The North Water (2021) is a gripping, atmospheric historical drama miniseries based on the novel by Ian McGuire. Directed Andrew Haigh, this adaptation immerses viewers in the harsh, unforgiving world of 19th-century whaling. With a dark, brooding tone and outstanding performances, the series explores themes of survival, morality, and the human capacity for violence, set against the brutal backdrop of the Arctic.

Set in 1850, The North Water follows Patrick Sumner (Jack O’Connell), a disgraced former army surgeon who joins a whaling expedition in the hopes of escaping his troubled past. The ship, The Volunteer, is headed into the icy waters of the Arctic, where they seek to hunt whales for their valuable blubber.

Sumner’s troubled voyage becomes even more perilous when he encounters Henry Drax (Colin Farrell), a brutish and sadistic harpooner. Drax is a man devoid of moral boundaries, and his violent tendencies soon pose a danger to everyone aboard. As the crew faces not only the extreme elements but also the dark instincts of their fellow man, Sumner must confront the brutality of both nature and human nature.