If you like Jason Momoa but haven’t seen his 2016 historical thriller with 75% on Rotten Tomatoes that’s available to stream on Netflix, you need to watch it now. Jason Momoa’s best films and shows have made him nearly a household name and a massive movie star. From blockbusters like Fast X, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, and A Minecraft Movie to acclaimed films like Dune, Momoa is a movie icon. He’s also had a storied past with television, though, through shows like Game of Thrones, See, and even his upcoming series Chief of War.
Though it may seem like it, not all of Jason Momoa’s movies and shows were immediate hits. Some of his films, like Wolves and Once Upon a Time in Venice were outright bad, and he’s also had some underrated gems that flew under the radar. One of Jason Momoa’s most underrated shows certainly didn’t get the love it deserved, but it’s luckily still as good today as it was when it premiered in 2016. That show is Netflix’s Frontier, and it’s the perfect series to watch while waiting for Chief of War.
Frontier Is A Historical TV Series About The North American Fur Trade & Stars Jason Momoa
Momoa Plays Declan Harp, A Ferocious Fur Trader Taking Over The Hudson’s Bay Company
In Frontier, Jason Momoa plays Declan Harp, a half-Cree, half-Irish man who decides to take on the beaver fur trading industry in 18th century Canada. The Hudson’s Bay Company controls the fur trade and the entire region with an iron fist, and Harp stops at nothing to break their monopoly and start his own business in their shadows. Harp eventually ends up helping Michael (Landon Liboiron) and Sokonon (Jessica Matten) establish their own fur trading outpost, all while fighting Lord Benton’s (Alun Armstrong) forces and playing all the colonial powers in the area against each other.
The only way to accurately describe Frontier is as an epic. There are so many concurrent plot lines, well-developed characters, and conflicting interests all happening at the same time. Everyone has a hidden agenda and no one is exactly what they seem, which makes Frontier a truly riveting story. Frontier is also a rare example of a show that got better with time: it has a 75% average on Rotten Tomatoes, but the first season was only rated 50%. Luckily, Frontier found its footing and started expanding its sprawling historical drama.
Was Declan Harp A Real Person? Frontier’s True Story Explained
Declan Harp Is A Fictional Character, But The Rest Of Frontier Is Based In Real History
One of the best parts of Frontier is its historical setting, and the show depicts the North American fur trade in the 18th century so faithfully that it almost seems like Jason Momoa’s Declan Harp was a real historical figure. While Declan Harp is an entirely fictional character, the rest of Frontier is steeped in very real Canadian history (via Bustle). The Hudson’s Bay Company really did have a monopoly on the fur trade in huge parts of Canada in the 18th century. Frontier’s depiction of Indigenous Canadians and the atrocities they were subjected to is also depressingly realistic.
Frontier Features One Of Jason Momoa’s Best Performances
Momoa Was A Powerhouse Dramatic & Action Star In Frontier
It’s honestly surprising that Frontier is still such an underrated hit because it’s easily one of Jason Momoa’s best performances. Momoa was born to play Declan Harp, the larger-than-life one-man killing machine who fights imperial powers and tears the system up by its roots. He’s predictably excellent at Frontier’s action sequences, but playing Harp also gave him chances to show more vulnerable sides of his dramatic acting. From torture scenes to moments of love and tenderness, Jason Momoa doesn’t miss a single beat throughout Frontier’s three seasons. If you like Momoa and haven’t seen it yet, you need to watch Frontier right now.
Frontier
Release Date
2016 – 2018-00-00
Network
Discovery
Alun Armstrong
Lord Benton
Julian Richings
Mr. Pickersgill