Television series
North of 60
North of 60 is a Canadian drama set in a remote Indigenous community in the Northwest Territories. It's a character-driven series that treats northern life with dignity and specificity—not as exotic backdrop but as the actual texture of work, family, justice and survival. For viewers hungry for storytelling from perspectives rarely centred on television.
If you liked this
When Calls the Heart2013
A Hallmark series about a young teacher in a frontier community. It has that same blend of small-town relationships, practical challenges, and emotional stakes that make North of 60 work so well.
But Much sweeter and more sentimental. If you're after North of 60's moral complexity and occasional darkness, this will feel like a step back.
Northern Exposure1990
Quirky Alaskan town drama that captures the strange warmth of communities where everyone depends on everyone. Brilliant writing and genuinely funny, with real depth underneath the eccentricity.
But Heavily stylized and sometimes arch—the opposite of North of 60's grounded tone. Also very '90s in a way that can date it.
Yellowstone2018
Epic Western about power and land. Visually stunning, morally murky, and obsessed with how communities function when old systems collide with new ones.
But Soap opera plotting that can feel overwrought. Very male-centred and prone to melodrama in a way North of 60 avoids.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from North of 60
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner2002
Both centre Indigenous Arctic experience as the story itself, not the backdrop. Both refuse to exoticize or explain their setting. Both trust audience intelligence.
Landmark Inuit-language film shot in the Canadian Arctic. A creation myth and survival story told in its own cultural register, not translated for southern audiences. Genuinely mythic and hypnotic.
But Three hours long, deliberately paced, in Inuktitut with subtitles. Demands you meet it on its terms. No plot shortcuts.
More like this (6)
The Newsroom2012
Underrated Canadian series about a small-town radio station. Sharp dialogue, ensemble cast, and genuine affection for provincial life rather than condescension toward it.
But Very talk-heavy and centred on media. If you want character drama over workplace comedy, you might find it too light.
Heartland2007
Long-running Canadian drama about a ranching family in Alberta. Multi-generational, grounded in real work, and unafraid to let characters carry grudges and complexity.
But Deeply committed to sentimentality and family redemption. It's gentler than North of 60 and sometimes verges on melodrama.
Corner Gas2004
Canadian comedy set in small-town Saskatchewan. Affectionate toward rural prairie life without condescension, with an ensemble that genuinely likes each other.
But Entirely comedic in register. North of 60 has humour but isn't afraid of tragedy, and this is consistently light.
The Man in the High Castle2015
Alternate history series with strong ensemble work and focus on how ordinary people survive under constraint. Visually distinctive and morally serious.
But Very dark premise about fascism. If you're after human warmth rather than ideological pressure, this will feel alienating.
Fargo1996
Both understand that remote northern settings aren't quaint. Both use geography and isolation as psychological fact. Both feature communities where moral life matters intensely.
Coen Brothers masterpiece set in frozen Minnesota and North Dakota. Uses landscape as character, treats regional speech with respect, explores how ordinary people make catastrophic choices.
But Morally bleak and contains sudden shocking violence. If you want North of 60's community warmth, this is its opposite—a story about how people betray each other.
The Slap2011
Both are community dramas where events ripple and every voice matters. Both understand that small towns are not simple places, and that knowing your neighbours doesn't mean understanding them.
Australian miniseries about one incident fracturing a community. Eight episodes, each told from a different perspective. Brilliant ensemble work and exploration of how a small place judges and holds grudges.
But European sensibility and very adult moral complexity. Australian vernacular and class dynamics are specific. Might feel foreign in register.
