This past weekend I discovered the Netflix series North of North, and honestly, it’s one of the sweetest, funniest, and most engaging shows I’ve seen since the 2017 family dramedy One Day at a Time.
Set in the Canadian Arctic, the series stars Anna Lambe as Siaja, a wild and restless young Inuk mother determined to find herself. The only problem? Her husband, Ting—the town’s golden boy—who seems to think he can fix everything with a flex and a smile (because he can).
After a very public breakup with Ting, Siaja does the first wild thing that comes to mind: she kisses the first man she sees. That man, Alistair (Jay Ryan), turns out to be the father she’s been waiting her whole life to meet—a man who never even knew she existed.
Meanwhile, after finally convincing the town manager, Helen (Mary Lynn Rajskub), to give her a real job, Siaja struggles to prove herself. Though there are plenty of comedic mishaps, she slowly rediscovers her self-confidence, and the truth of her power begins to shine through—especially when she’s near her father’s assistant, Kuuk (Braeden Clarke).
The adorable Keira Cooper is Siaja and Ting’s daughter Bun – the one thing who keeps the two connected, and whom both would give the world for.
Maika Harper plays Siaja’s multi-layered mother, Neevee. A recovering alcoholic, she’s one of the most fascinating and intense characters in the series.
Handsome newcomer Kelly William takes on the role of Ting. While the character is something of a prick, William is perfectly cast—cute, comedic, and undeniably charming.
Written as Siaja’s complicated love interest, Clarke shares wonderful chemistry with Lambe, as do Harper and William. In fact, the entire cast gels beautifully, making the series eight episodes something someone could get easily lost in.
Though I’m late to the party (the series was released back in April), I was thrilled to discover there’s already a second season on the way.
There will be more North of North soon so…
Stay Tuned!
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