From Heather M. of The Televixen:
Link: Brad Wright talks the Travelers Season 2 finale and plans for Season 3
Well, that was certainly an intense couple of hours. In the next part of my chat with Travelers creator and showrunner Brad Wright, we talk about that Season 2 finale and what he hopes to do in Season 3. Continue reading.Â
Last week’s episode of Mohawk Girls closed with everyone facing a critical decision that would affect their personal happiness. Would Caitlin choose Butterhead or Leon? Would Bailey choose to remain with James–a white man–or choose her responsibility to family and culture? Would Zoe choose to her needs or her mother’s ideal for a Mohawk citizen? And finally, would Anna, at long last, choose to accept herself and by doing so find her home in Kahnawa:ke?
This week the cold open featuring Bailey (Jenny Pudavick) and James (Jeffrey Wetsch) nicely summarized all of Bailey’s fears as this young couple contemplated what their future could mean together. After lists and careful reflection, Bailey chose both James and Kahnawa:ke. To celebrate, she hosted a pool party to welcome James. Anyone who supported her decision was invited to attend; a test run of sorts. Initially, it looked as though no one was going to attend and then once they did, no one was interacting. In the end, James broke the ice and challenged everyone to a cannonball contest. Nothing beats a good competition, and bridges between families and communities were forged.
Meanwhile, with Ohserase’s (Shawn Youngchief) support, Zoe (Brittany LeBorgne) was finally, at long last putting her own needs first instead of quashing them until they manifested in unhealthy ways. She was simply unwilling to sacrifice her dance class to participate in an end-of-season garbage clean up. She chose herself first over her community. Recognizing that she needed a clean slate, Zoe decided to remove herself from her family and Kahnawa:ke entirely. She and Ohserase went apartment hunting and found her fresh start; Zoe is moving off rez and into Montreal.
Anna ( Maika Harper) took a stand and chose self-respect over Midas’ two-blowjobs-a-day requirements, and Midas showed her the door. Anna’s cousin quickly stepped up to serve his needs. Later at the bar, Anna also took a stand against Iostha (Ally Pratt), and publicly declared that she is white and Mohawk and is “damn proud of who I am!” Did anyone else catch that look of envy by Iostha? The ONLY complaint I have about this episode was the Iostha storyline. While I understand the desire to tie up all of the loose ends, I didn’t think it was necessary for Iostha to also have an epiphany and suddenly put her nastiness aside. Cue the Happy-Happy. It just felt too rushed. At any rate, with her declaration, and self-acceptance, Anna finally feels as though she belongs in Kahnawa:ke. Hat Girl is BACK!
And finally, the most satisfying conclusion for the series! Caitlin (Heather White) finally put it all together. After unleashing a long stream of consciousness on poor Watio (Jimmy Blais), Caitlin realised she was looking for validation through men instead of loving herself. Watio queried, “So what are you going to do about that?” Let’s just say that when Caitlin makes up her mind, she really makes up her mind. First, she broke up with Leon (Dwain Murphy), and then we got to savour that moment we have all been waiting for since Season 1. Caitlin said goodbye to Blockheaded Butterhead (Meegwun Fairbrother) for good!
If you recall back when the series returned for Season 5, I felt Mohawk Girls had come full circle; back to the beginning of Season 1. While this final episode “Warriors” served to complete the series, I think it also satisfied many issues raised back in Season 1, Episode 4, “Where’s My Warrior?”
“Where’s My Warrior?” focused on the choice between the search for the warrior who would always have your back rather than just settling for a guy. Butterhead had just betrayed Caitlin when he drunkenly treated Lollipop to the butter treatment, so Caitlin returned to Stoney where her father (Lawrence Bayne) promptly let her down as well. Bailey was dating Jack, another white man, who ultimately let her down because he could not handle the drama. Zoe was just beginning to travel down the path of sexual addiction. Her need to rebel against the pressures her mother placed upon her were proving too difficult to cope and her father never stood up for her. And Anna had just embarked on her path of discovery, relying on Thunder for the cultural knowledge and community status that her deceased father could not provide, in order to help her establish her position in Kahnawa:ke. All of our protagonists were looking outward to locate themselves and find their self-worth.
Now we have come full circle. Instead of looking elsewhere for strength like we saw in Season 1, this season all of our leading ladies found that strength in themselves. In the end we saw Bailey, but with confidence in herself, and with the support of her family and her community, facing a bright future with James. Caitlin chose to find her happiness and self-worth inside herself rather than relying on the men in her life. Zoe chose to separate herself from her dysfunctional family and from the demands of Kahnawa:ke as she focuses on her next stage of healing. And Anna finally chose to accept both sides of herself, the white and the Mohawk, just as her parents had done by choosing each other, and through that self-acceptance found her position in Kahnewa:ke. So, tonight also answered the question posed in Season 1 “Where’s My Warrior?” Your “Warrior” is you.
My sincere thanks go out to co-creators Tracey Deer and Cynthia Knight, and the cast and crew of Mohawk Girls for a truly insightful but hilariously fun look at life in Kahnawa:ke and life as a modern Indigenous woman in Canada today. Nia:wen for sharing your home with us, teaching us and doing so with laughter.
Niawenkowa!
How do you feel about Mohawk Girls coming to an end? Let me know in the comments below!
From a media release:
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today announced the appointment of five directors to the CBC/Radio-Canada Board of Directors. All mandates are for five years. The new members are:
− Harley Finkelstein (Ontario), mandate effective immediately
Mr. Finkelstein is an entrepreneur, lawyer and Chief of Operations for Shopify. He is a member of C100’s Board of Directors and advises Felicis Ventures, which makes him involved in two organizations that promote innovation. Mr. Finkelstein was one of the dragons on CBC’s Next Gen Den. He was a recipient of the Order of Ottawain 2016 and recently received Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 award.
− René Légère (New Brunswick), mandate effective immediately
Since 2009, Mr. Légère has been the Executive Director of the Aberdeen Cultural Centre in Moncton, New Brunswick—one of the most significant cultural organizations in Atlantic Canada. Over the last 30 years, Mr. Légère has collaborated with some 20 cultural, socio-political and community organizations as Secretary General of the Société Nationale de l’Acadie, President of the Board of Directors of the Association des radios communautaires acadiennes du Nouveau-Brunswick, and President of the Coalition pour une télévision de langue française en Acadie.
− Jennifer Moore Rattray (Manitoba), mandate effective February 5, 2018
Ms. Rattray is currently Manitoba Assistant Deputy Minister, Community Programs and Corporate Services, Department of Families. Previously, she was Assistant Vice-President, Aboriginal, Community and Government Affairs at the University of Winnipeg. She is a former journalist and member of the Peepeekisis First Nation.
− François R. Roy (Quebec), mandate effective February 5, 2018
Mr. Roy has extensive experience as a director and manager in the public and private sectors, as well as in higher education. He began his career at the Bank of Nova Scotia, where he held various positions in Canada and the United States, then worked at the Société générale de financement du Québec. He has also served as Chief Financial Officer of Quebecor, Telemedia and McGill University. He has been a corporate director since 1998 and sits on the boards of directors of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Transcontinental and the Noranda Income Fund.
– Marie Wilson (Northwest Territories), mandate effective immediately
After a career spanning 35 years, including 20 years with CBC/Radio-Canada as an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and pioneer of daily television news service in Canada’s North, Ms. Wilson was one of three Commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (2009–15). She is currently a consultant in the field of reconciliation. She is the recipient of many awards, including the Order of Canada (2016) and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012).
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of the country’s largest cultural institutions. CBC/Radio-Canada’s mandate is to inform, enlighten and entertain; to contribute to the sharing of national consciousness and identity; to reflect Canada’s regional and cultural diversity; to provide local, national and international information and analysis from a Canadian perspective; and to contribute to the development of talent and culture in Canada. To carry out this mandate, CBC/Radio-Canada produces, acquires and distributes Canadian programming in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, and distributes a selection of programs around the world.
Quotes
‎”I am pleased to announce the appointment of these individuals to the CBC/Radio-Canada Board of Directors. These individuals with complementary experiences will support the CBC/Radio-Canada in providing great Canadian content and news across the country. With backgrounds and perspectives reflecting Canada’sdiversity, their in-depth knowledge of culture, broadcasting and digital technologies will be an asset as CBC/Radio-Canada continues to work to meet today’s challenges. Through the efforts of the CBC/Radio-Canada Independent Advisory Committee on Appointments, these appointments are the result of an open, transparent, independent and merit-based selection process.”
—The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage
Quick Facts
Under the Broadcasting Act, CBC/Radio‑Canada’s Board of Directors is composed of 12 directors, including a chair and a chief executive officer appointed by the Governor in Council to hold office for a term not exceeding five years.
In 2016, the Government of Canada adopted a new approach to Governor-in-Council appointments. This approach respects the principle of gender balance and is based on an open, transparent and merit-based selection process. The government has implemented an appointment process for CBC/Radio-Canada’s Board of Directors to ensure that the selection board is independent and the selection of candidates is open, transparent and merit-based‎.
The Independent Advisory Committee on Appointments to the CBC/Radio-Canada Board of Directors is an independent, non-partisan body. It conducts selection processes for Governor-in-Council appointments to the CBC/Radio-Canada Board of Directors in order to recommend qualified candidates to the Minister of Canadian Heritage for these appointments.
The Advisory Committee uses published merit criteria to identify Canadians who can make a significant contribution to the work of CBC/Radio-Canada’s Board of Directors.
At the request of the Committee, the selection process will continue for the position of CEO. In order to allow the Committee to continue its selection process and as specified in the Broadcasting Act, the current CEO will continue in his role until the appointment of his replacement.
As they become available, all appointment opportunities within the 18 organizations in the Canadian Heritage Portfolio are posted on the Governor-in-Council Appointments website. Interested parties can apply online.
As a Crown corporation in the Canadian Heritage Portfolio, CBC/Radio‑Canada is an independent government agency and is responsible for its own day-to-day operations.
From a media release:
Temple Street, a division of Boat Rocker Studios, has secured the television rights to international bestselling author Guy Gavriel Kay’s The Fionavar Tapestry. Published as three volumes in the mid-1980s (The Summer Tree, The Wandering Fire and The Darkest Road), the trilogy has sold more than a million copies around the world, and has been dubbed by The Guardian one of the classics of modern fantasy. New York Times bestselling writer Brandon Sanderson has called Kay “the greatest living author of fantasy literature.â€
The Tapestry tells the tale of five young men and women who are brought to Fionavar – the first of all worlds. Told they are simply to be guests for the 50th anniversary celebration of a king’s ascension to the throne, each of the five discovers they have a greater, dangerous role to play as they’re thrust into a war between the forces of good and evil, whose outcome will affect all worlds, including our own.
Kay draws upon a variety of creatures and mythologies, predominantly Celtic and Norse, to create the world of Fionavar, and the saga also features the legendary story of King Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinevere, heroes of medieval literature.
Fortier and Schneeberg will executive produce for Temple Street (Orphan Black, Killjoys), along with Kris Holden-Ried (Vikings, Tudors, Lost Girl).
Temple Street’s Senior Vice President Kerry Appleyard and Senior Development Producer Lesley Grant will oversee series adaptation for the studio, and Boat Rocker Rights will control worldwide rights.
From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:
Link: Workin’ Moms glimpses the early days of Kate and Anne’s friendship
“I wanted this prequel to go back 10 years, when Kate and Anne are right out of university and super-entitled, super confident and have a lot to say without a lot of wisdom to back it up.†Continue reading.Â
