'Masterpiece' BBC war drama starring Hollywood hunk has 100% Rotten Tomatoes score

Released in April 2025, this hit miniseries has received raving reviews for its touching storyline set amongst the harsh realities of the Second World War. The Narrow Road To The Deep North is an Australian TV series based on a novel written by Richard Flanagan exploring three different periods of time – before, after and during World War 2. In the far future, as an older man, when Dorrigo Evans, played by Jacob Elordi, is tasked with writing a speech for the launch of his new book, he is cast back to dark memories of his time during the war.

From his unforgettable love affair to his time captured as a prisoner and the days before war was even a part of his life, we see Dorrigo's touching story unfold. When he is sent off to war in the 1940s, he faces entirely new life-affirming challenges during the historical construction of the Burma Railway.

Fans can't help but give five star reviews to the show, which landed it a perfect 100% score on the review site Rotten Tomatoes. One viewer shared: "What a gift of an absolute masterpiece of artistic endeavour with incredible acting by all. Ciarán Hinds is one of my favourite actors of all time and has that edge that makes all his roles mesmerising and intense."

Another person shared: "Confronting and heartbreaking. This show reminds you how lucky we are due to the sacrifices of our ANZACs, who endured such horrific POW camps - bawled my eyes out."

The star of the show is Hollywood heartthrob Jacob Elordi, who has had a stellar few years in the industry, playing the legendary Elvis and starring in the ever-controversial film Saltburn. However, this role sees him return to his Aussie roots, alongside Odessa Young, Olivia DeJonge and Ciaran Hinds, who all received high praise from viewers.

An impressed review claims: "All the actors gave beautiful, heart-wrenching performances – especially Jacob Elordi as Dorrigo Evans, Thomas Weatherall as Frank Gardiner, and Simon Baker as Keith Mulvaney. These three characters will stay with me for a long time due to their bravery, kindness, and resilience as depicted in the show. These actors gave such nuanced performances that, for a while, it felt all too real."

Across five episodes the series captures the essence of love and how its power can be enough to push through even the darkest of times. Packed full of romance, forbidden affairs and heartbreaking goodbyes, The Narrow Road To The Deep North is a "gripping" watch, but certainly not an easy one.

Another fan wrote: "A beautifully acted and incredibly written story of love, despair and the absolute brutality of war and what it does to people. This is hard to watch, but it is important to watch hard things, for they are a true reminder of who we can become and how we must strive to prevent that from happening."

For those looking for a unique exploration of the Second World War with an A-list leading actor, The Narrow Road To The Deep North will be available to watch live on TV this weekend. You can catch the first episode on BBC One on Sunday night (July 27) at 9:15 pm.