Colin Farrell plays a man who is both the hero and the villain of The North Water, and that contradiction is the engine of the show. Andrew Haigh directs the five-part AMC+ series, adapted from Ian McGuire’s 2016 novel, and the result is a grim, relentless Arctic voyage that turns a whaling expedition into a struggle for survival between two damaged souls.
Henry Drax is a brutal killer, a man whose amorality has been shaped by the harsh world he inhabits. Patrick Sumner is a disgraced army surgeon who signs on as the ship’s doctor, hoping to escape his own past. They set sail on the aging whaler Volunteer in 1859, the final years of the whale oil trade. What follows is a slow descent into violence, cold, and madness.
Trailer, via amc+.
Drax and Sumner Face Off
Jack O’Connell plays Sumner with a quiet desperation that anchors the series. His performance is understated, which makes the contrast with Farrell’s unhinged Drax even sharper. Drax is a force of nature, a man who commits rape and murder without remorse. Their relationship is the core of the story, and the tension between them never lets up.
The supporting cast is strong. Stephen Graham plays Captain Arthur Brownlee, who is secretly plotting to sink the Volunteer to commit insurance fraud. That scheme falls apart when the rescue ship fails to arrive in time, leaving the crew trapped in the Arctic. The other sailors — Baxter, Michael Cavendish, the Priest, Otto, Jones, McKendrick, Anna, Corbyn, Stevens, Webster, Hester, Bain, Merok, Joseph, and Gaurav — die one by one as the winter sets in.
The Harsh Wasteland
The series is brutal in its depiction of the Arctic. The slaughter of seals, the acts of rape and murder aboard the ship, and the freezing cold are rendered with a grim realism that can feel punishing to watch. This is not a comfortable viewing experience. It is meant to be uncomfortable, and it succeeds.
“Sumner is forced to battle not only the elements, but also the vicious and mentally unstable Drax.”
That line captures the essence of the show. The Arctic is a living antagonist, and the ship itself becomes a trap. The production design does a remarkable job of selling the isolation and the dread of the setting. Every shot feels cold, wet, and unforgiving.
A Slow Burn That Pays Off
The pacing is deliberate, and some viewers may find the early episodes slow. The show builds slowly, establishing the relationships and the stakes before the violence erupts. Once the plot shifts into its darker mode, the payoff is substantial. The final stretch is tense, and the resolution delivers on the emotional weight the series has been building.
The show is an international co-production between BBC, CBC Television, Super Channel, and ICI Radio-Canada Télé. It premiered in the United States on AMC+ on 15 July 2021, then moved to BBC Two in the United Kingdom on 10 September 2021, followed by broadcasts in Canada on Super Channel Fuse and CBC Television. The CBC Gem and ICI TOU.TV offered video on demand.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 15 July 2021 | Premiere on AMC+ (US) |
| 10 September 2021 | Premiere on BBC Two (UK) |
| 19 September 2021 | Premiere on Super Channel Fuse (Canada) |
| 19 September 2021 | Nationwide broadcast on CBC Television and ICI Radio-Canada Télé |
The Verdict
The North Water is not an easy watch. It is unrelenting in its portrayal of violence and suffering, and it trusts the audience to sit with discomfort rather than offer quick relief. The performances are excellent, especially Farrell’s commanding turn as Drax, and the production values are high.
The show earns its grim tone through patient storytelling and a willingness to let the darkness linger. It is a demanding piece of television, but it rewards those willing to engage with it fully.
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