North of North Season 2 Review: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
North of North Season 2 is funny, sweet, and surprisingly moving. The early episodes repeat old jokes, but the second half builds a strong mother-daughter story.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Genre: Comedy Drama
Language: English
Creators: Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril
Cast: Anna Lambe, Maika Harper, Braeden Clarke, Jay Ryan, Zorga Qaunaq, Taylor Hickson |
Episodes: 8
Some comedies are happy to repeat themselves. North of North Season 2 starts that way, then surprises you. All eight episodes are now streaming on Netflix, and the show proves it can do more than make you laugh.
The new season picks up seven months after the first. Siaja, played by Anna Lambe, still works at the community centre in the Arctic town of Ice Cove. She is still trying to impress her out of touch boss Helen, played by Mary Lynn Rajskub.
She still has a soft spot for Kuuk, played by Braeden Clarke, who now has a girlfriend named Alexis, played by Taylor Hickson. At home, her mother Neevee, played by Maika Harper, keeps arguing with her about how to raise Siaja’s young daughter Bun. On top of it all, Siaja secretly wants to find the sister her mother lost years ago, and Neevee wants that door shut for good.
The first half is quick and funny, but it feels like a rerun. Siaja takes on a big project; it falls apart, and she says sorry with great comic timing. Neevee’s anger when a church elder wants to cleanse her shop with holy water is a real highlight. Still, the early episodes mostly focus on love lives and silly mishaps, and they never feel like a big test for the writers.
Then the show changes gears. In the second half, the story turns gentler and more thoughtful. Questions about the past start to matter. Neevee was not always a perfect mother, and Siaja has not always been a perfect daughter.
Their fight over finding the lost sister becomes the heart of the season. It is messy, tender and very human. The romance is still there, but the bond between these two women is what you will remember.
The season also has a great set piece in the Winter Ball. A huge storm hits Ice Cove, guests cannot reach the hall, and the power goes out. Siaja has to think fast, and watching her pull the night together with candles, snowmobiles and a lot of nerve is pure joy. It shows the best side of the show, which is a community that holds together when things go wrong.
Harper is the real star of the season. Her Neevee is prickly, sarcastic, and a little sad, yet she also feels deeply loved. She steals nearly every scene she is in. Lambe brings her usual joy and curiosity, and she handles the more serious moments with ease.
Zorga Qaunaq is great as Millie, and Hickson makes Alexis far kinder than you first expect. Rajskub is still hilarious as the boss who never quite understands the culture around her. The look of the show is bright and lived-in, partly thanks to filming in Iqaluit.
Not everything works. The first few episodes lean too hard on what made season one a hit, and the love triangle can feel stale. If you have patience, though, the payoff is worth it.
If you want more to watch, our Black Doves Season 2 review covers a wild spy comedy on the same platform. Before you head back to Ice Cove, our North of North Season 2 release date guide has the key details. For something bigger, read our Ramayana movie review, and for a short, sweet family film, try our Dilwali Diwali review.
North of North Season 2 starts safe but finishes strong. It deserves a third season.
North of North Seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming on Netflix.