When North of North quietly dropped on Netflix in 2025, it didn’t roar with flashy CGI or melodramatic plot twists. Instead, it arrived with something more potent—authenticity. Set in a remote Nunavut community, this dramedy follows Siaja, a young Inuit woman, as she navigates life, love, and the pursuit of self after leaving a toxic relationship. It sounds familiar, yes, but North of North manages to make old ground feel surprisingly fresh.
What makes this show resonate is not just its narrative but the people who tell it. With Indigenous creators and actors leading the way, it’s a rare and honest portrayal of Northern Indigenous life on screen. And it’s already drawing comparisons to beloved dramedies like Reservation Dogs, albeit with its own chilled-out, arctic rhythm.
Let’s take a closer look at what critics had to say about this series—both the praise and the criticisms—and then we’ll ask the big question: is North of North boring?
🔑 Key Positives: Why Critics Love It
1. Cultural Authenticity at Its Core The series doesn’t just use Nunavut as a backdrop—it lives and breathes the region’s culture. Critics from Time and RogerEbert.com highlight how Indigenous creators shaped every part of this show, from casting to storytelling. That input pays off. The community doesn’t feel exoticized or staged. It feels lived-in. It feels real.
2. Anna Lambe Shines as Siaja At the heart of North of North is Anna Lambe, who plays Siaja with a warmth that’s instantly engaging. She’s relatable, flawed, and funny. Her performance anchors the show, making every awkward family moment or quiet personal victory feel genuine. Critics praised her not just as a lead but as the emotional engine of the series.
3. The Sweet Spot Between Comedy and Emotion Balancing humor and heart is tricky. But this series does it. The comedic beats land gently, never forced, while the emotional arcs unfold naturally. RogerEbert.com specifically praised how North of North blends wit with insight, keeping you smiling even as it tackles themes like community tension and personal healing.
⚠️ Key Negatives: Where It Stumbles
1. A Familiar Trope, Revisited Siaja’s story—leaving a bad relationship to rediscover herself—is one we’ve seen before. While the setting and cultural details give it a fresh coat of paint, the underlying structure remains familiar. Decider noted that while enjoyable, the core premise doesn’t exactly break new ground.
2. A Slow Burn Introduction Patience is needed. The early episodes spend a lot of time setting the scene and introducing characters. Some viewers might feel it drags. Rotten Tomatoes reviews hinted that the exposition-heavy start could be a hurdle, especially for those expecting fast-paced drama.
3. Minor Stumbles in Writing Not every line lands. Occasionally, dialogue feels uneven or a scene misses its mark. While these moments don’t derail the show, they do create a few bumps in an otherwise smooth narrative ride. RogerEbert.com acknowledged that the writing wasn’t always consistent.
✅ Verdict: North of North (2025) BRNG?
So, is North of North boring? Let’s call it what it is—no, not at all.
This series doesn’t chase thrills or high-stakes drama. Instead, it invites you into a community you rarely get to see on screen. It’s thoughtful, grounded, and often quietly hilarious. Yes, the pace is slow, and yes, it leans on a familiar story arc. But the execution is honest, heartfelt, and infused with cultural richness.
The performances feel real. The humor lands with subtlety. And by the time the final episode rolls around, it’s hard not to feel like you’ve actually spent time in Nunavut.
Final Score: 8.6/10.
Not perfect, but absolutely not boring. If anything, North of North is a breath of fresh, icy air in the streaming world.
