Queerness and sisterhood shine in “Sterling Point”

It’s time to take a life-changing trip up North.

​Sterling Point is the place to be. The hit series has hovered at No. 1 on Amazon Prime for weeks, making more viewers into fans as word-of-mouth spreads around this sizzling coming-of-age series.

​The show follows a young city girl who learns she has inherited the beautiful Canadian island of Sterling Point, where the late mother she never knew had the best summers of her life. Upon arriving and making a fool of herself by being an American fish out of pristine Canadian waters, she opens her heart and mind to the possibility that maybe she’s exactly where she’s meant to be.

​Annie Jacobson’s journey doesn’t end after her 45-minute plane ride past the American border. At Sterling Point, Jacobson, played by Ella Rubin, meets a secret sister she never knew she had, who teaches her about friendship, family and her mom, who haunts the enticing narrative.

​It’s a great exploration of unending grief. Sterling Point shows how families that were unceremoniously torn apart can find a way to come together, sometimes stronger than ever.

​Newfound sister Ramona, played by Amélie Hoeferle, upends the quiet peace Jacobson has found at Sterling Point, and for good reason: There’s no way she could have a sister, let alone find room in her hardened heart to let anyone new in. Ramona is proudly gay, presents as butch and lands high up on the “I don’t give a fuck” meter. She has the full support of her grandfather, who raised her and lets her know in a posthumous letter that he always supported exactly who she was.

​Ramona is overtly blunt, bold, honest and keeps it real in a way some people may find spiky. Her vulnerable side shines through only when she’s with her best friend, a bisexual young woman named Oona, played by Bo Bragason of the upcoming The Legend of Zelda movie. Ramona and Oona’s friendship begins to drift toward becoming more akin to romance, scaring [and exciting] the two young women on the verge of something magical.

​Ramona’s queerness is actually integral to the two sisters finally connecting. During a rare moment of candor, Ramona shares her sexuality with Jacobson and how it has complicated things with Oona. Although she’s forever frowning, Ramona cracks one of her first smiles during that insightful conversation about her sexual orientation. Jacobson’s acceptance of Ramona is done without hesitation and includes a bit of transparency on Jacobson’s end. She offered that before meeting local pilot Ellis, played by Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie, she thought she was asexual. It isn’t a joke at her own expense or a wry jab at the ace community, but rather someone who genuinely thought they were alright without sex until they met a certain someone.

​That conversation holds space for a very real experience of an evolving identity while also understanding the nuances of what it means to be sincerely yourself. Tasteful queer representation is a rarity, but Sterling Point proves it can bond characters rather than be just a qualifier.

​The internet is rejoicing over so much of this show, particularly because of its authenticity. More than just strong queer rep, it has great Gen Z representation. The characters are all teens, and their dialogue has made headlines for being incredibly realistic and relatable to such an undefinable generation.

​Show creator Meghan Park truly tapped into something special with the words she has written. Many have been fans since she played ultra-Christian Grace in The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Park has joked about being on productions with bad writing, so her prowess with prose in Sterling Point is a welcome addition.

​Untamable Ramona may arrive in the last second of the fast-paced pilot episode, but her whirlwind entrance gives the series legs to run with. Her ongoing will-they-won’t-they with Oona presents a new love story for the next generation. The jump from best friends to more has been explored countless times before, but there’s a level of perceived care by both the actors and showrunner that makes this edition rightfully stand out.

​Oona is beautiful, described as such by Ramona, who can hardly find a nice word for anyone. Oona is a total flirt and can get anyone to love her, which intimidates Ramona. Oona gets under Ramona’s shell-like exterior. Overcoming jealousy of the heteroflexible vacationers that Oona gets cheeky with and telling her friend how she really feels keep viewers watching Sterling Point’s lovely drama.

Another actor who deserves the spotlight for their charisma and comedic timing is Nikko Angelo Hinayo [they/he], who plays Sully [they/he], the uber-considerate, incredibly kind heart of the group who supports their friends to the fullest. Random outbursts of unencumbered flamboyance show that Sully isn’t afraid to tap into their fem-leaning side, even donning crop tops around the island. Hinayo’s energy, through their character, brings the encouragement everyone deserves. Queer people make everything better and gigglier, and Sully reaffirms that. 

To say nothing of the incredible filming location in Muskoka, Ontario, would be an injustice. The beautiful lakes and cabin-filled islands prove to be the perfect vacation spot. The freshness of the space really comes through. Between scenic dock talks and freeing boat rides on crystal blue waters, the setting of Sterling Point is buzzing with life worth living. ​

Check out all of Sterling Point, on Amazon Prime but be warned, it’s such an easy binge.