Locations of television shows make all the difference in the problems the characters face. Typically, large cities like New York City or Los Angeles are premier spots. But when the Molyneux Sisters wanted to create a new show, they set their sights on the icy tundra and home of the Yeti, Alaska. Their success with the animated classic Bob’s Burgers paved the way for the Tobin family in The Great North. Beef Tobin, who is the patriarch of the family, is a man who likes his routine and loves his five children with all his heart.
His eldest, Wolf, is a newlywed to a lovely Californian, Honeybee. Ham is the second oldest and watches over his Alaskan Twin, Judy, and baby brother Moon. As the second eldest, Ham is also a middle child who is aloof but passionate about artsy things like arts and crafts. He is also the Cake Lady of his hometown Lone Moose, a title he takes very seriously. Between Beef’s children, Ham is the most vocal about his disdain for his mother. Though Ham is especially outspoken about certain things, he also knows when to let Judy or Moon shine. He’s one of the most relatable and affirming Tobin’s, taking after his father in more than one way.
12 Friends with Older People
Ham is one of two middle children, and as the eldest middle child, he falls into a fun category, socially speaking. Middle children, like Ham, get along with older people and people their own age. Ham just might be the exception to this rule though. He loves his younger siblings, but if he had to choose who to hand out with, older women would craft.
11 The Cake Lady of Lone Moose, Alaska
The pastry is the best creation of human beings. Reality shows like Is It Cake? are dedicated to the fine art of pastry. Every small town or large city has a few bakers that locals love to visit for a treat. Ham is the Cake Lady of Lone Moose, and he takes this role very seriously. Any cake he plans to bake takes serious planning and a test run or two before the final presentation.
10 Being Gay is Beautiful
LGBTQ+ love stories on-screen have traditionally been more tragic than celebratory, especially if teens are at the center of the story. However, in a much-needed reversal, The Great North wonderfully writes an LGBTQ+ romance between Ham and his boyfriend, Crispin. Ham can be really timid, but Crispin gently nudges him in the right direction.
9 Putting Others First
As an older brother of two siblings, Ham is typically looking out for his sister Judy and brother Moon. Before he and Crispin got together, he set his feelings aside since Judy liked Crispin. Though her crush didn’t work out, Ham put his sister first because he loves her.
8 Justified, Negative POV of Mom
While the Tobin family is close-knit and is working through their mother’s sudden upheaval, Wolf and Judy miss their mom, whereas Ham is angry and Moon is indifferent since he was too young to remember his mother leaving. The Great North is a glimpse into the lives of people who have a poor relationship with their mothers.
7 Loves a Good Party
According to Career Planner, an event planner organizes every aspect of an event, including delegating tasks to their team and contractors. Judy is the event planner for her family. Her two main delegates are Ham and their dad, Beef. When Ham isn’t helping throw a party, he enjoys attending them, especially with Crispin.
6 Brotherly Solidarity
Moon is the youngest Tobin who relies on his dad and brother Ham the most. When he finds a coconut, he keeps it as a pet and names it Dagmar. When Dagmar started to go bad, he went to a vacant lot to bury him. But Ham didn’t let him go alone. In solidarity, he buried his favorite tractor magazine, so Dagmar would have something to read.
5 Alaskan Twinning
Medical News Today reports that one in three pregnancies are twins. Even though Ham and Judy aren’t twins, they call themselves Alaskan Twins. This classification is due to Ham and Judy being born nine months apart, Ham being born first. Ham and Judy are probably the closest emotionally of the Tobin children.
4 Tiny Coming Out Moments
When Ham realizes he hasn’t officially come out to his family, he announces his desire to have a big coming out moment. The problem with his plan is that he can’t find the perfect way to come out. His family gently tells him that he has tiny coming out moments with each of them privately. They also remind him that they love and support him because that’s what family does.
3 Forgetfulness Quirk
Ham has plenty of charming characteristics. To his siblings, he is devoted and loving. With his father, he is supportive and caring. But, like any well-written character, Ham has a glaring flaw. In all his charm, he’s quite forgetful. This can be frustrating for his family who has to remind Ham not to do certain things soon after being told not to do them in the first place.
2 Making the First Move
Ham went to the mall to pick up Judy from work and on their way out, he met a teenage boy named Crispin. Immediately there was a spark, but when Crispin rejected Judy’s advances, Ham made the first move. He asked Crispin to the dance and they went together as a couple.
1 Beef and Ham, Please
Wolf has a connection to his father that Ham is still building. They typically bond while fishing or helping Judy with planning. But Ham has a connection with his father that none of his siblings have. His father’s name is Beef, a type of meat people enjoy during special occasions. Ham is another form of meat that pairs well with beef.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
