PAM FRAMPTON: No need to keep criticism of Below on the down-low

Like many other curious souls with a Netflix account, I tuned in to watch Below when it premiered on Oct. 8 and ended up binge-watching the series in two days.

I was hardly alone.

According to Netflix, Below got 17 million views in its opening weekend — the best performance by a Canadian title ever — and was the most-watched show on the streamer’s English TV list in its opening week. It also made the top 10 in about 90 countries.

Not too shabby for a show set in a fictitious isolated Newfoundland outport.

It was a thrill to see familiar and well-loved locations on our TV screen — the wharf in Brigus, the futuristic and yet ancient-looking Ocean Sciences Centre in Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove — which has become part of the landscape itself — the rugged cliffs of Pouch Cove (pronounced “pooch” and not “pouch,” for the uninitiated).

Many a Newfoundlander and Labradorian watched with keen eyes for the elements of inside baseball — the Easter eggs — embedded in the show as it unfolded: the Jigg’s dinner references, the Tetley Tea, iceberg vodka, the old hag, the authentic knitwear, the iconic scene of a house being towed across the water during resettlement, a young fella roaring up the road on a quad.

“This whole show feels like one big Screech-in, and I loved it,” writes Slate’s Rebecca Onion, referring to the ceremony that turns come-from-aways into honorary Newfoundlanders.

And there is plenty to love, especially Newfoundland’s starring role as itself, captured in sweeping cinematography. Below nails the wit, warmth and vibrancy of this place, the tight-knit communities, the music and camaraderie, the forces of nature, the fondness for a joke and a good time, a resilience that even gale-force winds can’t stunt.

You can’t help but swell with pride at seeing talented actors from Newfoundland and Labrador — Willow Kean, Andy Jones, Cathy Jones, Joel Thomas Hynes, Mary Walsh, Marthe Benard, Natasha Henstridge (who was born here, but raised in Fort Mac), and others — holding their own alongside bigger stars like Josh Hartnett and Mackenzie Davis.

But, like most shows, Below — though thrilling and beautiful — is not perfect.

There are some continuity problems, some embellishments of history and geography, some nuances of dialect and word choice and pronunciation that just don’t ring true. There are accents that, while admirably attempted, sometimes come and go. It’s the kind of minutiae that makes for lively discussions on social media platforms but doesn’t detract greatly from the many wonderful things about the show.

So, I was a little surprised to see a thread on Facebook recently that suggested Newfoundlanders and Labradorians keep our criticisms of the series “between us” and not share them with the outside world lest it cast a shadow over the wonderful golden moment the province is enjoying in the spotlight right now.

I appreciate the sentiment — Newfoundland and Labrador is basking in Below’s rosy glow, and deservedly so. This is a cool and colourful place, known for gifted artists and natural wit and warm-hearted hospitality, a place with unique culture and traditions.

So, kudos to us. The cast of Below has been singing our praises and here’s hoping it leads to record tourism numbers in the coming years.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t critique a show that is set here, or anywhere else for that matter. Pointing out things that could have been done differently or better is not a betrayal of our culture.

Criticism — particularly constructive and well-considered criticism — can offer ideas for future improvement, give artists fresh perspective, incite healthy debate and reveal the depth of audience engagement.

The fact that some people have pointed out minor glitches in Below means that they are invested in its success, that they want the culture it represents to be portrayed as accurately as possible; that they care.

While some people have been publicly discussing the finer points of production, they have also been giving huge shout-outs to the show and full marks to cast and crew.

Surely our shoulders are broad enough to handle both. Season 2 — and I hope there is one — would be all the better for it.

Pam Frampton lives in St. John’s. Email pamelajframpton@gmail.com | X: @Pam_Frampton | Bluesky: @pamframpton.bsky.social