The N's new series, South Of Nowhere, is the channel's first original teen drama that isn't from Canada. With a diverse cast, a gritty documentary-style look and a willingness to push boundaries, The N may have found the perfect companion series to Degrassi.
Created by Thomas Lynch, South Of Nowhere revolves around the Carlin family. They have just moved from small town Ohio to Los Angeles and are trying to adjust to city life in California. The father, Arthur Carlin (Rob Moran) is a social worker and his wife, Paula (Maeve Quinlan), is a doctor. They are raising three teenagers. Glen (Chris Hunter) is a jock who was a star at his old school and now has to adjust to competing with his new basketball team's current star Aiden (Matt Cohen). Spencer (Gabrielle Christian) is a cheerleader who is struggling with her sexual orientation. She seems to have a crush on her new friend Ashley (Mandy Musgrave), a girl who is rumored to be a lesbian. Clay (Danso Gordon) is the Carlin's African-American adopted son. He is very intelligent and doesn't act "black." A friendship (sort of) begins to develop between Clay and Sean (Austen Parros), a tough but also intelligent teen who is pretty much the opposite of Clay.
One of the things I like about South Of Nowhere is the realism depicted in the show. Most of the dialogue feels pretty natural and you don't get the sense that things are being sanitized. Also, there are little things that helped make things seem more real. In one scene, the Carlin family sits down to dinner at the dinner table. They hold hands and say grace before eating. As I watched that, I realized how rare it is to see a family on television actually say grace before they eat.
The one thing this show thrives on, even more than Degrassi, is the clash of different cultures, different ideas and different ways of life. The burgeoning friend/relationship between Spencer and Ashley will have repercussions throughout the series. Aiden got Ashley pregnant, but she lost the baby. Now, Aiden (who is currently with Sherry, the captain of the cheerleading squad) looks to have a crush on Spencer. At the same time, Spencer's brother Glen has the hots for Ashley. Sherry hates Ashley and all but outs Spencer at the school dance. Aiden is at odds with Glen because he (and more importantly, Sherry) is worried about losing his star status on the basketball team. Meanwhile, Clay comes faces how sheltered his life in Ohio was. He gets beat up for talking with a guy's girlfriend and when he tries to defend her honor. Clay also experiences his first "driving while black" incident while riding with Sean. Finally, based on the dialogue, it's clear that the parents have very different philosophies (think Sandy and Kirsten on The OC). If/when Spencer comes out of the closet, there is bound to be fireworks between the two.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Lani
LOVVEEE LOVE LOVE LOVEEEEE south of nowhere!!
2 - Ms Vague
This show must liiiveeeeee.
-goes crazy-
3 - Eve
Absolutely love the show!
I'm from holland so can't watch it here, hope it will come soon to Europe!
4 - Victor Plenty
Well done, Sterfish. You present the show's interesting points so well, I almost wish I could see it, even though it's clearly not the sort of thing that would usually be my cup of tea.
Also I must commend you for correctly using the word "palette," which so many people these days tend to write as "palate" (a word with an entirely different meaning but also correctly spelled, so spell-checkers fail to catch the error).
Just one minor possible improvement to suggest. As someone who doesn't watch much television, I'm not familiar with "The N." A brief explanation of what that is, or even a link to its own web site, would have been helpful to me.
5 - Ali
i've been a huge fan of Degrassi, but now i have another favorite show!
i LOOOOOOVE South Of Nowhere!!! and i hope it'll stay for many seasons!!!
6 - Christina
Ok I love Degrassi But now that I watch South of Nowhere Degrassi just dont seem as good as it was South of Nowhere just WOW! I cant tell you how much I love the show.
7 - Christina
I just seen the show like to days go I'am A huge fan of the show that is so awesome I just love that show. The actress and actar are great that make it so really you know.
8 - Christina
South of Nowhere how can I tell you how much I love the show Well for one thing I can watch the show over and over and never get sick of watching that show. The actress and actar are so great the make the show so really and I think that what people like so much about it.I just got done watching that show for second time I know that I never get sick of it.
9 - Germana
I love the show! I've been downloading the episodes week after week since in Brazil we still don´t have it on TV.
10 - the Used babe
hey does anyone know if South of nowhere gets played in canada????and what channel????
11 - Laura
I love South of Nowhere.
But "Sherry" isn't the captain of the cheerleading squad's name.. it is Madison.
Sorry, the name error confused me when I first read it.
12 - Sonia
I love South of Nowhere!!! It is my new favorite show ever! Ashley's my favorite. lol
13 - caligurl
I do have to agree this show s.o.n rocks to be onest I Looovvvee it.But my luv for degrassi is stiill strong. HaHaHAHA
14 - cuty
I tottly agrre with caligirl this show is amazing LUV cuty hm hm hm hm hm hm
15 - Mrs.Cohen
matthew cohen is sooo hot! hes mine ladies so back off..lol
16 - KD
When will it come out on DVD?
17 - Russia
What channel does this show comes on?
18 - angela sesto
I LOVE SOUTH OF NOWHERE!!!!!! ITS THE NEXT BEST THING NEXT TO MTVS LAGUNA BEACH!!!I LUV ASHLEY AND SPENCER 4EVA I HOPE THERE IS A SEASON 2 LOL!!!!
19 - LAGUNACHICA69
THIS SHOW ROCKS!! ASHLEY IS SOOOOO COOL SHE DOES NOT CARE WUT OTHER PEEPS THINK ABOUT HER!!! AND THAT ROCKS I LOVE ASHLEY AND SPENCER!!!EVERYONE HOPE 4 A SEASON 2!!
20 - caitrox_freebird16
I absolutely lOOOOOOOOOOOOVE South of Nowhere! I am totally obsessed. Ashley is the best. Being straight myself, even I say she is a hottttt chick. LONG LIVE S.O.N.
21 - lezchick69
SOUTH OF NOWHERE IS THE HOTTEST SHOW ON TV!! ASHLEY IS THE SEXIEST GIRL ON TV AND SPENCER IS SOOOOOOOOOOO HOT!!
22 - Maddy
Hate this show. Hate. I love Degrassi, but South of Nowhere just didn't do it for me.
23 - basketballer_4evr
I love that show, escpecially Aiden he's SOOOOOO HOT!!!!!!!!So is Aubrey Graham off Degrassi!!THEIR BOTH HOT!!!
24 - RebelHotti
MADDY U DON'T NO WAT U R MISSING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BUT I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE SOUTH OF NOWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I SO ROCS!!!!!!!!!!! ITS BETTER THAN NE SHOW ON TV!!!! BUT I CAN'T WAIT NE LONGER 4 SEASON 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
25 - cheerios
I love South of Nowhere spencer and ashley helped me find who I am and spencer your soooooooo hot ashley you to, I wish the show would comes back soon THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!