20 reviews
I spent the first four years of my life in my Dad's plane as he worked the coastal and inland areas of British Columbia. So when I heard of Arctic Air, I was really intrigued. The characters are very believable and the scenery is outstanding. I also love the humour and characters, particularly Adam Beach's Bobby. Finding that the path to yourself usually winds through your past, and shows you the future. It might not be pretty, but Bobby has a lot of learning to do. What I really enjoy is seeing regular folks working and living their lives without glamour, flashy costumes or unrealistic scenarios. Seems very true to life and respectful of the North West Territories. Lots of contrast between the locals and the wannabes. And the planes. Very nice to see DC3's and the lore associated with them. I'll definitely keep watching!
The show has all of the basics for greatness. Mix a little out of your element in a fashion that reminds me a little of Northern Exposure with just a touch of Wings, I couldn't tell you why on that second part. Add two of Sanctuary's finest women Pascale Hutton and Emilie Ullerup. Mix it with a well played hometown hero who has lost his way. I did see Smoke Signals but, Adam Beach will always be Kicking Wing(Joe Dirt) to me. Top it all off with Kevin McNulty and stir well. All cooking metaphors aside Arctic Air is a great show. I'm always eager to embrace a new sitcom or comedy, I mean who doesn't love to laugh but, it takes a while for me to warm up to a show with a good amount of heart and warmth. Arctic Air pulls this and more off in stride. In just the first couple episodes I'm eager to see what the future holds next for these characters. I hope that this is just the beginning of show greatness and I'll be watching.
- orion_moore
- Jan 17, 2012
- Permalink
This show is a prime example of what Canadian television should be. Interesting and action-packed story lines with well developed and unique characters. The balance of comedy and drama is well done, and the show covers topical issues in an informed and nuanced manner. The acting is top notch, and showcases some lesser-known Canadian talent. My only complaint is that the show often tries to pack too much into one episode- we don't need 3 or 4 stories at once, especially when the main plot is already quite interesting!
I truly enjoy Arctic Air. I like the actors and the characters they play. I am so glad that Canada is getting more and more Canadian television series. Don't take Arctic Air away. Please bring it back for many more seasons. The scenery is awesome, makes me want to visit the North West Territories and Yukon. I like the idea of using Canadian actors and actresses in this show as I do with shows such as Republic of Doyle and Murdoch Mysteries. I'm glad the actors who are in the USA focus (movies and series) are willing to come home and do Canadian shows. It helps to put Canada on the map in the entertainment world. I see more and more producers and directors making Canadian film. Thanks!
- ellenparker
- Feb 13, 2012
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It's hard to fault this show! There is a broad range of are believable and personable characters, portrayed with solid acting. I appreciate the understatement and subtlety with which the tension is built, which gives the few action scenes a lot of impact. The story lines feel fresh, and each episode has a distinct character.
The premise clearly borrows heavily from Ice Pilots (I wonder if Buffalo Airways are actually involved?), but it hasn't taken long to grow into its own identity. This is now one of my favourite shows of the last few years.
Deserves at least a 7, and a renewal!
The premise clearly borrows heavily from Ice Pilots (I wonder if Buffalo Airways are actually involved?), but it hasn't taken long to grow into its own identity. This is now one of my favourite shows of the last few years.
Deserves at least a 7, and a renewal!
- untermensch-306-68645
- Feb 29, 2012
- Permalink
I really enjoyed the first episode, from beginning till end. It was funny, happy & sad. It was the perfect combination, not too much of one or the other. It was a perfect blend. The acting in my opinion was great, and the story line was great as well. Many people are comparing it to other Northern shows: ie: Ice Pilots. This is not the case. Ice Pilots is a reality show. Arctic Air is a drama, and is not just about flying planes. There is an actual story line, a great one I may ad. Also, many northerners who live or have at least been to Yellowknife are being a little over critical with regards to some of the scenes in my opinion. This is a TV show. This is not real life. There are of course going to be non real settings and surroundings, manipulations etc. Hollywood does it all the time. Take New York Minute for example, filmed in Toronto Ontario. All in all Arctic Air is A lot better then what I was expecting. I am hooked after show one and I cannot wait to see the next episode.
- trevor-duggan
- Jan 10, 2012
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- Pizzaowner
- Nov 29, 2017
- Permalink
I can hardly wait for the next season, I thought the characters were perfect and the story themes were very good, 10 out of 10 for me, I have watched the show on netflix and therefore can watch 3 episodes at once. I enjoyed this series more than north of 60 because the adventure of aircraft and problems with contracts and such I find are two issues that make this show successful. I recognize Adam Beach but the others were unfamiliar to me, even though, since watching the show they are very suitable for the parts they play. It is always good to see a villain get his at the end even though it seems he is going to get away scot free. The love triangle between two of the main characters is great, never knowing if they will get together and when they get close something always seems to get in the way, somewhat leaving you on the edge of your seat.
I really wanted to like this, but it is terrible. Better direction would have gotten much better performances from the cast, but nothing fixes a ridiculous script. Anyone with even half a brain will find the plots silly. The dialogue comes straight from a 12 year olds mind. I watched as many episodes as I could but finally gave up. Save yourself the frustration of hoping it gets better, it doesn't. Maybe turn down the volume and watch some beautiful scenery or just take a nice long nap. Nothing in this series will keep your interest. Adam Beach is a good actor, but you'd never know it watching this.
- brian-btapple
- Feb 18, 2023
- Permalink
Well...I really like the show. It's very relaxing, laid back. It's interesting, and it gets better with every new episode...it just absorbs you more and more into it. It makes you read and research more about Canada, the Northwest Territories, Native peoples, DC-3 planes, De Havillands...If you like flying, don't miss this show. And if you need to relax and not take Diazepam...don't miss this show. :-)
Season 1 was "exploring the territory" and trying to put it on the map, to see where it stands, so my opinion is that the next seasons will further expand the main storyline which was slightly underdeveloped in the first season, hence the 9 out of 10 from me. But, that's not a negative point, at all! The show has much potential, and I expect to see it fully developed in the future seasons.
Cheers! :-)
Season 1 was "exploring the territory" and trying to put it on the map, to see where it stands, so my opinion is that the next seasons will further expand the main storyline which was slightly underdeveloped in the first season, hence the 9 out of 10 from me. But, that's not a negative point, at all! The show has much potential, and I expect to see it fully developed in the future seasons.
Cheers! :-)
Arctic Air is a typical show that has a little bit of everything. Romance, Action, Family drama, culture and nature. I would classify the acting slightly above average, the stories quite entertaining and after 5-10 episodes you already feel like part of the family. First I didn't like the character of Bobby. Thought he does not represent the typical hero of a TV-series, but I got used to it. Perhaps because the acting got more convincing through the series. Always have to think of R2-D2 and C-3PO when it comes to Dev and Astrid. You cannot expect amazing special-effects from this kind of show but what it offers is satisfactory. Only from time to time some poor CGI-planes disturb the smooth impression of reality. I am actually very sad that the show was canceled after the third season. If it had continued, surely I would have followed the show through the next seasons.
- marco-30-384328
- May 4, 2015
- Permalink
- goldenstar2
- Mar 27, 2012
- Permalink
I tried to give this show a try. It was painful getting through the second episode before I couldn't take it anymore. It is poorly cast, and the actors have little personality and look like they have never stepped foot outside of city concrete. The plot line is predictable, but that isn't even a negative compared to all its other faults. It lacks a sense of reality and believability in every way. The script is bad, and the delivery by actors sounds canned and sophomoric. Furthermore, there is nothing that resembles "Northern Exposure" except it has planes and is filmed in the north! I hate to be so harsh, but I recommend you take a pass on this bore fest, and opt for reruns of something better.
If anyone from Amazon, Netflix or even CBC is reading this, please pick this show up and make a few more seasons. This is, if you are looking for genuine Canadian content for your platforms. According to some sources, this series was cancelled because of funding cuts from the Govt. I mean they have funding for series like "Heartland", which would not have had a chance to go past 5, 6 seasons, if it were running on some US based TV channel but it is good enough for CBC. This show was such a refreshing take on life up north of Canada and yes, it takes more money to make this gorgeous show than what it takes to rent horses and make a bunch of people talk. Arctic air requires a lot of VFX treatment as well since the terrain up north of this country demands a lot out of shooting crews that it is almost impossible to pull off some of the shots that have made it into the show without VFX. So everything adds up.
Compared to all the crap that are coming out of the platforms these days including the gazillion "same old" superhero stories where kids, animals and even old people develop superhero powers, this show actually shows what it means to survive in the cold north, which requires a mindset that can equate to superhero powers!
This is a really good show with a solid cast and production that just got left to dry high. The show often went strong against some bureaucratic issues that prevent people up north from getting their stuff done or get the requirements that they need brought to them in time. I wonder if that constituted to the so called "funding cuts" or not. Well, good for this show. I mean horses don't talk. Also, they don't cost you that much money. So I guess, you could go on and on and on with a show that really should have stopped a decade ago. I got nothing against Heartland but you got to look at the quality of the story that you are telling as opposed to what gets broadcast on TV.
Again, please buy the rights of this show from CBC(looks like they have pretty much archived this show) and make some more seasons of this. Let's have some more good TV rather than just churning out another one of that superhero crap. It is getting so boring.
Compared to all the crap that are coming out of the platforms these days including the gazillion "same old" superhero stories where kids, animals and even old people develop superhero powers, this show actually shows what it means to survive in the cold north, which requires a mindset that can equate to superhero powers!
This is a really good show with a solid cast and production that just got left to dry high. The show often went strong against some bureaucratic issues that prevent people up north from getting their stuff done or get the requirements that they need brought to them in time. I wonder if that constituted to the so called "funding cuts" or not. Well, good for this show. I mean horses don't talk. Also, they don't cost you that much money. So I guess, you could go on and on and on with a show that really should have stopped a decade ago. I got nothing against Heartland but you got to look at the quality of the story that you are telling as opposed to what gets broadcast on TV.
Again, please buy the rights of this show from CBC(looks like they have pretty much archived this show) and make some more seasons of this. Let's have some more good TV rather than just churning out another one of that superhero crap. It is getting so boring.
- ayyappaas-627-575084
- Jul 7, 2023
- Permalink
I guess the first episode was alright. Maybe it will get better but I can't help comparing this show to north of 60. And compared to north of 60...well it doesn't really compare. Where are all the native actors? I saw Adam Beach and a few minor characters. I realize north of 60 was set in a small town but the cast was overall native and I liked that. There was also better chemistry between the actors. I don't like the main girl. She doesn't seem very real and her lines sounds a bit forced. The first episode was very predictable and a little boring. I was really hoping for something to rival north of 60, something really original. This show feels like an americanized attempt at something original and Canadian. I didn't feel that when I watched it. I hope it gets better, it has a lot of potential, I love Adam Beach but it feels fake. I feel like the rest of the characters really don't match up.
- meaghan_isobel
- Jan 24, 2012
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Just found a source for this series. I'm going to watch it again. Really, really enjoyed it the first time around. The North Canadian scenery and the Douglas DC-3 flying shots are simply wonderful - often breath-taking actually.
- gregford-04412
- Sep 22, 2020
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- stormguildmaster
- Feb 21, 2016
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Adam Beach is so bad it makes me almost angry that someone made the decision to put him on my screen. There is no getting past it no matter how much you try. How can an "actor" be so inept? How bad is he? You know those awkward commercials with sports stars where they can't say their lines even after 100 takes? He's worse than those guys. Absolutely brutal.
As for the rest of it, the scenery is the only reason to watch. Maybe with the sound off? Everyone else seems decent enough I guess, but it only seems that way because you are so relieved the scene doesn't have that clown it it. Problem is, he is in nearly every scene.
Don't waste your time hoping it will get better. It actually gets worse.
As for the rest of it, the scenery is the only reason to watch. Maybe with the sound off? Everyone else seems decent enough I guess, but it only seems that way because you are so relieved the scene doesn't have that clown it it. Problem is, he is in nearly every scene.
Don't waste your time hoping it will get better. It actually gets worse.
- johng-90893
- Sep 11, 2023
- Permalink
No spoilers - I really enjoy the lead actors - decent work - but this was a circuitous find that i really only enjoyed in watching season 1 maybe a 6er - popcorn, flaws but - "eh - we will see how it goes in season 2".... and it was not an improvement - plot holes. - jumpy story lines - formulaic nonsense - i found myself skipping lots - romance arc was not well thought out, villain holes etc etc by season 3 - i literally only watched the recap because the story on a whole was uninteresting and the endings and connections most would naturally want to see kept getting further away because of scripted conflicts to otherwise "intelligent" characters... just nonsense for a series that might have gone for 6 or 7 seasons... personally i would not waste time on this one.
- mayhem-23489
- Jun 12, 2023
- Permalink