All posts by Greg David

Prior to becoming a television critic and owner of TV, Eh?, Greg David was a critic for TV Guide Canada, the country's most trusted source for TV news. He has interviewed television actors, actresses and behind-the-scenes folks from hundreds of television series from Canada, the U.S. and internationally. He is a podcaster, public speaker, weekly radio guest and educator, and past member of the Television Critics Association.
Featured, Pure

Comments and queries for the week of January 19

Feedback on the Canadian Screen Award nominees

I am still pissed that Pure was cancelled. I also hope Maudie wins as I live about 10 miles where she lived, a folk hero here. —Dwight

I agree with a lot of the additions you’ve suggested. I also agree that X Company was virtually ignored for its final season. Madeleine Knight is definitely deserving of her nomination but I’d add Evelyne Brochu for “The Hunt” and Torben Liebrecht for “Remembrance.” —Mel

Crash Gallery took a chance … The Launch is taking one. The reality shows nominated are essentially cover bands! Can’t wait to see if the Junos follow suit and nominate Road Apples for Best Band. :\ —Terry

Good points! I thought Ryan Robbins deserved a nomination for Pure as well as Peter Coyote for The Disappearance. —Mark

Can’t agree with you more. Travelers is definitely worthy of inclusion and particularly MacKenzie Porter for her portrayal of Marcy through her multiple personalities. How is Orphan Black not up for best drama after its strongest season? The CSAs are where my priority of watching Canadian shows backfires on me as I am faced with “Sophie’s Choice”!! —Colin

Great article Greg! Can I also include that Shoot the Messenger was ignored? I was floored that Ryan Robbins and Gord Rand were ignored for Pure. —Nancy

I have been a Murdoch Mysteries fan for several years, so I was pleased when I saw that cricket—a game I have followed for 40 of my 70-plus years—was to be featured in this week’s episode. Although the story as far as mystery solving and Julia`s upcoming new arrival was fine, unfortunately, the cricket segments at the start of the show were mostly complete nonsense. Of the first three batsmen at the crease, only the guy who got bowled was out for any discernible reason. The third batsman—who had to be removed so the “exploding player” could take strike—swiped at the ball and missed but the ball continued on toward the fine leg boundary because THERE WERE NO FIELDSMEN BEHIND THE BAT; no wicket keeper, no fine leg, possibly no long leg nor third man either. These “professional” players who were too incompetent to hit the ball should at least have been running numerous byes from the “gentlemen’s” poor field placement. Yet the “Serbian count“ bowler was posturing as if he actually had done something and the fielders were capering about like fools as if there had been a dismissal. Nevertheless, I did enjoy enjoy the other aspects of the show and found unexpected comedy in the cricket passages. —John

I’ve been watching Murdoch Mysteries from the beginning. I love William and Julia together. I almost stopped watching when they returned the baby. If she miscarries I will stop watching. Please let them have a healthy baby. —Roni

I would love to see Julia and William have their baby!! After many years a happy ending would be fantastic!! It’ll always be Murdoch Mysteries 🙂!!! —Brenda

Whoever thinks that Canadian Pickers is better than American Pickers needs their head examined by more than one doctor. Sheldon Smithers and his sidekick are nothing but greedy crooks 100 per cent. Whoever watches both and compares it, it is so darn obvious that they rip everyone off they meet [while] the American pickers are constantly in every show offering more to someone they are dealing with, explaining that it is worth more and offer more. The Canadian pickers grind and rip everyone they deal with off. l can’t stand their unfairness towards good people that don’t know any difference. Good riddance to them. —John

 

Got a question or comment about Canadian TV? Email greg.david@tv-eh.com or via Twitter @tv_eh.

 

 

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Wynonna Earp

Link: ‘Everything has been escalated’ for Season 3 of Alberta-shot Wynonna Earp

From Eric Volmers of the Calgary Herald:

Link: ‘Everything has been escalated’ for Season 3 of Alberta-shot Wynonna Earp
“We have a lead character who is essentially a superhero who has had to give up her baby in order to protect her. What that leads us back to is a more fierce and determined, even kamikaze-type Wynonna Earp. She is back in fighting form. She is drinking her whisky and firing her guns but now she has this thing haunting her.” Continue reading. 

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Bellevue

Link: How Actress Sadie O’Neil Is Transforming Trans Life on TV

From Chris Azzopardi of Into:

Link: How Actress Sadie O’Neil Is Transforming Trans Life on TV
Before her first-ever television or film role in Bellevue, actress Sadie O’Neil was fired from her job working in the children’s section of a Montreal library due to complaints from uppity moms uncomfortable with O’Neil’s transness. Soon after, she started a restaurant job. It was dreadful. Continue reading.

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Featured, Frankie Drake Mysteries

Preview: Frankie Drake Mysteries dips into Frankie’s past

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In last week’s preview for “The Pilot” episode of Frankie Drake Mysteries, I bemoaned the fact a key storyline regarding Frankie’s past seemed to have been skipped over; namely her past working in Canada’s Signal Corps during the First World War. I assumed that storyline would never be examined. I was, of course, wrong. And for once, I’m happy I was incorrect.

In this Monday’s new episode “Ghosts”—written by Ian Carpenter and directed by Peter “James Pendrick” Stebbings—we dig deep into Frankie’s time in the Signal Corps and how it affected her. Here’s the official synopsis via CBC:

The horrors of war haunt Frankie when an investigation into a soldier’s murder reunites her with a friend left traumatized by his tour of duty.

And here are more details we noted from watching a screener.

Frankie Drake Mysteries gets serious
Not that solving crimes isn’t already a serious enough topic, but the show goes in a bold direction in “Ghosts” by addressing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or what was back then referred to as shell shock. The episode jumps right into the main story with nary a scene with Trudy, Mary or Flo and a pretty big bang. The episode also delves into the physical scars suffered by First World War soldiers in an unflinching way. This is easily the most gritty Frankie Drake episode yet, especially when Frankie runs into an old friend.

Gia Sandhu guest-stars
Gia Sandhu, most recently seen on CTV’s The Indian Detective and CBC’s Kim’s Convenience, checks in as a wife concerned with the way her war veteran husband is acting. What is he hiding? Frankie is hired to find out.

Veteran actor Geordie Johnson appears
Geordie Johnson is a “that guy” of film and television, starring in projects like The English Patient, Street Legal, Traders, Durham County, Copper and Murdoch Mysteries, is General Chanston, who meets with the veteran’s wife.

Use Google
There are two English locations and one Canadian military force that you’ll want to look up after watching this episode. The story behind their significance to the First World War is stunning.

Frankie Drake Mysteries airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

 

 

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Featured, Murdoch Mysteries

Preview: Murdoch Mysteries rings a bell for … murder?

Last Monday, “Biffers and Blockers,” written by Dan Trotta revealed that—at long last—Julia is pregnant. It also introduced us to Rupert Newsome and showed how Higgins is faring as an upper-class citizen thanks to Ruth Newsome. It was an episode filled with funny moments.

This coming Monday, things take a decidedly darker turn. Here’s what the CBC has to say about “Mary Wept,” written by Noelle Girard and directed by Megan Follows:

Murdoch investigates when a statue of the Virgin Mary gifted to his church begins miraculously weeping.

And, as always, we’ve got more info to share after watching a screener.

Welcome, Sophia Walker
A member of the Canadian Film Centre’s 2016 Actors Conservatory, Sophia Walker guest-stars as Josephine Beatty, a woman at the centre of “Mary Wept.” You can read up on Walker’s past work via the CFC’s website, but she’s done a ton of theatre work as well as appearing in 12 Monkeys and Rookie Blue.

Welcome back Det. Watts, Violet Hart and GEORGE CRABTREE
Det. Watts and Violet Hart answer the call this week and play key roles in the murder case. Meanwhile, George’s jaunt in Paris is over and he’s back at Station House No. 4. Turns out the City of Light has affected him in many ways and we get to hear all about it. Also, Higgins plans a life-changing event.

William and Julia head to church
I can’t remember the last time William’s religion was the focus of a Murdoch Mysteries storyline (I’m betting readers will let me know.) but it’s front and centre in “Mary Wept.” It’s also the opportunity for Julia to take a playful jab at attending a church service. As an aside, Harry Judge—who last appeared in the 2011 episode “Kommando” as Matthew Larson—guests as Father McGray. Regarding the weeping statue of the Virgin Mary … there is more to that than first appears. Of course.

You gotta have faith
Is the weeping Virgin Mary a miracle or something more sinister? The image above may give you a clue, but the whole case is the opportunity to discuss religion in general and faith specifically. It’s interesting to hear the opinions of everyone involved in the main storyline and may leave you reflecting on your own beliefs.

Murdoch Mysteries airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

 

 

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