In June 2020, the series was renewed for a second season ahead of its premiere.[2] In May 2021, the series was renewed for a third season after airing its first-season finale.[3] The second season premiered on September 26, 2021.[4] The third season premiered on September 25, 2022.[5] In August 2022, Fox renewed the series for a fourth season,[6] which premiered on January 7, 2024.[7] In January 2024, series co-creator Wendy Molyneux revealed that the show has been renewed for a fifth season and that production is already underway.[8]
Plot
Beef Tobin is a single father living in the fictional town of Lone Moose, Alaska with his four children Wolf, Ham, Judy, and Moon, as well as Wolf's wife Honeybee. Beef's life is centered on raising his children and keeping the family together. He is sometimes overbearing and smothering, but his deep love for his family is a central theme in each episode in the series.[9]
Voice cast
The main characters of The Great North (clockwise from top): Moon Tobin, Beef Tobin, Judy Tobin, Wolf Tobin, Honeybee Shaw, and Ham Tobin
Main
Nick Offerman as Beef Tenderloin Tobin, a fisherman and divorced father of four. Beef is still coming to terms with being abandoned by his ex-wife Kathleen. He spent years pretending that she died tragically, despite all of the Tobin children knowing the truth. He is a supportive father who encourages his children to love and respect others, although he sometimes struggles with the many changes happening in their lives and worries that they will grow apart.[2]
Jenny Slate as Judy Tobin, an artistically inclined sixteen-year-old and Beef's only daughter. Judy loves her family, sharing a deep bond with her "Alaskan twin" brother Ham (they are not actual twins, but were born 9 months apart). She dreams of exploring the world beyond their small, remote hometown.[2]
Will Forte as Wolf Tobin, Beef's oldest son and Honeybee's husband. A sensitive and optimistic young man, Wolf longs to make his father proud, although his eagerness often puts him beyond his depth.[2]
Dulcé Sloan as Honeybee Shaw, Wolf's wife. Confident and adventurous, she moved from her hometown of Fresno after falling in love with Wolf, and is now adapting to life in a small Alaskan fishing town.[2]
Paul Rust as Ham Tobin, Beef's middle son. Ham is openly gay, which his family embraces. He shares a deep bond with his "Alaskan twin" sister Judy, and they often collaborate on creative endeavors. He enjoys baking, and secretly becomes the town's "cake lady" after the previous one was arrested.[2] He is the lead singer of Messengers of Chaos, Lone Moose's first punk band.
Aparna Nancherla as Moon Tobin, Beef's youngest son, who shares Beef's stoic demeanor and passion for outdoorsmanship. Despite being only 10 years old, Moon is unafraid of the intimidating Alaskan wildlife, and is often seen building traps for various animals (from ruffed grouse to Bigfoot) or exploring the wilderness around the family home. Moon wears a bear-like onesie almost all the time, even to school.[2]
Recurring
Tim Bagley as Dwayne Gibbons, the principal of Lone Moose School.
Sarah Baker as Police Chief Edna, the chief of police in Lone Moose, who also owns the town boatyard and a sticker store. Baker also voiced Mary, the owner of a dance studio in Death Cliff, in the episode "Dances with Wolfs Adventure".
Wyatt Cenac as Ted Folly IV, the mayor of the nearby town of Ted's Folly. Cenac also voices a number of one-off characters, including Dr. Gary, a dentist and the son of Judy's orthodontist Dr. Helena; Colton the Croonin' Cod; TV weatherman Harry Hotfog; and Horton, the owner of the Log Museum.
Andy Daly as Cheesecake, a hard-partying friend of Wolf's who lives in a trailer behind a bar. Daly also voices Pete, the cashier at the Val-U-Buy, plus other characters.
Gabe Delahaye as Old Jody Jr., a sketchy, raspy-voiced resident of Lone Moose who claims to be able to get anything for anyone.
Rob Delaney as Brian Tobin, Beef's elder brother. Brian moved to Anchorage and works as a hot-tub and jacuzzi salesman. He has a daughter, Becca, about the same age as Ham and Judy.
Ray Dewilde (credited in seasons 1 and 2 as Ray J. Dewilde) as Mayor Peppers, the mayor of Lone Moose and a member of the Sugpiaq tribe.
Brooke Dillman as Zoya, a resident of Lone Moose with an Eastern European accent who works at the Russian Restaurant. Dillman also voices Dell, a fisherwoman and sometime romantic interest of Beef's; Doris, Tusk Johnson's camera operator and eventual fiancée; and other characters.
John Early as Henry Tuntley, a friend of Moon's who wears a sweater-vest and glasses. Early also played the voice of one of Judy's teeth in "Brace/Off Adventure", a boat mechanic in "Beef's in Toyland Adventure", and Sherman the fish buyer in "Barrel Be Blood Adventure".
Ziwe Fumudoh (credited as Ziwe) as Amelia, a friend of Judy's who works part-time at her mother's pizzeria, DiGigantico's Pizza. Amelia's mother used to home-school her, until she found the math lessons too difficult.
Ron Funches as Jerrybee "Jerry" Shaw, Honeybee's friendly younger brother who first appears in flashbacks in the third episode, "Avocado Barter Adventure". Jerry moves to Lone Moose in the eighth episode, "Keep Beef-lievin' Adventure", and gets a job making public appearances in a Bigfoot mascot costume.
Daniele Gaither as Ruth Shaw, Honeybee's mother, who owns a curtain store in Fresno with her husband Louis. Gaither also voices Moon's teacher Mrs. Hill, plus a number of one-off characters, including Amelia's mother CJ, and Shanice Parker-Butts, the mayor of the nearby town of Whippleton.
John Gemberling as Russell, a friend of Moon's and fellow member of the Junior Janitors and the Li'l Preppers. He frequently talks about how much he likes and admires his mom's boyfriend Jamie.
Patti Harrison as Debbie Van, a bratty frenemy of Moon's who is into figure skating. Her last name was given as "Gladu" in her first appearance in the episode "Keep Beef-lievin' Adventure", but changed to "Van" in subsequent appearances. Harrison also voiced Momma Marita in "Tasteful Noods Adventure".
David Herman as Gill Beavers, a boy with an unrequited crush on Judy, and Santiago Carpaccio, a tall, quiet resident of Lone Moose who speaks in a non-specific Southern European accent. Herman also voices Ivan, an elderly fisherman in Lone Moose, plus other characters.
Aloysius Hootch as Delmer, an octogenarian Yup'ik man who owns a curling rink. In the episode "Wanted: Delmer Alive Adventure", it's revealed that Delmer acted as a father figure to Beef and his brother Brian due to their own parents being unreliable. Delmer was married at some point in his past, and his very elderly father is still alive.
Princess Daazhraii Johnson (credited as Princess Johnson) as Esther Evanoff, Kima's mother and a professional smokejumper. Johnson also played Sunshine, the soprano of The Ketchikan-do's, in "Great Bus of Choir Adventure", and an annoyed movie audience member in "Mall-mento Adventure".
Charlie Kelly as Drama John, a classmate of Ham and Judy. Drama John frequently does things to create emotional drama for his family or anyone around him, such as throwing his birth certificate into a fire or joining an art club just so he can storm out of it. He is best friends with Bethany.
Martha Kelly as Bethany Bupatutti, a classmate of Ham and Judy. Bethany speaks in a monotone voice, dresses in a punk/goth style, and has a variety of eccentric interests and beliefs, such as owning a "haunted" porcelain doll, planning for defence against pirate attacks, and asserting that reality is a simulation that makes everyone's choices for them. Bethany plays drums under the name "Bethany Bones" in Messengers of Chaos, Ham's punk band.
Jane Lynch as Dirtrude "Aunt Dirt" Tobin, the elder sister of Beef's father. In the season 4 episode "Aunt Misbehavin' Adventure", Aunt Dirt is discovered living in a fallout shelter on the Tobin's property, where she had been hiding since March 27, 1964, after mistaking an earthquake for a Soviet invasion. Aunt Dirt is a lesbian, and it is insinuated that part of the reason for her extended isolation was being heartbroken over her secret girlfriend, Melinda, marrying a man in Wasilla, which Dirt learned about on the same day as the earthquake.
Monique Moreau as Dr. French, Lone Moose's veterinarian.
Megan Mullally as Alyson Lefebvrere, Judy's boss at the photography studio and an artist in her own right.[2] Mullally also voices recurring characters Dorothy Tuntley (the mother of Moon's friend Henry) and Vera Warren (an angry older resident of Lone Moose).
Ruby Nicazio as Quinn Notti, Moon's classmate and a fellow member of the Junior Janitors and the Li'l Preppers.
Edi Patterson as Stacy B., a mean popular girl at Lone Moose School who antagonizes Judy, her former childhood best friend. Patterson also played Jackie Jacqueline II in "Great Bus of Choir Adventure".
Mark Proksch as Councilman Roy Fletcher, a member of the Lone Moose town council. Roy's pet eagle, Toby, is also a member of Lone Moose's three-member council, giving Roy effective legislative control of the town government.
Judith Shelton as Londra Pennypacker, a mild-mannered fisherwoman whose boat is moored close to Beef's. In a running gag, the Tobins are regularly too busy to stop and talk to Londra.
Mindy Sterling as Junkyard Kyle, a mechanically adept woman in a pink jumpsuit who runs a local junkyard. Sterling also voices Sandy Flarts, the Lone Moose school superintendent, in "Period Piece Adventure".
Robin Thede as Diondra Tundra, a TV reporter for Channel 36 News. Thede also voices Dr. Helena, Judy's orthodontist, in "Brace/Off Adventure".
Paul F. Tompkins as Theodore Golovkin, a teacher at the Lone Moose school with a brusque manner, an obsessive-compulsive disorder, and a passion for film noir, home-brewed kombucha, and model trains. Mr. Golovkin is in a relationship with Ms. Anderson, another teacher at Lone Moose School. Tompkins also voices a traffic cop in the episode "Cheese All That Adventure", and a cruise ship captain in "You've Got Sail Adventure".
Julio Torres (seasons 1-3) and Juan Castano (from season 3's "Rear Genius Adventure" onwards) as Crispin Cienfuegos, Ham's boyfriend, who moved to Lone Moose from Michigan with his family and has a part-time job at the smoothie stand at the mall.
Ariel Tweto as Kima Evanoff, Judy's best friend and a Native Alaskan (in "High Expectations Adventure", Kima says she is Sugpiaq and Athabascan). Kima shares much of Judy's idealism and passion, but is more level-headed. Kima's last name was initially shown in the show's credits as "Brewper", before it was established as "Evanoff" in "Rear Genius Adventure".
Reggie Watts as Quay, a cool classmate of Ham and Judy who also plays guitar.
Brian Wescott as Walt Evanoff, Kima's father and a climate scientist. Wescott also played Dink, the baritone of the Ketchikan-do's, in "Great Bus of Choir Adventure".
Jenny Yang as Carissa Van, Debbie Van's mother and, as of the season 4 episode "Bear of Beeftown Adventure", Beef's girlfriend. She is a divorcée, and shares custody of Debbie with her ex-husband, Ken. In her first episode, season 2's "Beef Mommas House Adventure", she is shown to be in a friend group with Marie and Dorothy, the mothers of Moon's other friends Russell and Henry. In the season 4 episode "Cheese All That Adventure", Carissa opens a coffee shop, Scone Moose.
Kelvin Yu as Steven Huang, a classmate of Ham and Judy and Judy's love interest in the first season. Steven plays bass under the name "Steven the Psycho" in Messengers of Chaos, Ham's punk band. Yu also plays an actor portraying former Lone Moose Mayor Parsnips in "Rear Genius Adventure".
Drew Droege as Cal the Smuggler, Matthew the bed salesman, Whippletonian Jeremy, Paul (the waiter at HMS Crabcakes), and Burtis the escape room attendant
Kevin Avery as Jarvis Dufraine and other characters
On May 13, 2019, it was announced that the series was set to premiere in 2020,[11] but on May 11, 2020, this was revised to a premiere mid-season the 2020–21 television season.[12] Later, a February 2021 premiere was announced.[13] On June 22, 2020, Fox renewed the series for a second season ahead of its premiere.[2]
On December 18, 2020, it was confirmed that the series would premiere on February 14, 2021, as part of Fox's Animation Domination programming block.[14] On December 22, 2020, a special preview on January 3, 2021, was announced.[15] On May 17, 2021, the day after the first-season finale was broadcast, Fox renewed the series for a third season.[3] The second season premiered on September 26, 2021.[4] The third season premiered on September 25, 2022.[5] A fourth season has also been picked up.[6] The fourth season premiered on January 7, 2024.[7] On January 27, 2024, co-creator Wendy Molyneux announced that a fifth season was ordered.[8]
In Canada, the series aired on Citytv for its first season.[16]
The show is available to stream on Hulu in the United States, and for purchase on all major digital stores. In India, the series is simulcasted on Disney+ Hotstar because of 20th Television's output deal with Star India.[17]
The show is available to stream on Disney+ via the Star content hub in selected territories and Star+ in Latin America.[18][19]
In Denmark, the show initially premiered exclusively on Xee on July 9, 2021.[20] The show was later added to Disney+ on March 9, 2022, with the first season and the first three episodes from the second season included.[21]
Reception
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the series' first season holds an approval rating of 100% based on 15 reviews, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "As cozy as a night spent relaxing by the fireplace with your favorite funny people, The Great North is a delightfully hilarious addition to Fox's Animation Domination lineup."[22] On Metacritic (which uses a weighted average), the season has a score of 77 out of 100 based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[23]
Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter praised the performances of the actors and complimented the humor of the series, comparing it to Bob's Burgers, while noting that the series made token references to Indigenous representation and said it should embrace those more in future episodes, writing, "Then again, with memorable characters (captured in that familiar Bento Box Entertainment style), running credit gags and catchy episode-closing songs, I don't think Bob's Burgers as reimagined by somebody who just watched Northern Exposure would be such a bad thing anyway."[24] Margaret Lyons of The New York Times praised the humor of the show, saying the series recalls Bob's Burgers and seems to act as a spin-off, writing, "This new comedy by some of the folks from Bob's Burgers isn't technically a spinoff, but it might as well be — in a good way! [...] like many comedies, it gets funnier as it goes along, but it has a silly sweetness from the start."[25]
Joyce Slaton of Common Sense Media rated the series 4 out of 5 stars, praised the depiction of positive messages and role models, calling some of the characters lovable, supportive, and tolerant, and complimented the humor and the diversity of the cast, writing, "There's a strong streak of sweetness in this comedy, particularly in the way that family love is strong and central. The show clearly has a love for oddballs, and the humor is gentle and non-mocking."[26] Ben Travers of IndieWire gave the series a B+ grade, called The Great North a "worthy successor to Bob's Burgers", stating the series manages to keep its own identity even across its similarities with Bob's Burgers, praised the animation of the show for its color palette, while noting The Great North is the only animated Fox comedy with a black family member saying, "After decades spent churning out Simpsons clones, Fox is finally building off its other, nicer, animated sitcom — with encouraging results."[27]
Ratings
Viewership and ratings per season of The Great North
