"North of North"

I just discovered a new Canadian TV show that's both foreign and familiar at the same time. It's a fascinating combination.

The show, "North of North" (2025; Netflix), is about a small Inuit community in the northernmost part of Canada. That area, Nunavut, is the largest part of Canada (700,000 sq. miles: the size of Mexico) but least populated (around 35,000 people). It borders the Artic and is always cold. In Summer, the temperature may briefly reach 50 degrees but most of the year it averages around minus-10 to minus-30 degrees. There's always snow and people always wear heavy parkas.

What's interesting about the show is that despite the unfamiliar region, the people there (mostly Inuit [what we used to call Eskimos]) live contemporary lives. The main character is a 26 year old woman, an attractive single mom, with a narcissistic ex-husband, emotionally cold mother, odd co-workers and promising new romance. Its themes are universal: a young woman trying to find meaning in life, struggling with sexism, faced with limited options. She operates in a community that's close-knit but confining, like any small town. At the same time the show also includes references to distinctively Inuit culture, like a sea goddess and shamans. Critics praise the show as "warm and likeable;" they included it in last year's Top 30 Shows.

"North of North" is considered a comedy but it's more a drama with some humor. The soundtrack is well-chosen with popular songs you recognize. The first season was released last year; a second season was approved and being filmed. The show's characters are appealing and its plots are entertaining.

Give it a try!