As the 5th episode of The North Water begins, the priest (Peter Mullan) thanks Anna for bringing him food. He gets up and approaches Patrick (Jack O’Connell) before trying to help him eat. The priest reminds him to chew so he can get the goodness out of it. Later, he tells Patrick that the men who found him considered him an Angakkuq. He explains they believe bears have great power and certain men partake in them. He says men who have bear as their genius have superhuman strength. Since they are closer to the darkness, they are believed to be better hunters. The priest admits he has seen the Angakkuq in action and they’re nothing but charlatans and conjurers. Patrick learns how they wear masks, dance around, and engage in superstitions. The priest tells Patrick how he has been working hard to gain their trust. Although they’re kind people, the priest argues they’re childlike.
He explains that the men hunt, the women suckle children, and that is the limits of their knowledge and interests. He admits his task is to help them grow up, develop their souls, and become self-aware. He is writing a translation of the bible to help connect with these people. Patrick asks about medicines and laudanum, but the priest doesn’t have any left. The priest is glad Patrick speaks plain English since he was getting worried that he might be a Pollack or Serb. Patrick says it doesn’t matter where he is from before being shown a bible that was found in the body of a dead bear. The priest believes it was swallowed whole and some type of miracle, but Patrick doesn’t and suggests asking the bear. That causes the priest to laugh before suggesting Patrick was sent there for a reason. Patrick doesn’t understand why there must always be a reason, but the priest says there always is a reason.
When the priest says God must have a reason, Patrick admits he wants no part of that rigmarole. Later, Patrick gets up and walks around before the priest returns with a bible and asks Patrick if he knows who it belongs to. Patrick looks at it and immediately realizes the book belonged to Otto. They found his body along with two dead Eskimos. Anna goes outside to tell the hunters they know nothing while Patrick tells the priest about Henry Drax. Patrick can’t say why Henry killed them. The priest admits Henry might be dead, but he could’ve traded the furs for shelter with the tribes up north. The priest asks what his name is, and Patrick immediately says he isn’t Henry Drax. The priest tries again, and Patrick tells him his name this time. Patrick is asked if he thinks he was reborn from the belly of a bear. He says if he was reborn it wouldn’t mean he’d wish to learn anything anew. He claims he sees nothing worth learning.
Next, the priest returns from a conversation with the hunters. He tells Patrick that they want him to hunt but they just want him to be there. They remain convinced that Patrick has magical powers and believe the animals will be drawn to him. They’ll get a new set of furs for Patrick spending a week with them. Patrick agrees to do it since there is little to keep him occupied around the cabin. He refuses to act as a good example of civilized virtues, but the priest thinks he is a fine man. Patrick goes out with the hunters and eventually watches them kill a seal. Next time, he helps them hunt seals. The men give Patrick a knife and other items. When he returns to the priest, he admits he let them believe what they wanted because he has no better truths to tell them. The priest believes they seem more related to the animal world than human. Patrick wonders if they are too far removed because the British accept the reality of their existence and the world as it is.
When the priest moans and clutches his chest, Patrick agrees to get him some brandy. The priest continues suffering through the night. Patrick checks him and learns that his cecum is abscessed or ulcerated. He tells the priest that he is a surgeon and has only read about the procedure being done by a man named Hancock. The patient survived back in London, but Patrick can only do what he can in these conditions. Patrick admits they’re going to need a lot of luck. The priest tells him to do his best and the Lord will take care of the rest. Anna agrees to help. Anna holds him down while Patrick goes to work. Before long, the surgical procedure is over, and the priest is resting in bed.
When the priest asks what he found in him, Patrick admits it wasn’t anything good. He recommends the priest rest. Patrick confirms he’ll be there to watch over him since there is nothing else to do until Spring. He sits down next to the priest who calls him a strange fellow. The priest knows he has suffered a great deal and Patrick admits he brought a lot of it on himself. The priest insists most people have made mistakes and those who haven’t are liars. Patrick says he is going to start over as best as he can before we jump ahead five months. Patrick rides on a boat before arriving in town on May Day. He meets with Baxter (Tom Courtenay) who is surprised he is alive. Patrick wants to get paid and be on his way, but Baxter wants him to stay for a while. Patrick sits down before Baxter tells him he has a wonderful story to tell the waiting world. However, Patrick doesn’t want to tell anyone since he doesn’t want to be known as the man who survived the Volunteer.
Baxter believes it will be a kindness to say nothing before admitting he read Patrick’s letter about the killings. He insists he didn’t know about Drax beforehand and believes it is best for Patrick to put Drax behind him. Then, he tells Patrick about the surgeon he knows in London. Baxter arranges for Patrick to get a room and a woman to ease him back into civilized living. When Patrick leaves, Baxter approaches Henry and admits Patrick knows too much and suspects the sinking wasn’t right. Drax learns that Patrick is going to find a man in Canada to track him down. Henry doesn’t seem worried since Patrick is only a surgeon, but Baxter reminds him that Patrick was a part of the Siege of Delhi. Baxter tells him that Patrick has a room at the De La Pole and that it needs to happen tonight to prevent him from going to the magistrate. Henry has been drinking all week so he thinks Stevens should handle it.
Baxter convinces Henry to do it before tasking Stevens will luring him out to a warehouse so Henry can kill him. He tells Stevens to shoot Drax after he has shot Sumner. Stevens lures Patrick out of his motel room that night but only after Patrick has grabbed his knife. While Drax waits, he talks about men making oaths but few fulfilling those oaths. He claims he will. When they talk inside, Drax begins shooting and it sounds like Stevens cries out. When Drax goes in for a closer look, he finds Stevens bleeding on the ground. He curses Baxter before asking Patrick to show himself. Drax puts his gun down and asks Patrick about his plan to hunt him down. Henry believes Baxter wanted both of them dead and questions why. While Sumner sneaks around, Henry drops hints about the sinking being intentional. Drax eventually sneaks up behind him and a fight begins.
As Drax chokes Patrick, he tells him he is in the wrong place. Patrick says he is a monster, but Henry says they aren’t so different. Patrick grabs the knife and puts it to Henry’s neck. Drax asks him if his balls are big enough before Patrick forces the knife into his neck. Once Patrick is finished, he stands over Henry who suffers and died on the ground. Patrick returns to the motel and tries to clean up. He decides to turn his attention to Baxter before looking at the gun nearby. He goes to Baxter’s place and tells the maid he is there to see Baxter. When asked who he is, Patrick says he is Baxter’s surgeon. He goes inside, finds a big polar bear, and loads his gun. The maid tells him Baxter will see him in the study. Once Baxter insides Patrick inside, he sends Mae away for the night. When she leaves, Baxter tells Patrick he doesn’t need the gun, but he insists that is for him to decide.
Baxter believes they can sort it out without guns before Patrick wonders what his plan was. Baxter learns Stevens is dead and calls him willing and loyal. He says some men cannot be controlled and that is the simple truth of it. He goes on to say men like Henry Drax are too stupid to be led. He admits he found out Henry was unruly and was looking for a way to get rid of him. He confesses it was wrong for him to put Patrick in the middle of it. He knew he was working with a monster and felt the need to set a trap for him. Patrick tells him that Henry killed Stevens before he killed henry. Patrick sits down with him before Baxter insists he can help him. Patrick knows Baxter wanted him dead because he knew he had the Volunteer sunk.
Baxter believes Patrick needs his help since he killed Henry, but Patrick believes he can get out of it as long as he tells the truth. Baxter knows the magistrates and isn’t sure they’ll believe him. He knows Patrick could make things hard for him, but he claims he can do the same to Patrick. Although Patrick could shoot him dead, Baxter encourages him to use his head and start afresh. He offers to pay Patrick an extra 50 guineas for killing Henry Drax. When he gets the money, Patrick tells him to give him the rest of it and he’ll leave him alone. Baxter doesn’t believe Patrick would kill him in his own house. Patrick gets angry and tells him he is sick and tired of men like him. He demands Baxter unload the safe, but Baxter insists this won’t bring him the peace he desired. Once Patrick has the money, we hear a gunshot but don’t see what happened.
When he leaves, we jump ahead a year to Berlin. Patrick walks alone before approaching a bear in a cage. He watches the bear before we hear men singing about sailing.
The North Water Review
One of the most ambitious television series in recent years ends with a whimper. Although plagued by believability and filming issues throughout, those minor issues were easy to overlook. With subtitles, it was possible to determine what was going on even during the darkest scenes. We can all complain about how unrealistic it would be for Patrick to survive multiple near-death experiences.
The show’s scenery and unique story were enough to overshadow these issues. Colin Farrell was okay as Henry Drax, but anyone could’ve done the same if not better. Personally, I felt Jack O’Connell stole the spotlight. At the end of the day, the finale will likely be what potentially killed it for viewers.
At times, I wasn’t sure whether it was the actual finale or not since it took so long to get going. When it finally got down to the nitty-gritty, it lacked significance. Since more than half of the episode was wasted with the priest, the final scenes and moments of Henry’s life were rushed. When all was said and done, Henry’s demise didn’t seem all that important.
Baxter’s death was rushed too, and we never really found out what happened to Patrick. A second season is likely out of the question, so the finale feels like a wasted opportunity to capitalize on the success of the first few episodes. The finale wasn’t terrible, but it left a lot to be desired and deserves a 7 out of 10. Nevertheless, The North Water is still a great watch. Previous recaps of The North Water can be found on Reel Mockery here.
Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.
