The North Water is a thrilling adventure series on BBC Two that follows a crew of whale hunters across the Arctic. One of the members on board The Volunteer is veteran surgeon Patrick Sumner (played by Jack O’Connell), who wants to escape his military past. He is facing many internal battles and his anxiety only escalates when he clashes with Henry Drax (Colin Farrell), a psychotic harpoonist.
Sumner, who is addicted to laudanum, has flashbacks to terrifying events from his military service in India.
Fans are keen to know what laudanum is and how it can impact the mind and body of those who take it.
Laudanum is an opium extract and comes in a reddish-brown liquid form. It contains almost all of the opium alkaloids, such as morphine and codeine.
In the past, it was used to treat a variety of conditions and was mainly used as a pain medication and cough medicine.
Today, laudanum is recognized as addictive and is strictly regulated in all parts of the world.
READ MORE: How many episodes are in BBC’s The North water?
His character is described as being a disgraced army surgeon, and he uses Laudanum to forget his troubles.
However, it usually only makes matters worse and he is in a vicious cycle.
Haunted by war, he takes the drug in order to dull the mental and physical pain he feels when he recalls those dark times.
Plus, being in close confinement with characters like Drax, it is no surprise he has taken to the substance again.
Fans have taken to social media to express their thoughts on the series, with one saying on Twitter: “Thoroughly enjoyed ‘The North Water‘ on AMC+ even if it might have been the most brutally, bleak show I’ve ever seen. Colin Farrell as an 1850’s whaler/murdering psychopath needs to win some awards.”
The series originally aired on AMC+ this summer, before making its way to BBC Two in the UK.
Another fan said: “If you want to experience Colin Farrell and Jack ‘Connell’s terrifying and phenomenal performance, this is for you.
“And I don’t remember watching anything with Stephen Graham in it that is not good. Dude is f****** amazing.”
The series will continue to air weekly on Fridays on BBC Two.