Northwood (TV series)

Not to be confused with North Woods Law.
Northwood
Created byNick Orchard
StarringLochlyn Munro
Maggie Blue O'Hara
Sarah Sawatsky
Byron Lucas
Brigitta Dau
Tygh Runyan
Deanna Milligan
Gabe Kouth
Sasha McLean
Doris Chillcott
Halona Donaghy
Mig Macario as Mike Andaluz
Lina Englund
Trevor Marc Hughes
Tamsin Jones Farmer
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes56[1]
Production
ProducerNick Orchard
Production locationsNorth Vancouver, British Columbia
West Vancouver, British Columbia
Running time30 minutes
Original release
NetworkCBC Television
ReleaseMarch 4, 1991 (1991-03-04) –
January 15, 1994 (1994-01-15)

Northwood is a Canadian teen drama television series created by Nick Orchard. It centres on the lives of teenagers living in the eponymous fictional North Vancouver suburb. It aired on CBC from March 4, 1991 to January 15, 1994.

Most initial reviews of the series were mixed, with criticism given to its excessive melodrama, lack of comic relief, and production values, though praise was given to the acting performances. Having replaced Degrassi High in its time slot, Northwood also drew multiple comparisons to the outgoing show. As it progressed, reviews became more positive.

A soundtrack album, Let It Be Me, was released in 1992. It is composed of adult contemporary covers by cast members of the show.[2]

Cast

  • Lochlyn Munro as Jason Williams
  • Brigitta Dau as Maria Giovanni
  • Byron Lucas as Kirk Huber
  • Trevor Hughes as Peter Anderson
  • Tasmin Jones as Karin Anderson
  • Darrell Dennis as Brian Potter
  • Maggie Blue O'Hara as Nicole Williams
  • Gabe Khouth as Michael Thomas
  • Deanna Milligan as Jennifer McBride

Reception

Those involved with the show, including creator Nick Orchard[3] and actor Lochlyn Munro, stated it to be "grittier"[3] and "meatier" than the outgoing Degrassi High, of which Northwood replaced in the 8:30pm Monday timeslot. Despite this, most early reviews of Northwood were mixed, with negative reviews drawing comparisons to Degrassi. Bob Remington of the Edmonton Journal rated it two stars and criticized what he felt to be the excessively melodramatic and humourless behavior of its characters, although he acknowledged the actors' competence. He also referred to Degrassi character Joey Jeremiah multiple times as an example of comic relief that he felt Northwood lacked.[4] Janice Kennedy, writing for the Calgary Herald, was more lenient in her criticism, saying that while the show cut corners and fell into soap opera cliches unlike Degrassi, it boasted "solid acting" and "credible portrayal" from its actors, and stated that it had potential if it evolved beyond its trappings.[5] Tony Atherton of the Ottawa Citizen, while also giving it a mixed review, rejected the Degrassi comparisons.[6]

Mike Boone, writing for the Montreal Gazette, gave a more positive review, stating the show set itself apart from others because of its characters' "quintessential Canadian stoicism and unhipness", and praised the "strong cast of gifted young actors".[7] Similarly, The StarPhoenix's Erica Smishek opined: "Strong performances by a well-rounded cast, effective location shooting and a grainy visual quality enhance the gritty appeal of Northwood. Now all its creators need is an audience for the six-episode test run.".[8]

Streaming

In 2019, the series was made available for free on Canada Media Fund's Encore+ YouTube channel. The channel shut down on November 30, 2022.

References

  1. ^ "Soapbox Productions - Current Productions". Archived from the original on 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  2. ^ Northwood - Let It Be Me, retrieved 2022-12-02
  3. ^ a b Stevenson, Jane (1991-01-31). "CBC tries out 'grittier Degrassi'". The Gazette. Canadian Press. p. 54. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  4. ^ Remington, Bob (1991-03-04). "Northwood gang needs to lighten up". Edmonton Journal. p. 18. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  5. ^ Kennedy, Janice (1991-03-01). "High School Confidential". Calgary Herald. p. 87. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  6. ^ Atherton, Tony (1991-03-04). "Meet the teen soap opera, TV's latest ubiquitous idea". The Ottawa Citizen. p. 30. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  7. ^ Boone, Mike (1991-08-18). "CBC's Northwood portrays teens as they really are". The Gazette. p. 40. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  8. ^ Smishek, Erica (1991-03-04). "Northwood teens take over Degrassi kids' time slot". Star-Phoenix. p. 24. Retrieved 2022-12-03.


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