Netflix quietly drops all 8 episodes of ‘best TV series of the year’
Netflix fans are rushing to watch a ‘fresh’ new comedy series unlike anything they’ve seen before.
After being initially being January, North of North dropped on Netflix UK over the weekend.
The Canadian series stars Anna Lambe as Siaja, a young Inuk woman in the small fictional Arctic community of Ice Cove.
The eight episodes follow the ‘optimistic young woman as she embarks on a journey to reinvent herself in her tiny Arctic hometown, where everyone knows each other’s business’.
‘She must then navigate the unpredictable, and often hilarious, highs and lows that come with relationships, motherhood, a new job, and finding her own way.’
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After getting married right out of high school, Siaja is desperate to get out of the rut she’s stuck in and makes moves to do so.
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Since being released, the show has soared into the most watched TV show list on Netflix UK, where it’s currently sitting at number 9.
It’s been acclaimed by both critics and audiences alike.
‘A mostly winning exploration of Inuit culture, the stressful limitations of life in a small town, and the heartbreaking intersection between who you are and who you want to be,’ RogerEbert.com wrote in its review.
‘A gorgeously shot, warm-hearted, but unafraid to be raunchy, Inuit-led comedy set in Nunavut with elements of magical realism and a Netflix-boosted budget,’ the Globe and Mail shared.
‘North of North is unassuming in its humour, only occasionally provoking full-on belly laughs or delivering memorably quotable lines. But I found, as I kept watching, that what was near-constant was the smile on my face,’ The Hollywood Reporter added.
Meanwhile fans called it ‘refreshing’, ‘touching’ and ‘heartfelt’.
Many have also already begged for a second season too.
North of North was filmed in Iqaluit, the real-life capital and most populous city of the Arctic Canadian territory of Nunavut., where Inuit co-creators Stacey Aglok-MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril live.
Speaking to Time recently, the pair spoke about how their series stood apart from others with Indigenous characters.
‘A lot of us have been painted as these disappearing cultures, which is not true at all. And so a lot of Indigenous filmmakers are choosing humour. The vast majority of media about us has been done by others, and we’re breaking away from that tradition,’ Arnaquq-Baril said.
‘We wanted to make a show that felt real and true for the both of us and for Inuit everywhere. We want Inuit everywhere to feel seen and represented,’ she added when speaking to Netflix’s Tudum.
Meanwhile director Danis Goulet explained the push for authenticity.
‘Narrative sovereignty is the notion that Indigenous people deserve to be at the helm of our own stories. When we do that, we don’t just change what ends up on screen, but we actually change the way we endeavour to make the work as well.’
More than 500 locals serving as background actors in addition to the series’ 45 Canadian cast members.
It also stars Mary Lynn Rajskub as Helen,the town manager, Keira Cooper as Bun, Siaja’s daughter, Maika Harper as Neevee, Siaja’s mother who raised her on her own and Jay Ryan as environmental consultant Alistair.
North of North is streaming on Netflix.
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