Jacob Elordi has become one of the most sought-after names in Hollywood ever since his breakout role in Euphoria. This year alone, he is expected to lead On Swift Horses alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones, portray the monstrous creature in Guillermo Del Toro’s version of Frankenstein, and step into the shoes of a prisoner of war in the limited series The Narrow Road to the Deep North. The latter will arrive soon on Prime Video after its initial premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, and allows Elordi to flex his skills in a genre he hasn’t tackled previously.
Based on Richard Flanagan’s Booker Prize-winning bestseller, the five-part series is set before, during, and after World War II, told through the lens of army surgeon Dorrigo Evans (played by both Elordi and Ciarán Hinds). Instead of focusing on the battlefield, The Narrow Road to the Deep North displays the dehumanizing effects of war crimes, with Dorrigo and other Australian soldiers taken captive by the Japanese and forced to build the Burma-Thailand Railway. As viewers are transported to a muddy swamp, where men are subjected to torture and starvation, the brutal conditions of warfare become painstakingly vivid. Although the instinct is to look away, the series’ storytelling approach paints a visceral picture of the nightmare soldiers endured during the war and why they face such a difficult time overcoming this traumatic experience when returning home.
What Is ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’ About?

In the first few minutes of the Prime Video original, an older Dorrigo sits down with a young journalist for an interview ahead of the book launch of a former military colleague. Mid-conversation, the reporter insinuates that the tragedy that the Japanese experienced after the nuclear attack on Hiroshima wasn’t nearly as comparable as what the POWs suffered during the war. This comment triggers Dorrigo, who comes off as arrogant for defending the validity of what he and thousands of men went through while in captivity. Still, it is only throughout the series that his reaction to the interviewer becomes easier to comprehend.
As Dorrigo’s past plays out, we witness his gradual loss of faith in humanity. At first, he’s younger and anticipating his return to the war as a military doctor. Although he proposes to Ella (Olivia DeJonge), the daughter of a wealthy Australian family, his true love turns out to be someone else. In the weeks leading up to his departure, he visits his uncle Keith (Simon Baker), only to fall for the latter’s second wife, Amy (Odessa Young). As Dorrigo and Amy engage in a heated affair, his presence is requested at the base camp, forcing them to part ways in a heartbreaking manner.
Once he is on duty, Dorrigo becomes an Allied prisoner of war and is taken hostage alongside other soldiers. They are instructed to build a railway that will benefit Japan’s military strategy, a laborious task that the men have to accomplish while malnourished, unclothed, and severely wounded. Without his one true love and trying to save the lives of fellow prisoners who are either injured at work or due to officer-inflicted torture, Dorrigo’s sense of hope fades, leaving him disheartened and plagued by an experience he will never forget.

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Jacob Elordi Is a War Prisoner in First ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’ Image

The series will make its world premiere at Berlinale 2025.

Jacob Elordi and Odessa Young’s Chemistry Is the Heart of ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’

Image via Prime Video

Although the events in the series are non-linear, it is easy to follow along given how distinct each part of the main character’s trajectory is. The cinematography helps to distinguish the moments prior to the war, with warm tones that resemble the passionate relationship between Dorrigo and Amy, as opposed to the dark and gritty ambiance of the protagonist’s time in captivity. Having romance interspersed with the tragedy of warfare allows for a balance in the narrative, as well as a better understanding of Dorrigo’s shift in character.
Elordi succeeds at capturing the intensity that his role demands, playing a surgeon who goes from being head-over-heels for a woman he can’t ever be with to losing his more sentimental side to the terrors of war. Hinds, who plays the protagonist’s older version, builds on Elordi’s foundation, showcasing how the character has become a renowned surgeon who has found comfort in maintaining appearances. Although he and his wife live on a luxurious estate and often attend charity events together, their relationship is lukewarm at best, with Dorrigo perpetually alienated from everyone in his midst.
In addition to the two actors portraying the protagonist at different stages of his life, Odessa Young is also a standout as the vivacious Amy, and her chemistry with Elordi is undeniable. After meeting at a bar for the first time, the characters’ attraction only intensifies throughout Dorrigo’s visit. From staring into each other’s eyes for longer than deemed appropriate to constantly heading to the beach together for a swim, their sizzling partnership makes it hard not to root for them, even though their love is by all means forbidden.
‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’ Takes You Into the Trenches Without Holding Back

Yet, beyond the stellar performances, what makes The Narrow Road to the Deep North a gripping watch is its attention to detail in translating history to the screen. Director Justin Kurzel takes viewers into the trenches, without glossing over the gritty and gruesome reality that POWs faced while building the railway. The soldiers joke around at first, treating the construction as a regular job. However, when they become famished and are actively whipped to the point of near death, smiles are replaced with fear and desperation. Given that Dorrigo is caring for the wounded, there are several explicit depictions of dilacerated legs, sutures being done without anesthesia, and organs bleeding out.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North is a tough watch, but one that doesn’t hold back from displaying the cruelty of war and the dangers of blind ambition. The five-part series might not be set on the battlefield, with guns and explosions killing and harming soldiers at opposite ends of the conflict, but it still proves that the casualties of war (including forced labor) are devastating in and of itself — as well as ​​​​​that those who were held captive during WWII deserve to have their pain recognized, not minimized.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North had its premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival and premieres April 18 on Prime Video.

The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Jacob Elordi takes you into the trenches in the devastating The Narrow Road to the Deep North.

Release Date

April 18, 2025

Network

Prime Video

Pros & Cons

Elordi and Ciarán Hinds work in unison to show Dorrigo’s transformation after the war.
The cinematography helps the audience make sense of Dorrigo’s non-linear journey.
Elordi and Odessa Young deliver great chemistry.
The series doesn’t shy away from providing a visceral look at the suffering the PoWs experienced.