Written by Carolyn Potts

In this, the jam-packed season finale of Mohawk Girls entitled “Rez Balls” — written, directed, and produced by Tracey Deer and co-produced by the essential Cynthia Knight — we open with the latest contestant on “Finding Bailey’s Prince”.

*Cue the game show announcer voice*: “Today’s contestant is Aaron (played by Matt Cassidy). Aaron owns a successful women’s fashion boutique in Montreal. He is a devout Jew and believes in repairing the world. He has also been seen to treat the homeless with respect and dignity.” Bailey (Jennifer Pudavick) decides this guy is definitely a contender.

Our theme tonight appears to centre on being brave enough (or perhaps reckless enough) to do what you most desire (i.e. grabbing life by the “rez” balls) rather than worrying about how society will react.

We start with Zoe’s (Brittany Leborgne) plight following her Bridesmaidzilla breakdown. Zoe is holed up in bed afraid to face the world. Caitlin (Heather White), Anna (Maika Harper), and Bailey attempt to provide moral support, key word being attempt.

Ultimately conversation comes back to team #Thana (“Be still my beating Heart” Thunder played Kyle Nobess). The girls are surprised to learn Anna has broken her “Three Month Rule”. The realization that Anna actually regrets her decision and is considering a sexual hiatus until it “feels right” laid the foundation for my favourite one liner from Caitlin: “You can’t feed the beast and then starve it!” Anna is still feeling the pressure to conform to the rules of “Being a Mohawk” and still fears word of her 48.2% blood quantum number will leak out to the community, thus ruining any progress she has made to fit in.

Caitlin stays with her bestie Zoe and talk turns to Caitlin’s relationship with Butterhead. Caitlin is fearing that their baby will grow up just as she did, not knowing the love of her father and constantly living with that heartache. Zoe delicately suggests an abortion will break the cycle, saying “that women lose babies all the time. No one needs to know how she lost her baby.” Interestingly, Caitlin’s initial fear is how the community would react to that decision rather than the actual loss of her baby.

In the meantime, Bailey agrees to dinner with her father (Glen Gould) and Auntie Velma (Ashley Michaels). They voice their concerns about Bailey dating non Mohawks. Bailey retaliates, shocking them with the news that she has dated a wide assortment of “non-Mohawk- non-white” men. This argument prompts her call to Aaron and a date ensues. All appears wonderful. Aaron seems like the perfect guy. Sparks fly and the chemistry works.

Unfortunately for Bailey, even though they had a lot of “fun”, it is ironically Aaron who turns the table on Bailey. He announces that he can never date anyone who is not Jewish. Following her disappointment, Bailey heads to the bar to lick her wounds, and indulges a bit too much. Her advances on Thunder are rebuffed, he firmly declares he is with Anna and in response Bailey lets slip that Anna does not meet the Kahnawa:ke’s 50% blood quantum. Tulip (Jayli Wolf) overhears this shocking news.

We return to Zoe, found drinking alone. She receives an online message from a potential Dom and she informs him of her need to be punished. This leads to a meeting with “Dom” (Kyle Switzer) wherein he supplies a list of activities for Zoe to categorize according to interest and curiosity (borrowing on a very popular “50 Shades” moment). She ultimately agrees to be Dom’s submissive partner. Her training begins at once with lessons on demonstrating her sexuality.

After a two episode hiatus, Meangirl Vicky (Rachelle White Wind) returns tonight with her posse, taunting Anna once again. This time however, Anna stands up against Vicky which seems to engender a modicum of affection (is it just me or did Vicky’s makeup make her look a bit softer tonight?) Here’s to hoping we find out why Vicky uses her meanness as a defense mechanism next season.

Meanwhile it appears Caitlin has made a decision regarding the future of her baby; she is waiting in the Dr’s office for an abortion. She is desperately trying to reach Zoe for moral support. The heartbreak is once again clearly evident, but Caitlin is desperate to ensure she is not party to perpetuating the cycle of emotional neglect that she herself is a victim of. Zoe of course cannot be reached as she is otherwise engaged in her lessons. Caitlin once again puts on a brave face and forges ahead.

This final episode “climaxes” with a drunken Bailey, tired of being the good Mohawk girl and throws caution to the wind. She gives in to newlywed Trumpet’s (Kevin Loring) advances and they hook up outside the bar. At the same time Anna’s worst fear is realized and she is publicly confronted by Tulip who proclaims to all who will listen that “Hat Girl Anna” does not meet the 50% limit. Anna finally stands up for herself and takes Tulip down in a bar fight.

And so we close this premiere season not knowing if Caitlin goes through with an abortion. We don’t know how Zoe will react to her lessons. We are left to wonder whether or not team #Thana will survive or if Anna’s heart will be broken by Thunder. Will Anna finally be accepted as a true Mohawk? Finally, what will word of Bailey’s hookup with Trumpet mean to her, and her relationships with family, friends, and within the community? We will have to wait until next season to find out.

What a fabulous run ladies (and gentlemen). This has been such a treat to see and learn more about Mohawk culture, but best of all to be entertained but such a uniquely Canadian show. Thanks to the brilliance of Ms. Deer and Ms. Knight, and the fabulous assortment of actors they managed to collect, viewers have been given a program that showcases a part of Canada so rarely seen in such a positive light, and that anyone, regardless of your Mohawk Blood Quantum Number, can identify with on some level. Cannot wait for next season!

Let me know what you think will happen in season two in the comments.

Written by Carolyn Potts

So often other people make us feel as though we are just complete aberrations of society. We are made to feel as though our wants or desires are wrong by mainstream standards. Or, we feel that those we care most about are on an unsuitable path that we feel compelled to alter. This episode entitled “Freaksville” explores exactly this and nicely sets the stage for the next episode entitled “What’s Your Number”. Both deal with understanding who you are and where you belong in life, but this episode focuses on the emotional perspective in a very playful manner.

We have three main story lines this week: Bailey feels at odds with the constrictions of life on the rez, Zoe is coming to terms with her freakish beast, and our loveable Caitlin finds herself a fish out of water with Butterhead and his mother. Anna does not figure prominently this week as she is recuperating from the beating she took at the hands of Mean Girl Vicky (Rachelle White Wind) at the conclusion of “Building a Nation”. Anna is however, still hat girl, an outsider with her abnormal styles and interests, even with “be still my beating heart” Thunder at her side.

Our girls throw a celebratory party for Caitlin and Butterhead. Butterhead the Blockhead arrives to the party, with his freakishly rude table manners on full display, thoroughly embarrassing Caitlin in front of her friends. Still, Caitlin trusting that Butterhead the Warrior is still buried deep inside, agrees to move in with Butterhead and his “ma” (played by Esther Sky). We witness Caitlin and her struggles to exercise patience as she tries to adjust to her new family.

Meanwhile Zoe is confronted by a confused Caitlin for her outrageous fetish outfit. With the knowledge that Prim and Proper Zoe secretly owns some freakish outfits, the girls decide to mount the exact same intervention they attempted on Caitlin last week. Zoe tries to explain that she doesn’t have to live up to anyone’s expectations at these parties. Being the supportive friends that they are, Caitlin and Bailey agree to attend one of these parties in the hopes of understanding what it I that attracts Zoe. The “Freaksville” costume party, as outrageous as the experience is for GOGO Bailey and Mistress Caitlin, is also a strangely liberating experience for our girls as they let their freak flags fly. After all what happens in Freaksville stays in Freaksville. Knowing she has her friends’ acceptance of her secret, Zoe now has the confidence to stand up for herself.

With Anna keeping a low profile Mean Girl Vicky turns her vitriol on Bailey, declaring Bailey will end up a spinster. After all, she cannot even keep a white guy. Sose (Bailey’s Father) and Auntie Velma comfort Bailey as she grieves the loss of Jack but in truth, they are elated that the short lived romance is done. Sose and Velma believe a mixed culture relationship would be the end of their world (more on this in the next episode). Bailey blames the community for driving Chicken Hearted Jack out of her life. She believes liking a white boy shouldn’t be the end of the world but to most of Kahnawa:ke it is. It spells the end of Kahnawa:ke. At odds with both her family and her community, Bailey realises that she just wants to be who she is and enjoy what she likes. She needs more stimulation than Kahnawa:ke can provide her. She refuses to settle and by the episode’s end she makes the decision to move to the city.

We should also note that a number of small comments by Caitlin came up throughout the episode setting the stage (I think) for another interesting future storyline involving her mother. What do you think? Will Zoe get caught with up with her leash in a compromising position? Will we ever get to see Butterhead the Warrior? How will Bailey make it alone in the city? Let me know in the comments!

Review by Carolyn Potts

This episode, entitled “Building a Nation” sees the introduction of Tantoo Cardinal (of Dances With Wolves, Black Robe, and Legends of The Fall) to the cast, taking up the role of Zoe’s mother, The Chief.

We are caught up with Caitlyn daydreaming about the future she hopes to have with her baby and Butterhead, nice girl Anna is hiding out with Thunder (because who wouldn’t since we are talking about Thunder after all!) in order to avoid confrontation with Vicky, Zoe’s mother, once again voices her displeasure with Zoe for missing the “splashy” fundraiser from Episode 107 “The Beast”, and Anna is forgiven by Bailey for dating Thunder (and besides Bailey is fairly gushing over her budding relationship with Jack “Mr. Dimples”).

Our episode takes off with Caitlin. She cannot wait to share the news of her pregnancy and visits Butterhead at work. Once again Caitlin is disappointed by Blockheaded Butterhead. He is obviously surprised but he makes it very clear to Caitlin that he does not want another baby. Word of Caitlin’s pregnancy spreads quickly on Kahnawa:ke and Zoe hears it from the neighbourhood gossips. The girls decide it is in Caitlin’s best interest that they conduct an intervention and confront Caitlin with their support “regardless of what she decides to do” (implying they think she might be better off with an abortion). This time Caitlin is heartbroken by her closest friends. She is stunned that they would even imply such a thing. Caitlin turns once again to her father who this time does not disappoint. Her father thinks Butterhead will come around in time (fingers crossed for Caitlin).

Baily receives shocking news from Jack’s roommate Leon (Alain Chanoine). According to Leon, Jack doesn’t want the drama that comes with a relationship with Bailey and intends to break things off with her. Will this spell the end of Bailey and Mr. Dimples?

Team “Thana” arrive together at the Fire hall fundraiser and it “seems” Anna can finally take her place in the community. Can the women in the community handle their best man taking up with a “half breed”? – Stay Tuned!

Good girl Zoe is once again waging war on her inner bad girl, cleaning and redecorating but comes across an advert to yet another fetish party, and so she returns to the sex shop. This for me was the surprise moment of the show as our sex shop clerk turned out to be none other than Yanic Truesdale, Michel from Gilmore Girls fame (and who doesn’t want to meet a sex shop clerk like him?). Zoe plays dress-up trying on lots of fabulously sexy outfits at the suggestion of “Michel” (“Michel” it is since his character has not yet been named). NOTE to Tracey Deer and Cynthia Knight, if you are reading this, please please PLEASE can Yanic reprise this role in future episodes so we can at the very least give him a proper name?

The other highlight of this episode came once again from Caitlin played by Heather White. Caitlin shows up to the driving range and dumps all of Butterhead’s stuff at his feet. Caitlin’s Beast finally shines and it appears Butterhead rises to the occasion. It seems he has finally met his match. He tells Caitlin that this time he is up to the task of fatherhood. He wants to be a father to their baby that his father never was to him and proclaims that Caitlin is the loving and caring woman he wants to have in his life. (YAY for Caitlin!!)

We end with a “bang” so to speak, at the expense of nice girl Anna, who is jumped by Vicky by the lacrosse rink.

Will Butterhead live up to his promises to Caitlin? Will Jack really break up with Bailey? How will Zoe cope now that Caitlin knows her secret? How will Kahnawa:ke react to Anna’s beating? Let me know what you think is ahead for our foursome in the comments below!