Missed ‘North of North’? Here’s why it’s Netflix’s most underrated comedy
Missed ‘North of North’? Here’s why it’s Netflix’s most underrated comedy
Created by Inuit storytellers and filmed in Iqaluit, it’s as authentic as it is hilarious.
My wife and I are always hunting for that next great comedy to dive into, and the one we just stumbled on that totally deserves more love is “North of North.” As someone who grew up in northern Alberta, I’ve got a soft spot for Canadian stories, and this one nails it. The show mixes dry Canadian wit with grounded stories about starting over and figuring out who you are. Critics have been raving, but for whatever reason, it hasn’t gotten the big spotlight yet. For my money, “North of North” is the best under-the-radar comedy hiding on Netflix.
Best under-the-radar comedy TV show on Netflix
Why ‘North of North’ is the most underrated comedy series on Netflix
As someone from northern Alberta, Canadian stories always hit a little different for me, so when I finally watched “North of North,” I was hooked. It’s not just another comedy — it’s an authentically Inuit one, created by Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, who already proved themselves with projects like “Qanurli” and “The Grizzlies.” They teamed up with CBC (Canada’s national broadcaster) and you can feel that local touch in every frame. It’s shot in Iqaluit, the costumes were designed with Inuit artists, and the humor comes straight from the community. It’s got that dry, small-town vibe I love, but it also feels completely true to life up north.
It’s not just a well-made Canadian story; it’s a well-made comedy, full stop. The writing’s sharp without feeling like it’s straining for a punchline, and the cast sells every beat. It’s not wall-to-wall jokes, but the humor lands because it comes out of real situations: messy relationships, awkward community dynamics, and those little moments where you laugh it off to stop from crying. Critics have been giving it serious praise, but you’d never know it by how little attention it gets compared to Netflix’s bigger comedies.
I think one reason it’s flown under the radar is that it doesn’t chase the usual streaming comedy formula. There are no superheroes, no over-the-top high-concept hooks. There are no stars, either, but Anna Lambe brings such a natural, grounded charm to the lead role that you can’t imagine anyone else carrying the show. Instead, it’s a show about people starting over, figuring out who they are, and doing it with a sense of humor that feels both specific and universal. That might not be the kind of premise that grabs headlines, but it’s exactly what makes the show feel so refreshing.
That’s why I keep bringing it up. Netflix has a ton of comedies, but very few that feel this authentic. “North of North” is funny, original, and quietly one of the best shows on the platform right now. If you care about comedy that’s smart without being smug and heartfelt without being sappy, this is the hidden gem you need to check out
North of North
A young Inuk woman wants to build a new future for herself after a spontaneous and extremely public exit from her marriage. It won’t be easy in a small Arctic town where everybody knows your business.
Watch a trailer for ‘North of North’
What is ‘North of North’ about?
“North of North” is all about Siaja, a young Inuk mom up in Nunavut who decides she’s over living in her ex’s shadow and wants to figure out life on her own terms. She’s in Ice Cove, this tiny Arctic town where everyone knows your business, so starting fresh isn’t exactly simple. Anna Lambe plays her with this perfect mix of funny and real — you see her trying to raise kids, navigate messy relationships, and basically start over while the whole community’s keeping tabs.
The show throws in plenty of weird and wonderful northern flavor too — walrus-dick baseball (yep, that’s a thing), sea goddess visions, and those small-town events that go sideways in hilarious ways. But it’s not just quirk for quirk’s sake. Underneath all that, it’s about resilience and figuring out who you are when life doesn’t line up the way you thought. Shot in Iqaluit with Inuit creators and cast, it feels completely real to the place while still being laugh-out-loud funny.
After you watch the first episode of ‘North of North,’ let us know what you think in the comments below.
Other underappreciated comedy TV shows on Netflix
If you’re looking for more hidden gems, start with “Detroiters.” Starring Tim Robinson and Sam Richardson, it’s about two best friends running a low-budget ad agency in Detroit, making ridiculous local commercials and somehow keeping the lights on. It’s goofy, heartfelt, and captures that mix of big dreams and small-time hustle better than just about any comedy out there.
Another one worth queuing up is “A.P. Bio.” It started out on NBC, then got a second life on Peacock, but all four seasons are sitting on Netflix now and it’s a blast. Glenn Howerton plays a disgraced philosophy professor who ends up teaching high school biology and decides to use the class for revenge schemes instead of science lessons. It’s sharp, funny, and if you ever wondered what would happen if Howerton’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” character, Dennis, became a teacher, this is pretty much it.
Finally, if you like your comedy extra weird, “Haters Back Off” might be your jam. It’s built around Colleen Ballinger’s YouTube character Miranda Sings, a painfully untalented but wildly confident aspiring star. It’s cringey, surreal, and hands-down the strangest show on this list — but if you’re into humor that’s out there, it’s pretty funny and unlike anything else on Netflix.
Netflix
Netflix is a leading subscription-based video streaming service that offers on-demand access to an extensive library of over 3,000 movies, 2,000+ TV shows, and a growing collection of acclaimed Netflix originals. Renowned for producing groundbreaking content, Netflix has become a cultural powerhouse with hit originals like “Stranger Things,” “Wednesday,” “Squid Game,” “The Crown,” “Tiger King,” “Bridgerton,” “The Witcher,” and “Black Mirror.”