Think of the furthest place north you’ve ever been. Now keep going — all the way to Ice Cove, Nunavut, the fictional Arctic town at the center of comedy series North of North, which is back for a second season, premiering on Netflix on Nov. 5.
From creators Stacey Aglok MacDonald (Qanurli, The Grizzlies) and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (Angry Inuk, The Grizzlies), the new season of North of North finds young Inuk mother Siaja (Anna Lambe) still making bold decisions and even bolder mistakes in her effort to level up her life. The hardest part? Proving to her tight-knit Arctic community — and herself — that she’s ready to take charge.
Keep reading to learn what you can expect from the new season, consisting of eight 30-minute episodes.
Winter is settling over Ice Cove, and Siaja (Lambe) is still determined to make life better — for herself and everyone around her. This season she learns that, while you can blow up your life on an impulse, building the one you want takes a little more planning and a lot more hustle. Guided by pilimmaksarniq — the Inuktitut concept of mastering skills through observation, practice, and effort — Siaja is ready to put in the work. At the community center, she’s pushing her boss, Helen (Mary Lynn Rajskub), to trust her with more responsibility. At home, she’s trying to learn everything she can about the half-sister she never knew existed. And after her divorce, she’s open to the possibility of love — or at the very least, a hot date. Through it all, she’s raising her daughter, Bun (Keira Belle Cooper), with help from her mother, Neevee (Maika Harper), and newfound father, Alistair (Jay Ryan). Siaja has always believed the best is yet to come. This winter, she's determined to prove it.
See the full North of North cast and character details here.
North of North is set in the fictional town of Ice Cove, Nunavut, above the Arctic Circle. While the series really did film all the way up north, the shoot actually took place in Iqaluit, a bustling city of 8,000 inhabitants and the capital of the Canadian territory of Nunavut.
Arnaquq-Baril was born and raised in Iqaluit, while Aglok MacDonald is from the western reaches of Nunavut but now lives in Iqaluit. “We wanted a show that felt real for us and Inuit everywhere,” says Arnaquq-Baril. “We wanted to be able to play with regional differences in clothing and fashion, slang, and senses of humor, while not being limited to one exact community.” Adds Aglok MacDonald, “Nunavut is diverse, and Inuit communities differ greatly.”
Iqaluit is also Lambe’s hometown, so “shooting in Iqaluit has been so wild,” she says. “People constantly came up to me to hug me and let [me] know how proud they were of me and how exciting this was for the territory, for Inuit and Indigenous film and television. I wouldn’t have wanted to film it anywhere else because the outpouring of love and support we received was so empowering. It pushed us to make sure we did our best work and represented the community in the best way because, ultimately, this is who we created it for.”
Authenticity in casting, storytelling, and crafts was of the utmost importance, with the production hosting a mentorship program in which local trainees moved between various roles to gain an understanding of the filmmaking process from multiple angles. The series also employed many locals and community members as background actors. Leaning on local talents and resources proved pivotal, both logistically (Iqaluit is 1,453 miles from the show’s main production offices in Toronto), and to the series’ authenticity.
North of North is Netflix’s first original series commissioned from Canada and is a co-production with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) in partnership with Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN).
Aglok MacDonald and Arnaquq-Baril of Red Marrow Media are the creators and executive producers of North of North. Miranda de Pencier of Northwood Entertainment (Anne with an E, Beginners, The Grizzlies), Garry Campbell, Robin Gurney, Jessie Gabe, and Mike Goldbach also executive produce.
The second season’s writers are Aglok MacDonald, Arnaquq-Baril, Mike Goldbach, Moriah Sallaffie, Shebli Zarghami, Garry Campbell, Aviaq Johnston, Rachel Langer, Kayla Lorette, and Tassie Cameron.
North of North Season 2’s directors are Zoe Leigh Hopkins, Jason Priestley, Lisa Jackson, and Yael Staav.
Season 2 of North of North premieres on Netflix on Nov. 5. Rewatch Season 1 now.
