.
The film is a strange blend of styles, feeling occasionally cheesy and self-aware. Hiddleston often appears to be playing a role even during interview segments, pretending to discover things he already knows or brainstorming character details as if in a writer’s room – a setup that isn’t just for show. He’s constantly thinking aloud, questioning the narrative (“I’ve got to find a way of tracking that rescue mission.” “Do we have ourselves a classic redemption story?”) and even using a timer to mark the impending disaster (“One. More. Hour”). As Pompeii darkens, he fumbles through the shadows with a flashlight. The result is a film that feels both somewhat contrived and genuinely heartfelt.
On the edge of Mount Vesuvius, he chats with geologist Chris Jackson about volcanoes. To truly understand how people react to disaster, he explains he needs to look beyond historical accounts and consult other fields. He meets with disaster psychologist Sarita Robinson, who will explain the brain’s amygdala and the body’s natural “fight or flight” – and “freeze” – responses to danger.
Many historical documentaries struggle with bringing the past to life, but this one succeeds in creating a visually compelling and well-crafted recreation of history, even if it occasionally leans into dramatic territory. Some scenes with Avianius feel a bit like a simplistic moral lesson – almost like a classic after-school special. However, Lubna Azabal delivers a strong and grounded performance as Julia Felix. Will any of these characters escape their fate? You’ll have to watch to find out!
I found myself thinking “This is pretty silly” several times while watching “Out of Time.” But that doesn’t mean I didn’t really like the movie.
2026-07-22 13:31