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Dark Matter, Featured

Dark Matter: The Raza family reunion

Dark Matter took a dark and surprising turn during last week’s instalment, setting up what promises to be one heck of a season finale. By the time the dust had settled in “The Dwarf Star Conspiracy,” we’d learned Rook was merely a pawn in an alien plot, creating host bodies for the scary, black liquidy beings. I had totally forgotten about the black goo that took over Three last season. Admittedly, a LOT has happened since then.

By episode’s end, a nuclear device destroyed the facility—and perhaps the alien portal—and alternate Boone had captured Two.

Which leads us to this week’s penultimate instalment, “My Final Gift to You,” written by co-creators Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie and directed by Bruce McDonald. Take a look at the top image and you’ll see the crew of the Raza has reunited, and we’re not sure it’s going to be a happy one. Here is Space’s episode synopsis:

Ryo invites his former crew to Zairon in a final attempt to secure the Blink Drive and his victory over Pyr.

And we’ve got some tidbits of info after indulging in a screener.

Reunited and it feels so … awkward
It’s no surprise where alternate Three was taking Two. Friday’s opening scene delivers her to Ryo in what has a Han Solo-Jabba the Hutt vibe. He wants the Blink Drive and thinks she’ll be the bait to bring the rest of the team to him to make a swap. Ryo is right, of course, but he’s not all-powerful. It seems someone would like to see him unseated as Emperor … but who? And, if you’ve been paying attention, you know alternate Boone was working for someone else, meaning Ryo owes someone.

Misaki is memorable
Kudos to Ellen Wong for making such an impression playing Misaki. What could have been a one-note character is deeply layered and it’s always hard to figure out whether she’s in full support of Ryo or not. Misaki and Six share a great scene in Friday’s episode; he may be bigger than her in stature, but she doesn’t back down from a verbal or physical fight.

The Android makes a decision
Victor gave the Android an upgrade and she’s been ruminating on whether to use it or not. Guess what she decides to do? Read Joseph Mallozzi’s blog entry for Aug. 15 to get a hint, if you dare.

Ryo and Three’s fireside chat
Perhaps the most compelling, fascinating dialogue in the episode is reserved for this pair. Secrets, desires, betrayals and a surprising death are uncovered over a very, very old bottle of booze. I’ve missed Four/Ryo’s interactions with his old crewmates and it’s good to see Alex Mallari Jr. back in their sandbox, laying bare their shocking histories.

Dark Matter airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Space.

Images courtesy of Bell Media.

 

 

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Wynonna Earp

Link: Wynonna Earp’s Meghan Heffern on Widow Beth’s power play

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Link: Wynonna Earp’s Meghan Heffern on Widow Beth’s power play
“I think Beth always played second fiddle to the Widow Mercedes character. Now that Mercedes is injured she finally has her chance to shine. She’s finally like ‘I can now show the world everything that’s in my heart.’ It’s an evil, evil heart, but I think she wants to be the best Widow. She wants to be the best wife. She wants to prove herself. She’s really smart and sees an opportunity.” Continue reading. 

 

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Alias Grace, Frankie Drake, Heartland, Kim's Convenience, Mr. D, Murdoch Mysteries, Rick Mercer Report, The Goods, The Nature of Things

CBC announces its 2017-18 primetime schedule

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From a media release:

CBC, Canada’s public broadcaster and the number-one media brand in Canada,* today announced broadcast premiere dates for its fall 2017 television season, featuring a uniquely Canadian lineup of new and returning series including Canada’s most-watched homegrown drama and comedy series, MURDOCH MYSTERIES and KIM’S CONVENIENCE.**

New original series launching on CBC this fall include the highly anticipated miniseries ALIAS GRACE (6×60) premiering Mon.Sept. 25, written and produced by Sarah Polley, directed by Mary Harron and starring Sarah Gadon, based on the novel by Margaret Atwood; THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW (8×60), the homemade version of the popular British competition bringing together 10 amateur bakers from across Canada hosted by Dan Levy and Julia Chan, premiering Wed. Nov. 1; FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES (11×60) from the producers of Murdoch Mysteries, following Toronto’s only female private detective in the 1920s, premiering Mon. Nov. 6; and THE STATS OF LIFE (4×30); a factual series that humanizes a range of population statistics to reveal the surprising truths about how Canadians live today, premiering Fri. Nov. 24.

CBC will also offer the exclusive Canadian broadcast of Jane Campion’s acclaimed drama TOP OF THE LAKE: CHINA GIRL (7×60) premiering on Wed. Oct. 25, starring Elizabeth Moss and Nicole Kidman. The BAFTA-nominated British series THE DURRELLS (6×60) will also premiere on Wed. Sept. 13.

Returning drama, comedy, factual and arts series include CORONATION STREET (Sept. 18), with six new episodes per week this fall including back-to-back episodes on Mondays; DRAGONS’ DEN (Sept. 28), featuring Arlene Dickinson’s return to the Den as the sixth Dragon; arts series EXHIBITIONISTS (Sept. 22); weekday daytime series THE GOODS (Sept. 18); HEARTLAND (Sept. 24); Emmy-nominated political arts series INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM (Oct. 13); KIM’S CONVENIENCE (Sept. 26); MR. D (Sept. 26); MURDOCH MYSTERIES (Sept. 25); RICK MERCER REPORT (Sept. 26); and THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES (Sept. 26).

On Mon. Nov. 6, flagship news program THE NATIONAL launches with a new format hosted by Adrienne Arsenault, Rosemary Barton, Andrew Chang and Ian Hanomansing. CBC News’ investigative series MARKETPLACE, THE FIFTH ESTATE and THE INVESTIGATORS WITH DIANA SWAIN also return with new seasons on Fri. Sept. 15.

CBC’s award-winning documentary programming moves to Sundays starting Sept. 24 including David Suzuki’s THE NATURE OF THINGS, which will launch its new season with THE WILD CANADIAN YEAR (5×60), showcasing Canada’s extraordinary wildlife; and CBC DOCS POV (formerly FIRSTHAND), which launches with Bee Nation, a charming documentary following students as they prepare for the first-ever First Nations Provincial Spelling Bee in Canada.

Also this fall, CBC SPORTS will provide compelling coverage and storytelling leading up to the OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES PYEONGCHANG 2018 and connect Canadians with high-performance athletes each weekend with ROAD TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES, which launches its fall season on Sat. Oct. 21 with coverage of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating from Moscow, Russia.

CBC’s fall 2017 broadcast premiere dates and times are as follows –
All series will also be available to stream on the CBC TV app and at cbc.ca/watch (all times local with the exception of Newfoundland, please add half an hour to all times)

MONDAYS

  • 2 p.m. The Goods (Season 2 premieres Sept. 18)
  • 7 p.m. Coronation Street (fall premiere Sept. 18)
  • 8 p.m. Murdoch Mysteries (Season 11 premieres Sept. 25)
  • 9 p.m. Alias Grace (Miniseries premieres Sept. 25)
    [Frankie Drake Mysteries series premieres Nov. 6]
  • 10 p.m. The National (launches Nov. 6)

TUESDAYS

  • 8 p.m. Rick Mercer Report (Season 15 premieres Sept. 26)
  • 8:30 p.m. This Hour Has 22 Minutes (Season 25 premieres Sept. 26)
  • 9 p.m. Kim’s Convenience (Season 2 premieres Sept. 26)
  • 9:30 p.m. Mr. D (Season 7 premieres Sept. 26)

WEDNESDAYS

  • 8 p.m. The Great British Baking Show Season 7 premieres Aug. 23
    [The Great Canadian Baking Show premieres Nov. 1]

THURSDAYS

  • 8 p.m. Dragons’ Den (Season 12 premieres Sept. 28 with a two-hour special)

FRIDAYS

  • 8 p.m. Marketplace (Season 45 premieres Sept .15)
  • 8:30 p.m. The Investigators with Diana Swain (premieres Sept. 15)
    [Interrupt This Program Season 3 premieres Oct.13]
    [The Stats of Life series premieres Nov. 24]
  • 9 p.m. The Fifth Estate (Season 43 premieres Sept. 15)
  • 12:30 a.m. Exhibitionists (Season 3 premieres Sept. 22)

SATURDAYS

  • 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Night in Canada

SUNDAYS

  • 7 p.m. Heartland (Season 11 premieres Sept. 24)
  • 8 p.m. The Nature of Things (Season 57 premieres Sept. 24)
  • 9 p.m. CBC Docs POV (Season 4 premieres Sept. 24)

 

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Featured, Killjoys

Killjoys: New plans, old foes and one hells of a heist

To say last week’s episode of Killjoys was a revelation would be an understatement. “The Wolf You Feed” kicked open the Aneela and Dutch back story, uncovering that Aneela willed a younger, innocent version of herself from the green that became Dutch. Viewers also discovered Dutch and Johnny’s origin story began on her wedding night and included Lucy. And if that wasn’t enough, Delle Seyah is pregnant. Somehow.

With just three more episodes left—hey Syfy and Space, where’s your renewal announcement?—we crashed headlong into “Heist, Heist, Baby,” written by Julie Puckrin and directed by April Mullen. Here’s what Space announced for a synopsis:

As the Killjoys plan a dangerous theft on an armoured convoy, Aneela finds herself on a desperate search for something far more valuable that was stolen from her: Delle Seyah.

And we’ve got several juicy tidbits to add after watching a screener.

Battle plans are being made
Dutch left D’avin in charge of the army against the Hullen armada and plans are well underway. Now, if D’avin and Johnny can just figure out a way to plot an attack model that doesn’t result in their complete destruction … and stop bitching at each other. (“This is my shit face!” Johnny says at one point. Or is it “shitface”?) Johnny figures out a way to stop the Hullen (he thinks, anyway); hence the heist in the episode title.

Old foes return
D’avin and Johnny need help to pull off the heist and call on old friends/foes to help out. Pukrin wrote a very funny scene involving strategically-placed food items that allows Hannah John-Kamen a bit of comedy. Speaking of comedy, pay attention to the name of a certain blaster D’avin is carrying. Its name is a shout-out to writer Nikolijne Troubetzkoy. And only on cable television can references to ass to mouth, the missionary position, front door and back door, and STDs be liberally sprinkled about for comic effect. And look for veteran actor John Tench in a tough-as-nails—and memorable—role.

Dutch’s cube makes a return appearance
We saw Aneela’s prison in flashbacks last week; Dutch’s safe house cube is a major plot point this week as Johnny, Dutch and Zeph do some poking and prodding. And can we take a second to appreciate Dutch’s damned slick outfit in the above photo? OK, thank you.

Aneela is on the warpath
As hinted in the image at the top of this preview, Aneela is just a little miffed that Gander made off with her gal pal. Brynn (Kalinka Petrie) is willing to help Aneela find Delle Seyah, but why? And will Gander confess to Delle Seyah’s whereabouts? We won’t say anything else about this storyline but things go from curious to downright horrifying.

Killjoys airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Space.

Images courtesy of Bell Media.

 

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