The Narrow Road To The Deep North ending explained: reflecting on the moments gone by

** Spoiler Alert: The article contains detailed spoilers for The Narrow Road To The Deep North **

The Narrow Road To The Deep North on Prime Video ended on a heart-wrenching note. The epic war drama series follows the life of an Australian surgeon, Dorrigo Evans (played by Jacob Elordi and Ciarán Hinds in later, post-war, years), who becomes a reluctant war hero. He reminisces his difficult life as a soldier in World War II and his tragic love affair. The show is based on Richard Flanagan's bestselling book of the same name. At the end of the series, Dorrigo realizes that the traumas and mistakes of his past will forever be a part of him.

Dorrigo as a Prisoner of War

The Narrow Road To The Deep North tells the story of a prisoner of war trapped by his traumas, and the mistakes he makes in his life. On his military assignment, Australian medical student Dorrigo Evans joins the fight against the Axis powers in the Second World War. During the war, Japan was trying to invade British occupied Burma. They were in the process of building a railway line between Thailand and Southern Burma.

The atrocities that took place in the Japanese prisoner-of war camp during that time are brought to light when Dorrigo and other soldiers are made to work in the hazardous environment. The lack of medical supplies, food scarcity, poor living conditions and the hard labor involved in the construction results in the death of many soldiers and civilians.

After the war, the officers responsible for carrying out the brutalities while building the railway were prosecuted. Nakamura however goes into hiding in Japan. During an interview, when Dorrigo refers to the Japanese as monsters, the journalist asks about Australia’s role in British Empire’s expansion plans and the evils that the Japanese have also faced when Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed.

Dorrigo’s doomed love life

Dorrigo was to marry Ella, a young girl from a rich family. While he was still with Ella, Dorrigo visits Keith, his uncle. He starts to develop an intense relationship with his wife, Amy and they both have a whirlwind affair.

It is only when Dorrigo leaves for his military work that Keith finds out about the affair between his wife and him. During his military assignment he receives a letter that informs him of Keith and Amy’s death. Dorrigo ends up marrying Ella after he returns to Australia. Later, he sees Amy with her child. However, it is not made clear if it is real or if she was a figment of his imagination.

His disdain for Ella grows, despite publicly being an adoring couple. He ends up having an affair with Lynette, his colleague’s wife. His wife and colleagues eventually find out about his adulterous ways.

Dorrigo meets with an accident

The Narrow Road To The Deep North ends with Dorrigo having a tragic accident. After the book launch event about his experiences as a POW, as Dorrigo was returning home, he meets with a traffic accident, which eventually leads to his death. In the moments before his death he looks back on his mistakes and guilt that he has carried for years.

Dorrigo's adulterous ways caused him to lose the respect of his colleagues and caused great sorrow to his wife Ella. He cheated on her twice and had no respect for her. Dorrigo, at the end, realizes that his past traumas were no excuse for the mistakes he made.

In his final moments, he sees himself back in the jungles of Thailand, a prisoner of war and of his own actions.

Watch The Narrow Road To The Deep North on Prime Video

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