North of North
Warning: Major SPOILERS ahead for North of NorthSince it debuted on Netflix in early April, Canadian sitcomNorth of Northhas deservedly been garnering rave reviews for its warmth, humor, and nuanced insights into Inuk culture.
Anna Lambe is a force of nature as the shows central character Siaja, who has to battle single parenthood, white privilege at work, and her own extremely difficult single mother.
North of North handles the struggles of its characters sensitively and even-handedly, which is why a gross-out moment involving Siaja and her estranged father, Alistair, in its first episode is especially unfortunate.
Its hard not to be drawn into Siajas compelling story, with the obstacles put in front of her byNorth of Norths supporting charactersoften providing major laughs and endearingly sweet storylines.
Its such a good-natured show that I have a tough time reckoning with the funny but ultimately extremely gross incident that ends episode one, which sees Siaja make out with a mystery man who turns out to be her father.Siajas relationship with Alistair, played by Jay Ryan, is otherwise a moving portrayal of father-daughter bondsbeing forged in adulthood.
Siaja Accidentally Kisses Her Father Without Knowing It In North Of North Episode 1
Alistair And Siaja Dont Know Each Other When They First Meet
At the start ofNorth of North,Anna Lambes protagonist, Siaja is going through a lot.
Custom image by Cesar Garcia
Shes separated from her narcissistic husband, trying to raise her daughter alone with limited help from her emotionally distant mother, and she still doesnt know who her father is.
Meanwhile, shes trying to get a job working for the manager ofNorth of Norths fictional Nunavut town, Ice Cove.
Cue yet more drama, as in a moment of drunken impulsivity, Siaja passionately kisses a man she describes as a silver fox whos just arrived in town.
North of North follows a young Inuk woman as she seeks to forge a new path in life after a highly publicized departure from her marriage. Set in a small Arctic town where personal matters become public, the series explores themes of identity and self-discovery in a closely-knit community.
The weird incestuous dynamic between the three Ratliff kids, Piper, Lochlan & Saxon, in The White Lotus season 3 premiere is alarmingly strange.
To the horror of both Siaja and the man shes just locked lips with, her mother, Neevee, arrives and reveals thathe is, in fact, Siajas estranged father, Alistair.
Having never been told about Siaja by Neevee, Alistair is also caught unawares by this horrifying revelation, which naturally makes his daughter wretch.
The awkwardness created between Alistair and Siaja by this gross-out moment is smoothed over in a later episode, while Siajas parents rekindle their feelings for each other.
Nevertheless,this accidental case of incest inevitably leaves a bad taste in the mouths of those of us watching at home.
The Kiss Detracts From North Of Norths Portrayal Of Siajas Family
Siaja And Alistairs Father-Daughter Relationship Is Undermined By This Moment
North of Northactually handles the complexities within multiple generations of Siajas family brilliantly, managing to make us sympathize with each of its main characters, in turn.
Neevee enforces plenty of tough love on Siaja, as Siaja herself struggles to provide a stable family situation for her own daughter, Bun, as she goes through a messy breakup with her high-school sweetheart, Ting.
In addition, the complicated relationship between Neevee and Alistair is one of the most interesting subplots of the show, while Siajas newfound connection to her father is generally one of its most heartwarming.
The kiss between Siaja and her estranged father detracts fromNorth of North’s overall success at shaping compelling, sympathetic characters.
The story unravels the motivations behind the complexities of its characters interpersonal conflicts superbly, demonstrating a deft touch in its portrayal of Siaja, Neevee, and Alistair, in particular.
Unfortunately,the kiss that Siaja accidentally shares with her father undermines this accomplished storytellingin an effort to provide a moment of gross-out comedy in keeping with the shows often bawdy humor.
WhereasNorth of Northends upbarely putting a foot wrong in setting the comedic tone for Siajas story elsewhere, the kiss between its protagonist and her estranged father detracts from its overall success at shaping compelling, sympathetic characters.
North Of Norths Exploration Of Family Dynamics Is One Of Its Best Elements Overall
The Show Excels In Its Heartfelt Portrayal Of The Complexities Within Modern Inuk Families
Still, we shouldnt be too hard on a show thats being acclaimed as one of the best new comedies of 2025.
Its Netflix debut has gone down so well thatAnna Lambe has already hinted thatNorth of Northseason 2could soon be on the way.
The realistic and heartfelt portrayal of complex family dynamics within a culture that rarely gets the coverage it warrants in North American TV and cinema is one of the shows strongest elements.North of Northshould definitely continue to lean into this aspect of its storylinesif it does get renewed for further seasons.
From the comedy of The Simpsons to the tragedy of Succession, there are plenty of iconic family TV shows filled with endearing characters.
On the other hand, the series should avoid further missteps like Siaja and Alistairs kiss in episode 1, which threatened to derail the first season before it had really gotten going.
However,North of Northgenerally presents a masterclass in blending family drama with relatable comic relief, and the show is almost certain to learn quickly from its one big mistake.
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North of North follows a young Inuk woman as she seeks to forge a new path in life after a highly publicized departure from her marriage.
Set in a small Arctic town where personal matters become public, the series explores themes of identity and self-discovery in a closely-knit community.
