5 reasons to watch Netflix’s new family drama Northern Rescue

Northern Rescue is a Canadian family drama that debuted on Netflix this past weekend. If you haven’t heard of it, check out the reasons you should watch.

If you’re a fan of realistic family dramas like This Is Us or its predecessor, Parenthood, then you’ll definitely want to check out Netflix’s new original series, Northern Rescue. It perhaps most closely resembles another long-running family drama, also from Canada, Heartland.

Northern Rescue stars William Baldwin as the West family patriarch, John, who struggles to keep his family together after the unexpected death of his wife. The series opens with Sarah West falling ill and her husband and three kids have to cope with her impending death. A few months after she dies, John uproots his family to Turtle Bay Cove to live with Sarah’s sister, Charlie, when a job opportunity to lead a search and rescue unit comes available.

Should you watch Northern Rescue on Netflix? Here’s 5 reasons why I say yes!

1. It’s family-friendly.

Sometimes I want to watch something wholesome. While I’m not the type of person who usually watches television with other people, I know plenty of families are often looking for a show they can watch with their kids and relatives without worrying about nudity or gore. Northern Rescue is certainly that show.

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Thus far, I’ve only watched a few episodes (I’m trying to savor it so I don’t run out!) but I haven’t seen any themes or content that isn’t accessible for all ages. When it does handle adult content such as grief and loss, it does so with grace and dignity. It opens doors to mindful conversation while still feeling like a warm, blanketed hug.

2. The characters are relatable and lovable.

Who are the characters in Northern Rescue? First you have John West, the somewhat hardened father of the family who hasn’t yet dealt with his wife death since he’s been so busy taking care of his children. Instead he’s fixated entirely on his new job as the SAR commander.

Then you have his son, the athlete, Scout (Spencer Macpherson), Taylor (Taylor Thorne) the precocious and sensitive youngest daughter, and Maddie (Amalia Williamson) the rebellious older daughter who knows a big secret about their mother.

Williamson is a cast stand-out. Northern Rescue is her first big acting job and she’s nailing her role as the emotionally complicated Maddie. Not only is she dealing with losing her mother, but she also has the burden of knowing something about Sarah that could cast her in a bad light to the entire family if it were to get out. It’s a lot of stress on a teenager. What I like about Williamson is she transforms a role that could easily become stereotypical into something more nuanced and eloquent. I love watching her perform.

Outside of John’s immediate family is Charlie Anders (Kathleen Robertson) the somewhat spunky sister to Sarah. She steps in to help the family out after her passing and sets them up with a new place to live in Turtle Bay Cove, which is where she’s from. She runs a local restaurant there.

3. There is some high-stakes action.

Given John’s new job is the commander of a search and rescue team, you can imagine what kind of action might occur to put them into action.

In the second episode, John and his crew have to save the life of a man who took a tumble while hiking, all before a storm rolls in. As the show progresses, we begin seeing more of life on the job for West and what it takes to get his volunteers into tip-top life-saving shape.

4. The scenery is beautiful.

The show is filmed Northern Ontario, given it is a Canadian import, so you can imagine how beautiful the lush forests are and the mountains. The landscapes contain colors so bright it might even make your eyes hurt a little. I know there were several crane shots that made me want to pack my bags and move there ASAP.

5. It’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you cry, and it’ll make you feel at home.

Most of all, Northern Rescue is the kind of show that will have you in tears (seriously, I dare you not to cry during the first episode alone) but it always softens the blow with a little humor too. There is plenty of family bonding and banter as these characters learn to heal and grow together in their new home.

What I loved most about the show is the sense of nostalgia I got watching it, a feeling of safety it promoted. It’s the perfect series to watch while curled up in bed on a rainy day (or any day really). By the time you’re done with just a few episodes, it’ll feel like you’re part of the West family.

Now let’s cross our fingers for a second season!

Check out the show’s official trailer:

Are you planning to watch Northern Rescue? Have you watched the show already? Who are your favorite characters? What were your favorite moments? Let us know in the comments!

The entire first season of Northern Rescue is currently available to stream on Netflix.