One of the most beloved period dramas was first released last year and has been dubbed by fans as an “absolute masterpiece”. The World War II series is available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer. It also has a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes with a 100% audience rating and a solid 75% critic score.

The Narrow Road to the Deep North is a drama miniseries, based on the novel of the same name by Richard Flanagan. It was written by Shaun Grant and directed by Justin Kurzel and stars Jacob Elordi, Odessa Young, and Ciarán Hinds.
Contemporary television is rarely as good as The Narrow Road to the Deep North
The series’ synopsis reads: “The story of Dorrigo Evans, an army surgeon whose short but forbidden affair with his uncle’s wife sustains and haunts him through his darkest days in a Thai-Burmese prisoner of war camp in WW2.

The series follows Dorrigo Evans across three periods: before his deployment to the Second World War, during his time as a Far East prisoner of war, and several decades after the war. Each period reveals different parts of Dorrigo’s love affair with his aunt, Amy.”

The Narrow Road to the Deep North was initially released on Amazon Prime and instantly met with critical acclaim.

An audience reviewer wrote: “A truly haunting look at the cruelty man is capable of and the love that can get a person through it. Even if it is a love that can never be. And the love a wife can give even when it’s not returned in the same way. Haunting series on so many levels. This one is gonna stay with me for a while.”

“Elordi is raw, broken, and utterly captivating; you’ll hate him, love him, and ache for him all at once. Bring tissues. Clear your schedule. Let it break you open,” another commented.

The Narrow Road

Ella (Olivia DeJonge) and Dorrigo (Jacob Elordi) in The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Image: BBC)

A third gushed: “Absolute masterpiece. Made me feel every strand of emotion in my being. Outstanding acting by Elordi too. Wow. Just wow.”

Another praised: “Incredibly thought provoking, highlighting the flaws and imperfections in life.”

A fifth added: “This is what cinema is all about: great storytelling. This production is close to perfect in every aspect of film-making. Kudos to all: you were brilliant! Best ever.”