Frontier

:

Season 1
Season #: 3, 2, 1
User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 53 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 53
  3. Negative: 14 out of 53
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Stream On

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

User Reviews

view
per page
  1. MightyThor
    Feb 9, 2017
    6
    The show just isn't that interesting. Everything's pretty predictable. Still the historical setting is awesome and the characters are developed and the acting is good. But the dialogue... man it just tries way too hard to be badass. They constantly drop f-bombs (was that even a curse word in 17th century new england?), and the show is violent for the sake of being violent at times. TheThe show just isn't that interesting. Everything's pretty predictable. Still the historical setting is awesome and the characters are developed and the acting is good. But the dialogue... man it just tries way too hard to be badass. They constantly drop f-bombs (was that even a curse word in 17th century new england?), and the show is violent for the sake of being violent at times. The violence in game of thrones for instance is extreme but usually fits within the flow of the plot. Here is seems like they just decided we need to add harsh language and violence to get people interested in our show.… Expand
  2. iwatch719
    Jan 24, 2017
    2
    I'll keep this short, What a real disappointment. The editing and the directing is all over the place. I can tell it's a small budget by just how they overlap some much of the scenery. No real big pan aways that can slow the story down and let you enjoy the scenery. It seems they just want to rush this story along, resulting in silly scenes that just disappoint time after time. They justI'll keep this short, What a real disappointment. The editing and the directing is all over the place. I can tell it's a small budget by just how they overlap some much of the scenery. No real big pan aways that can slow the story down and let you enjoy the scenery. It seems they just want to rush this story along, resulting in silly scenes that just disappoint time after time. They just don't make sense. What a shame because the actual story is so important to the turn of the century. The beginning of the developing world of industry. The actors do work hard and there are all pretty faces to look at. Very frustrating for me, but some how I got through it and well yes a waste of time.… Expand
  3. brib87
    Feb 12, 2017
    10
    I am so sad there are not more episodes. The critics are on crack if they find fault with this series. Sit back and enjoy. Don't mind the nitpicking falsities of low reviews.
  4. SPAMbuca
    Jun 22, 2017
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. There are some parts of the series to like. Not a lot of series touch the 18th century in such a way. Effort has put into making people look like authentical.

    Yet, the immersion breaks quickly if you look a little more closely. Main character Michael has actually very little reason to become loyal to Declan Harp. Since a huge part of the plotline is based on Michael sticking to Declan, a lot of it falls flat by default since there is no actual explanation of why Michael acts like he does. Why does he trust a guy that nearly skinned him over a the person that has actual leverage over him? Why doesn't the captain of the guard notice Emberly not being interested in him at all? How did Emberly not expect said captain to eventually try something while she tried to charm him into helping her? Why does Emberly suddenly trust the whore from England and what actual use did she have in the series? Why is Declan Harp declared the leader of his group if he is that unstable and not actually controlling the majority of his forces? Why do people blame Declan Harp for the death of 1 person after a succesful attack on the English? Did they really expect to keep fighting battles without any losses?

    There are way too many plotholes in the series. The characters are unlikely or getting close to becoming mary sues. Main characters clearly have a bad case of plot armor and become good at things for no particular explanation. How does an urban city boy deal with being dragged through the wilderness of the New World? Isn't he giving up quite easily on the love of his life? Isn't he acting like a stereotypical "emo white boy" during most of the series? Why does Declan trust Michael so much from the start? What use did Clenna have except from picking 1 lock?

    In general I conclude the setting is nice, although limited ( nearly everything interesting happens in 1 inn), but the characters are fatally lacking and the plot has way too many holes.    … Expand
  5. atenais
    Dec 20, 2018
    10
    The show takes a couple episodes to pick up, but after that it just gets better and better. Everything from costume and set design to acting/directing/writing is great. Already watched all 3 seasons twice and would definitely watch again.
  6. avi15
    Jan 26, 2017
    1
    Predictable plot: Celts, Native Americans good; British idiots. Braveheart remake in Canadian setting. I wouldn't bother, unless you enjoy getting your prejudices and stereotypes confirmed against a backdrop of gratuitous, graphic violence.
  7. mrmonster
    Jan 22, 2017
    8
    I'm halfway done with it so far, and I can say beyond all doubts that Netflix has found their next big hit. It's an action packed, historical thrill ride.
  8. reviewsperiod
    Jan 21, 2017
    9
    This show moves at a great pace. There's a lightness in the undertones which I appreciate. I get the sense that the filmmakers are having a lot of fun developing these characters in this fascinating world. Presumably, the show has a smaller budget than some of it's contemporaries, but it has managed to achieve a strong level of production value in places, and the cast is excellent. It's aThis show moves at a great pace. There's a lightness in the undertones which I appreciate. I get the sense that the filmmakers are having a lot of fun developing these characters in this fascinating world. Presumably, the show has a smaller budget than some of it's contemporaries, but it has managed to achieve a strong level of production value in places, and the cast is excellent. It's a fun watch that doesn't take itself too seriously and I bet you will enjoy it with a bucket of popcorn!… Expand
  9. weirdcryo
    Jan 20, 2017
    5
    To be frank I was thinking to rate lower but considering that I only watched the first episode so far I'm giving a 5 that can be lower or higher after I keep watching but so far I'm not really encouraged.

    The show is weird, I was expecting Jason Mamoa to lead strong but it seems that the story will focus in the perspective of a child (at least so far), I'm okay with it but kind of    To be frank I was thinking to rate lower but considering that I only watched the first episode so far I'm giving a 5 that can be lower or higher after I keep watching but so far I'm not really encouraged.

    The show is weird, I was expecting Jason Mamoa to lead strong but it seems that the story will focus in the perspective of a child (at least so far), I'm okay with it but kind of disappointed.
    The time between events is hard to tell because in one hand we have a guy that only appeared in a bar (without really knowing if he did something else or he just stayed there the whole time) while other characters appeared traveled the whole way from London to the Americas in like 2 events that in show time appeared to take a couple of days.
    There are a lot of things that could be made better and there is a lot of potential but I'm not sure, again, after seeing the first episode that the writers know how to take advantage. Sometimes it take a little while for them to fully understand which path should they follow so I'll give it a chance.    … Expand
  10. jmwolfe420
    Jan 22, 2017
    10
    Found Frontier watched all 6 at once. The end twist is heartbreaking,Jason plays it so well. I felt for him. with each episode I wanted more hurry season 2!
  11. snorlax634
    Nov 28, 2017
    8
    This is a good show. Give it a chance. It's not perfect, but it has some great characters and the setting is amazing. I never knew much about the HBC before this show so it's kind of like a light History lesson. Don't listen to the critics, this show is worth a watch. I'm eagerly awaiting Season 3.
  12. bckershaw
    Dec 15, 2018
    10
    Very well done! Its very nice to see a show about Canada and the fact that its got great acting and set dec's do a wonderful job as well. Little details that add a lot to it. Such as yellow teeth for instance. Its the little things that show the passion and dedication to a story.
  13. superfields
    Oct 21, 2018
    9
    A fresh show set in the early years of the Hudson's Bay Company. This show is violent and never boring. It uses revenge as the main theme to move it along the short seasons. Not for the faint of heart. Jason Momoa is great as is Grace the bar keeper. Many others are fine actors too; but where the show disappoints is in not letting the villains get their due.
  14. LinttaFlamingo
    Jan 27, 2017
    6
    Jason Momoa and Alun Armstrong are the best parts of the show. But besides them, it drags a bit. While there was development for the majority of the characters, I found the character Michael Smyth to be a bit uninteresting. His motivation was this girl that was kind of annoying and I really just wanted him to do something else almost all the time lol. I get that it's hard to makeJason Momoa and Alun Armstrong are the best parts of the show. But besides them, it drags a bit. While there was development for the majority of the characters, I found the character Michael Smyth to be a bit uninteresting. His motivation was this girl that was kind of annoying and I really just wanted him to do something else almost all the time lol. I get that it's hard to make everything work especially when the season is so short with just six episodes, but it always felt like it was just alright and no moment was amazing or unexpected like I would've wanted. Although I am interested if there's going to be a second season, because there is potential.… Expand
  15. DrVenture
    Feb 12, 2017
    2
    I had to give up on this show after watching 4 episodes. There is no real character development and the story is pretty simplistic. The characters are just too one dimensional and the story is full of plot holes. Like how does the dude with the Greek/French accent keep popping up in Montreal and then back to the James Bay area in just a few days? Did he steal a portal gun from Rick &I had to give up on this show after watching 4 episodes. There is no real character development and the story is pretty simplistic. The characters are just too one dimensional and the story is full of plot holes. Like how does the dude with the Greek/French accent keep popping up in Montreal and then back to the James Bay area in just a few days? Did he steal a portal gun from Rick & Morty? The whole thing is completely over the top. The last scene in the forth episode made me say, JHFC, why did I waste my time on this live action cartoon.… Expand
  16. Dravir
    Jan 25, 2017
    0
    A very strange fantasy world in 18th century Canada in which the french are a side note and where fur traders ar merry scott's with ye overblown axecents. Every show needs comical characters ye
  17. MiguelT
    Feb 11, 2017
    2
    Extremely disappointing. Each show opens with trite and cliche political quotes from modern pop icons such as...wait for it...Ice Cube...an obvious attempt at backhanded commentary on our current political environment. It's both predictable and needlessly distracting. But this poor judgment call is only emblematic of the other problems of this show.

    Many characters are predictable    Extremely disappointing. Each show opens with trite and cliche political quotes from modern pop icons such as...wait for it...Ice Cube...an obvious attempt at backhanded commentary on our current political environment. It's both predictable and needlessly distracting. But this poor judgment call is only emblematic of the other problems of this show.

    Many characters are predictable cookie cutter, politically correct manifestations. Indians=good. British=evil. Most women=good. Most men=bad. Boooring! Many characters are overplayed in attempt to portray them as ridiculously wicked, especially the British soldiers.

    Also, the scope and scale of the story feel myopic and claustrophobic. The story takes place across broad swathes of geography, yet we never get a sense for the wide space wherein this story takes place. As a result, the story misses essential context.

    First Netflix original I couldn't complete. What a shame. Such immense potential.    … Expand
  18. JesseBee2
    Mar 12, 2017
    3
    A show that uses the fur trade in America as the background but does little to paint a picture about the trade itself. This would be fine if the characters were interesting, but most aren't. Emberly provides the closest thing to a glimmer of hope in that regard, but her constant involvement in the scheming throughout the episode at times feels directionless. Not worth the time.
  19. Pherocks
    Apr 24, 2017
    10
    People who want a realistic tv show should look up on History Channel.

    What that said this show is amazing for what it is.

    Actors are good and play their role well the cast is also pretty nice with plenty of mixed backgrounds and accents.

    I dint expect much from this series but after watching season 1 i cant wait to see what season 2 has in story.
  20. Husky-92
    Jun 18, 2017
    10
    Gli interessi di ogni personaggio vanno a intricarsi a quelli degli altri creando conflitti, complotti, e continui imprevisti; il tutto in un ambientazione selvaggia e meravigliosa, e allo stesso tempo in un contesto brutale e spesso violento. Frontier è una serie che merita di essere vista!
  21. mrbi11
    Nov 27, 2018
    10
    Love it. Season 3 episode 1. Its Cold enough to Freeze the balls on a brass monkey btw, not Freeze the bones off a brass monkey which makes no sense. Brass monkey was a brass rack for cannon balls. To freeze them to the rack meant freezing seawater **** which is below zero temperature. Show strives for accuracy in so many ways. No one at that time who spent months on a boat coming to theLove it. Season 3 episode 1. Its Cold enough to Freeze the balls on a brass monkey btw, not Freeze the bones off a brass monkey which makes no sense. Brass monkey was a brass rack for cannon balls. To freeze them to the rack meant freezing seawater **** which is below zero temperature. Show strives for accuracy in so many ways. No one at that time who spent months on a boat coming to the new world would fail to know that. Sigh.… Expand
  22. Rtab
    Dec 11, 2017
    10
    Set in the late 1700's, Frontier follows warring factions as they battle for control of the Canadian fur trade. Great acting and great writing make for three dimensional characters and a show I can't get enough of.
  23. WorldofLucky
    Feb 3, 2018
    6
    Who would have thought I would have watched a series about the North American fur trade. No I didn?t say it was good, I didn?t say it was bad, somewhere in the bland not much taste fast food of tv.

    As a partnership between Canada Discovery Channel and Netflix resulted in what I thought was a decent show based in the 1700s. Unlike Taboo, this show occurs before the American revolution    Who would have thought I would have watched a series about the North American fur trade. No I didn?t say it was good, I didn?t say it was bad, somewhere in the bland not much taste fast food of tv.

    As a partnership between Canada Discovery Channel and Netflix resulted in what I thought was a decent show based in the 1700s. Unlike Taboo, this show occurs before the American revolution (and in fact doesn?t really address much about the colonists). I suspect this is because it is produced by the Canadian Discovery Channel.

    Declan Harp (Jason Momoa) has declared war on Lord Benton and the North American fur trade is at stake. The story behind Declan is standard fare (family destroyed, hunted, etc) that I won?t go into detail here. He comes across an Irish criminal who was taken in by Lord Benton to take down Declan. They bond and then it comes down to a fight between Declan Harp, his ragtag group of traders and the British military.

    Most of the show is entertaining enough. Not as good as Taboo (not even close) but it is not a bad thing to watch. It felt like it could have been told a lot better in a 2 hour movie format then in six episodes.

    Pros: Jason Momoa is the reason to watch the show. He doesn?t have a huge set of dialogue, but he is pretty, and I just find him personable.

    Cons: The story is a sluggish beast that you have to endure.    … Expand
  24. GrantD243
    Sep 1, 2018
    6
    Frontier is a show that had a ton of potential, and after the first episode I thought it may live up to it, but the six episode season hurts it immensely. The story is forced to progress at a rapid pace that really makes it hard to get very invested. After the second episode, the story continues to lose momentum with every episode until it comes to a rather unsatisfying conclusion. This isFrontier is a show that had a ton of potential, and after the first episode I thought it may live up to it, but the six episode season hurts it immensely. The story is forced to progress at a rapid pace that really makes it hard to get very invested. After the second episode, the story continues to lose momentum with every episode until it comes to a rather unsatisfying conclusion. This is more of a show that you put on when you're trying to kill time, or want to do some light work while watching something. It's not worth the time commitment otherwise.… Expand
  25. MovieRates
    May 25, 2018
    6
    While I have never seen a movie or TV Show set in this period and place, and that did interest me, I found this series rather average. The acting is okay but not that great. A lot of the acting does not feel genuine and stereotype. For one: "Captain Chesterfield" has rage fits that seem completely out of place and meh. Jason Momoa doesn't do a lot more than grumble some words, fight andWhile I have never seen a movie or TV Show set in this period and place, and that did interest me, I found this series rather average. The acting is okay but not that great. A lot of the acting does not feel genuine and stereotype. For one: "Captain Chesterfield" has rage fits that seem completely out of place and meh. Jason Momoa doesn't do a lot more than grumble some words, fight and get close-ups.

    The story is not that impressive either: stereotype bad versus good. The one side of the story I did enjoy was with the Brown brothers and Elisabeth Carruthers (great actress!).    … Expand
  26. PoisonFoxx
    Jan 28, 2019
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Absolutely the hell not gonna keep watching after the death of Widow Carruthers. It's like the show loves taking out the interesting people in the show and leaving us with garbage, just for a reaction. Screw this show. I can't believe I watched it this long just for my favorite character to get killed in the dumbest way.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

51
#51 Most Discussed TV Season of 2016
46
#46 Most Shared TV Season of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. CNN
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Jan 20, 2017
    40
    None of the characters, however, prove especially interesting, and in an age of abundance, Frontier feels like a decidedly second-tier offering.
    Read full review
  2. Variety
    Reviewed by: Sonia Saraiya
    Jan 19, 2017
    80
    It is a plot that is reminiscent of nothing more than “Braveheart.” This might make Frontier a little predictable--but it’s a highly entertaining and satisfying journey, too, if you’re in the mood for it. The story is vast and at times either slow or confusing. But it always reads as considered and thoughtful--an adventure epic full of characters, not caricatures.
    Read full review
  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Neil Genzlinger
    Jan 19, 2017
    70
    The series, a joint effort by Netflix and Discovery Canada, is refreshingly free of pretension, unlike some in the genre. Yes, there are serious themes to be drawn from it if you’re so inclined--it’s about greed, and empire-building, and exploitation of a land and its native inhabitants--but you can also feel free to take it as simply an action-packed, rather bloody tale from those frothy preindustrial days.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »