The Best New Show on Netflix Is Destined To Be a Word-of-Mouth Hit

Often, the best shows on Netflix aren’t the ones splashed across billboards or dominating autoplay They’re the hidden gems that sneak into the lower ranks of the Top 10 and soar upward on the strength of word-of-mouth. That’s exactly what happened to Adolescence earlier this year, and previously with Baby Reindeer and even Squid Game (interesting that none of them, including this one, are American shows). The difference with North of North is that it’s not a dark drama or twisted mystery — it’s a heartwarming, crowd-pleasing comedy. Its biggest name is Mary Lynn Rajskub, the brilliant character actress probably best known for 24.

North of North is the antidote we didn’t know we needed, a brief, joyful respite not just from the grim news cycle but also from the intensity of most streaming TV. I turned it on last night to sample the premiere and ended up bingeing all eight half-hour episodes. I’m already desperate for a second season.

Anne Lamb stars as Siaja, a character who couldn’t be more different from her role in True Detective: Night Country, at least in tone. Siaja is a young Inuk woman living in a tiny Arctic village in Canada, stuck in a stifling marriage to her comedically narcissistic husband, Ting (Kelly William), who is basically the village’s Prom King.

In the premiere, Siaja — who has a young daughter — leaves her husband and lands a job as an assistant in community development. Her boss, Helen (Rajskub), is the town manager, and Siaja’s new role involves coordinating local events in this tight-knit community. It’s a premise brimming with possibilities.

Around the same time, Siaja and her daughter move in with her mom, Neevee (Maika Harper), just as her estranged white father, Alistair (Jay Ryan), returns to town for the first time in decades to explore building a research station. That’s also how Siaja learns who he is. From there, she has to juggle reconnecting with her long-lost dad, navigating the dating scene, launching her new career, and facing backlash from community folks furious she left her beloved husband.

It might not sound revolutionary on paper, but think Northern Exposure meets Parks and Recreation, or maybe an Arctic-set Rutherford Falls. The difference between this and Northern Exposure, however, is that the Indigenous characters aren’t tokens or comic relief. They’re the heart of the show, and they’re an absolute delight. It’s one of those sweet, small-town comedies full of quirky characters and the kind of magic only possible in a remote Arctic village.

It’s a winsome series where it’s impossible not to fall in love with nearly every character, including the self-absorbed ex, who’s like an Andy Dwyer type if Andy had peaked in high school. Siaja’s will-they-won’t-they crush, Kuuk (Braeden Clarke), is dreamy as hell, but so is her rugged father, who’s trying to win back Neevee.

It’s charming, witty, and just an all-around lovely way to spend a few hours, and I cannot recommend it enough. I assure you I won’t be the last to do so.