‘The North Water’ Recap: ‘Homo Homini Lupus’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘The North Water’.
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Thus far, our journey through the AMC+ series, The North Water, has offered up some fascinating explorations in regard to the human condition. For we’ve come to learn exactly why men do the evil that they do and how indulging in such dark acts can put a person down a terrifying path for certain. Plus, our doomed voyage into the arctic has also been able to teach us how desperate men will become when they yearn for redemption since Patrick Sumner is literally risking life and limb in the hopes of putting his soul back together. But while it has been fascinating to explore those particular aspects of our humanity, it was only a matter of time before this series opted to abandon those explorations in favor of something far darker. 

For as mentioned before, this expedition is indeed doomed thanks to Captain Brownlee’s order to scuttle the boat in the cold waters of the north so that a grandiose insurance payout can befell him and his select crew members involved in this fraud and well, it just so happens that the plan was put into motion in the next episode of this harrowing tale. For ‘Homo Homini Lupus’ saw the crew nearing their destination in the deep arctic and that meant, once the right spot was discovered, the Volunteer was going to be sent packing into the frosty depths of Davy Jones’ locker and for a moment there… it seemed as though the plan was going to go off without a hitch, but a surprise from Henry Drax and the plan itself… changed that, and moved the story into some incredibly dark territory.

Because Sumner once again wanted to press the matter involving the late cabin boy so that an innocent man would not die and that motivated the captain to allow Sumner to physically inspect Henry Drax’s body to look for clues as to his potential involvement in the murder and at first, it seemed as though this was a waste of time. For Drax was in fine shape, and none the corresponding evidence was present on his body. But the discovery of a nasty injury on his arm, one that revealed the tooth of the dead lad was embedded beneath his skin, not only revealed Drax to be the killer… but it brought about serious trouble. For rather than be taken below and put in cuffs, he lashed out and cracked open the captain’s skull… eventually killing him and that left the crew beside themselves, and it left the plan in tatters.

For now, First Mate Cavendish had to solidify his new role as captain and figure out how to execute the plan in a hasty manner and well… that led to disaster. For while he was able to get the ship into the ice to make it appear as though the Volunteer ‘accidentally’ hit an iceberg, allowing for him to give the order to abandon ship to the Hastings, the damage was minimal and that forced him to keep a contingent behind to sell that he did everything within his power to save the ship… when in fact he sunk her and sadly… this delay to get everyone moving, brought forth great harm. For a storm moved in, beating up the camp that was host to Cavendish and Drax and Sumner and the storm was so bad… that it wiped out the Hastings with a loss of all hands. Which meant, that a horrific fate awaits these men. One where food and shelter will quickly become a luxury and where warmth will be desired and well, that’s a heck of way to end this tale.

Because it signals quite the shift storytelling wise, one where explorations of the human condition will be set aside to instead examine our savagery and our draw to survival. For it will take drastic measures for these men to make it through the winter, if they do, and if the elements don’t get them… there is a fair chance that a crazed and hungry Henry Drax will. But while we wait to see where this story takes us next, we can bask in the wonder of an intense and harrowing tale. One that really did drag our spirits down as we watched everything unravel in a matter of minutes. But that certainly won’t stop us from tuning in next week. For we are vested in this journey now and doomed or no, we simply have to see how it ends and if by chance… there is a way that Patrick Sumner can redeem himself in the midst of his darkest hour. Until next time.  
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As an added bonus, here is a clip of this week's episode for you to enjoy!

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