Netflix’s Arctic Comedy ‘North Of North’ Is A Must-Watch For April

Every once in a while a series comes out that pulls at all the heartstrings while simultaneously making you laugh. The upcoming Netflix comedy North of North does this and it also teaches about the Inuit culture, which many viewers might be unfamiliar with.

North of North is the first series of its size to film in the Arctic, marking a significant milestone in platforming authentic stories from the region on a global scale.

The story unfolds over eight 30-minute episodes and centers around Siaja (Anna Lambe), a young Inuk wife and mother who dreams of reinventing herself in her tiny Arctic community of Ice Cove. Following a spontaneous, and public, split from her self-absorbed husband Ting (Kelly William), she goes from a monotonous but safe life to crashing on her mother Neevee’s (Maika Harper) couch with her feisty daughter Bun (Keira Belle Cooper).

Siaja eagerly works towards a new, independent life with a fulfilling career. All she wants to do is prove she can support herself and her daughter, but this new life won’t come easy. She faces many obstacles and challenges, always with a big smile and a positive attitude, even as long-standing traditions threaten to block her dreams.

She’s also fighting against naysayers in her small Arctic town where everybody knows everyone’s business. Inside every woman is the desire to live life on her terms. If Siaja can do it, and she has every odd stacked against her, then what excuse do any of us have?

Just when she thinks things couldn’t get messier, a surprise visitor named Alistair (Jay Ryan) comes to town and reveals a long-held secret that changes everything. The chaos that ensues is equal parts hilarious and inspiring.

This adorable, heartwarming, uplifting series comes from creators, executive producers, and writers Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, and executive producers Miranda de Pencier, Anya Adams, Susan Coyne, and Garry Campbell.

Ice Cove is a fictional place. The show stitched together various locations in and around Iqaluit to create the town. The nearby community of Apex proved crucial to capturing a small-town feeling and showcased the unique Arctic landscape.

Aglok MacDonald explained that they decided to create a place that felt real for them and Inuit everywhere and to spotlight regional differences in fashion, slang, and senses of humor, while not being limited to one exact community. “Nunavut is diverse and Inuit communities differ greatly. Iqaluit, where we filmed, is the capital of the territory, with 8,000 people, but outside it’s smaller and more isolated. We wanted to access stories unique to small towns and those special to us from Iqaluit, like having a bar or a restaurant, which don’t exist in the smaller communities.”

Production designer Andrew Berry ensured that every detail was authentic. He spoke to many local people from different generations and sat down with elders to learn about hunting and surviving on the land in the spirit of making sure every single decision on the show was influenced by trying to properly represent the culture. They were dedicated to showing the region’s artisan-driven culture with soapstone carvings, prints, drawings, paintings, and beautifully homemade clothes.

Most of the sets were built in Toronto, disassembled, and flown to Iqaluit for reassembly, with each piece put on palettes and packed to fit the cargo plane’s fuselage. Some sets were constructed locally with careful planning because they had to contend with the bay freezing over, which made transport challenging.

Lambe told Netflix she first heard of this life-changing role from Arnaquq-Baril and knew she wanted to be involved in any way possible. She eagerly awaited the opportunity to audition. “I don’t know how many times I cried throughout the months-long audition process because I wanted it so badly. The idea of shooting the series in my hometown was a dream and I couldn’t see a world where I wasn’t a part of this project in some way. After a really intense chemistry read and a long wait, it ended up working out in my favor.”

She also explained what initially attracted her to the role. “I saw a story that I was familiar with from so many people that I grew up with. That drove me to want to be a part of telling this story, to go through all of Siaja’s layers and unpack why she is how she is. She’s a very loving, passionate character who keeps the big picture in mind and wants to serve her community. She wants to grow, learn, and thrive together, and that’s what we see throughout the season. She is at many times chaotic, a bit unhinged, and quite silly, but it all comes out of a really good place.”

Lambe described filming the series in her hometown of Iqaluit as wild. “Seeing the people I grew up with and the crew come together has been crazy. At the same time, people constantly came up to me to hug me and let me know how proud they were of me and how exciting this was for the territory, for Inuit and Indigenous film and television. I wouldn’t have wanted to film it anywhere else because the outpouring of love and support we received was so empowering. It pushed us to make sure we did our best work and represented the community in the best way because, ultimately, this is who we created it for.”

She points out some of the show’s themes. “We touch on a lot this season, and the nice thing about this being a comedy is how we get to talk about so many difficult issues within our community while doing so with humor. It exposes an audience to many issues they haven’t experienced but that are so common in the North, from the housing crisis to substance abuse or residential schools and difficult family dynamics. I hope that talking about these things openly, yet in a way that can be silly at times and full of joy and love, brings them to a wider audience.”

No detail was too small when it came to authenticity. All of the wardrobe was designed at the costume office near the set in Iqaluit. Makers and artisans from across Canada and the Arctic worked on the costuming, from authentic fur-trimmed parkas to beaded accessories. The costume team balanced vibrant colors with traditional Inuit patterns and textures to maintain a comedic yet culturally rich vibe.

The series spotlights the cultural significance of tattoos, which are an important aspect of Inuit culture. They often carry personal and spiritual meanings. Makeup department head Dorota worked with local Inuit artists to ensure authenticity, with some tattoos painted freehand.

Hair also has cultural significance in Inuit communities and hair department head Chrystal Lotz emphasized long, traditional hairstyles to honor the deep connection to heritage and identity.

North of North also stars Braeden Clarke, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Zorga Qaunaq, Bailey Poching, Nutaaq Doreen Simmonds, and Tanya Tagaq.

This is an absolute must-watch.