With an extraordinary performance by Colin Farrell and an enthralling storyline, The North Water stands out as one of the best mini-series of 2021, combining beauty and brutality in the icy landscapes of the Arctic.
This Collin Farrell starring BBC mini-series is based on a book by Ian Mcguire that falls under the historical fiction genre, set in the mid-1800s when the British East India Company was at its peak. However, you’d be mistaken if you watched the show for a history lesson. What you get instead is one of the most chilling (pun intended), harrowing and awe-inspiring T.V. mini-series of recent times.
The story is about a ship on a whaling expedition to the Arctic and its crew. All the principal characters have a hidden agenda to be on this ship, none unclearer than Patrick Sumner’s. There is something in his past in India that he’s looking to escape and being a surgeon on a ship going to the Arctic seems like the much-needed remedy for his hurt. The show has 5 one hour-long episodes full of intrigue and looming terror. The first scene introduces us to Henry Drax played by Collin Farrell and it is absolutely terrifying. He is a sex-hound, alcoholic, desperate for money, proud, brutish and angry motherfucker straight from the pages of history, yet so recognizable in today’s day and age. Farrell’s performance is nothing short of extraordinary. As unsettling as Henry Drax may be, he is just the man one needs on a whaling expedition and is regarded as a valuable asset by the ship’s captain Arthur Brownlee played by the great Stephen Graham. Captain Brownlee is also hiding his true motives from the crew of the ship’s mission which is insurance fraud (a novel idea at that time).
The production notes say that the show’s crew went farther north than any had gone before to find ice-packed locations and natural icy phenomena. I’d say the effort paid off as the show has some of the most gorgeous natural light cinematography. Icy backgrounds have always been attractive to me since I first watched The Thing. This show surely shares more than just ice with that movie as you get the feeling of impending dread throughout the show, caused by its claustrophobic sequences in small rooms on the ship and the vast seas of the Arctic showing the barbaric nature of whaling. The show has this rare quality of showing serene, beautiful landscapes that can turn eerie on a dime. Canadian Nicolas Bolduc’s cinematography and Tim Hecker’s score work hand in hand to achieve this quality under Andrew Haigh’s fine direction.
Jack O’Connell, who plays Patrick Sumner, carries the show with a movie star’s charisma. But he’s going up against a monster of the rarest kind in the face of Henry Drax who Sumner eventually logs heads with. I must say that watching Farrell in the show has been a rare treat. Farrell has probably gained a significant amount of weight for this show and the camera moves around him to make him appear bigger as well. His transformation is not just physical though, as he growls and grunts more than using words to communicate; moving like he owns the joint; sounding uneducated yet exceptionally street smart. Peter Mullan also makes a late appearance as the Priest answering philosophical questions while curing Sumner of his troubles and insecurities. In summary, the show has great performances, great visuals, and an excellent story transpiring at an exciting pace. It is undoubtedly one of the best shows of 2021.