Yearly Archives: 2015

Featured, Mohawk Girls

Mohawk Girls review: To Flee or Not to Flee

And here we are, already to the final episode of this, the third season of Mohawk Girls. As the title’s playful take on the famous Prince Hamlet quote portends;  troubles indeed lie in wait for our ladies.

Caitlin (Heather White) has quite evidently fallen off of the the self improvement wagon. She’s quit her business course, is back eating junk food, and has even quit fitness classes with “Luscious Leon” (Alain Chanoine). Concerned, Leon drops by to check on Caitlin and finally we see the sparks truly fly. Leon confesses that he misses “Sexy Caitlin” and these two finally kiss!!!

Sadly, Caitlin also feels the pressures to date only Mohawk men and this causes great concern for her. Undaunted, Leon promises persistence until Caitlin decides if his being Blackhawk rather than Mohawk is a deal breaker or not.

To make matters even more complicated,  Caitlin is later wrongfully attacked by Trumpet (Kevin Loring) and  Butterhead (Meegwun Fairbrother) comes to her defense. Now poor Caitlin is left to second guess a potential relationship with Leon.

As if these troubles were not enough for our girls, #TeamThana  (Anna, played by Maika Harper and Thunder played by Kyle Nobess) also does not survive this episode unscathed. Thunder, and Anna’s Mother (Nadia Verrucci), both learn to their dismay that Anna has quit school. Thunder argues that the best way to change a flawed system is to work from within, ensuring that dialogue remains open.

Anna’s mother arrives, hoping to talk her daughter into returning to school. Ironically, it is Anna’s stand against the  “Colonial Oligarchy” that “Mean Girl Vicki” (Rachelle White Wind) finally declares that Anna is “one of us”.  Anna, who has fought so hard to finally be seen as a Mohawk by the community, rejects her white mother. This is a deal breaker for Thunder: “I could never love anyone who can turn against their Mom like that – we’re done Anna”.

Meanwhile, Bailey (Jennifer Pudavick) is still stressing over her relationship with Watio (Jimmy Blais). She recognizes what a “quality lump of clay” he is, but she also sees that Watio channels his passions in anger. She is struggling with the challenge of perpetual compromise that leaves her wanting more out of life. She finally comes to the realization that they are too different and she breaks up with Watio.

And finally, troubles are definitely in store for Zoe (Brittany LeBorgne) who has been planning a fundraiser for a family that tragically lost their home to fire. However, social pressures continue to mount for Zoe, and shirking her responsibilities, she escapes deeper into the BDSM lifestyle. I simply loved how Tracey Deer and Cynthia Knight set these sequences up throughout this episode.  Zoe’s detachment from her life was very cleverly played, no longer engaging  with her friends, her responsibilities, or the  viewing audience; we are simply left to experience just as she does in the world of fetish clubs.

With Zoe AWOL, the group of friends pull together to make a success of the fundraiser. Even Butterhead rises to the occasion for the greater good. Leon also puts in an appearance because Caitlin is “worth it”.

The show stopper though comes from Watio, who gets down on bended knee, declares his love for Bailey — with poetry even–and proposes in front of the entire community.

So, we are left to wonder, will #TeamThana get back together? Will Anna return to school? What is going to happen to Zoe when all her friends, who are worried sick about her, realise she was playing in the dungeon of a fetish club? Who will Caitlin choose, Luscious Leon or Butterhead? And finally, how will Bailey answer Watio’s proposal? What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks  go to Tracey Deer, Cynthia Knight, and Rezolution Pictures for another great season. Looking forward to what’s in store in Season 4.

 

 

 

 

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Featured, Mohawk Girls

Mohawk Girls review: Going Native

We begin  the penultimate episode of  season three with Caitlin (Heather White) and Danny (Jesse Nobess) working on Caitlin’s business plan, tossing a sprinkle of encouragement  and a dash of motivation in an attempt to get Caitlin back into  Kick Ass mode. But as we will see, encouragement and motivation are only a part of what it takes to Go Native for our Mohawk foursome.

One of the newest hurdles complicating Caitlin’s healthy lifestyle choices comes via “Mean Girl Vicki” (Rachelle White Wind). Seems Vicki has a new man in her life and she cannot wait to spill the beans to her rival. As it turns out Caitlin’s father (Lawrence Bayne) is her new Beast boyfriend (and oh my goodness, nice touch with the hickies–Priceless!). Hat tip to  T. Deer and C. Knight! I did NOT see that one coming.

Once again we turn to a scene with Anna (Maika Harper)to deliver our outsider’s cultural lesson of the week. Anna is visiting with Lollipop (Devery Jacobs) before her lecture, and learns that western  education was the tool of assimilation for her people. The schools’ curriculum, the administration, and the text books are all the instruments of the white man. The Residential School System is revisited, reminding us that the government used education as a guise to strip Indigenous people of their culture, and that many  people today are still suffering the loss of the culture that was beaten out of them in residential school. This leaves Anna with some questions about her own educational experiences.

Turning to Zoe (Brittany LeBorgne), we learn that she is suffering from a lack of her extra curricular activities and this is causing  significant distraction on her part. Zoe is clearly neglecting the fundraiser’s organization.

Meanwhile, Bailey’s (Jennifer Pudavick) 30th birthday is fast approaching and Auntie Velma (Ashley Michaels) declares “whatever she wants she may have as this is a birthday that needs ushering in”.  Bailey, always full of wanderlust, decides she wants a trip with Watio (Jimmy Blais), but under no circumstances will he travel. Watio believes that signing any piece of paper declaring he is a Canadian means he gives up his sovereign rights as a Haudenosawnee citizen. This is yet another strike in a mounting list of strikes against Watio.

To compensate, the girls decide to take Bailey away for a girls’ weekend and Anna thinks a survivalist weekend will get them all in touch with their Native heritage. The girls dive in to their weekend, each with their own level of commitment, but it is Bailey that rises to the challenges and proves she is the warrior. Along the way, Zoe’s kink tendencies prove a problem again. Additionally, Caitlin falls into the hookup trap; fine by campfire light, but by harsh morning’s light the fish prove more interesting.

For their final day, the girls decide to get naked and try some mud wraps. But this being Mohawk Girls, you know this is not about to go smoothly, and indeed some young pranksters abscond with our ladies’ clothing.  Bailey concocts a plan to create cover ups and they succeed in making their way back to camp.  Bailey proves herself to be the  survivalist and Jennifer P. totally owned her character tonight.

Once home from their weekend  reality comes crashing back.

Bailey is immediately reminded that the differences between  herself and Watio are mounting. Meanwhile, Caitlin heads to the bar where she is once again humiliated by Butterhead (Meegwun Fairbrother), and Zoe delves deeper into the BDSM lifestyle. Zoe arranges to meet another potential  master, “Hell’s Angel Biker Dom” (Marc-Andre Boulanger), but he proves to be less than dominating. And finally, Anna stands up to her  Philosophy professor (Larry Day). Anna is upset with  the lack of Aboriginal philosophers  included on his syllabus which leads her to impulsively quit, not just his class, but school altogether.

So we are left to wonder how Thunder will react to Anna quitting school. Is Caitlin going to get back on track with her healthy lifestyle choices? Can Bailey make things work with Watio? What is next for Zoe?

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Featured, The Nature of Things

The Nature of Things explores how sound affects our lives for good and bad

Earlier this year, I watched a stunning documentary called Alive Inside. In it, social worker Dan Cohen shows that music seems to combat memory loss and cut through the fog of Alzheimer’s disease. It was a stunning and hopeful documentary about the power of music, something that’s echoed in Thursday’s new instalment of The Nature of Things.

“Sonic Magic: The Wonder of Science and Sound” jets from Canada to Italy, Australia, England and the United States as scientists, engineers, professors and historians uncover how music is being used to destroy cancer, halt brain disorders like the aforementioned Alzheimer’s disease and even change what food tastes like. Some of the most interesting footage of sound is presented in the first few minutes, as sand and water twists, jumps and wobbles into complex geometric patterns under the affect of sound waves played by musical instruments. (I used to pop the foam covers off my stereo speakers so I could watch the cones vibrate.)

Meanwhile, Trevor Cox plays a saxophone in the London tube to get a read on how architecture changes the way we hear sounds. A interesting example of a building celebrating sound is in Pisa, Italy where The Baptistery of St. John enables an opera singer’s note to resonate for nine seconds. Some information seems obvious—living in a loud environment like a busy metropolis raises one’s stress levels—but how noise can change the way food tastes is fascinating.

And the story of Daniel Kish, blind since 13 months of age using a technique he calls “flash sonar” to navigate the world on foot and on a bike? Simply incredible. 

The Nature of Things airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on CBC.
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This Life

Link: CBC needs funding but money doesn’t buy smarts or class

From John Doyle of The Globe and Mail:

CBC needs funding but money doesn’t buy smarts or class
Right now, let’s talk TV, as the CRTC has been urging us for several years. CBC can make very good TV, but it doesn’t know what to do when it achieves that. There are two new dramas on the network this fall and both are fine, well-made, sophisticated television.

This Life (Mondays, 9 p.m.) is one and it’s a good adaptation of a hit French-language drama on Radio-Canada. The fact that it exists on the English network is just great. And yet, CBC seems clueless about presenting it to the public and the press.  Continue reading. 

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Featured, Rookie Blue, Saving Hope

Rookie Blue’s Peter Mooney joins Saving Hope

Hope Zion has quickly become Rookie Blue reunion central. The past few weeks have seen Travis Milne and Charlotte Sullivan walk through the doors, and now it’s Peter Mooney’s turn. The former Nick Collins drops by Saving Hope for a recurring role as Jeremy Bishop, general surgeon and Charlie’s good friend.

His journey begins this week with “Waiting on a Friend” as Jeremy is plunged into the middle of a complicated surgical procedure that effects much of the team and we learn a bit about his backstory to boot. We spoke to Mooney on the phone as he walked home after having breakfast at Lady Marmalade.

Before we talk about Saving Hope, I have to ask you about Rookie Blue. I was sorry to see it get cancelled, but at least we got closure.
I think the way Tassie Cameron wrapped it all up was kind of perfect. As much as you hate to see something come to an end, I’m really happy with where it left off. There are no nagging, lingering feelings about anything.

That said, I would not be opposed to a spinoff web series following Nick and Juliet fighting crime in Vancouver.
Yeah, I wonder what they’re getting up to in Vancouver? I think that would be awesome. [Erin Karpluk] and I will do our own spinoff.

What do you take away from that set?
It was just such a good vibe on set. I know it sounds cheesy but it’s pretty rare to have that level of ease and comfort and familiarity with everyone. We’ve become really close friends throughout the process. It was a great period of life, like you might look back on high school. This little, self-contained time period that was so nice. It’s also something to bring onto future jobs; that attitude and how much fun work can be.

He’s there to complicate things that are going well for other people. High-stakes situations like this cause you to look at your co-workers a little differently and things can blossom.

If Rookie Blue was high school, is Saving Hope college?
It’s pre-med. [Laughs.] I think of it as pre-med because I’m sort of learning. We have amazing medical advisors on the show and yesterday I was learning how to do a one-handed, left-handed suture on a patient’s spleen. Now, the patient is just a dummy and I think I would have killed him if he had been real. We don’t have anywhere near the wealth of knowledge that actual doctors and surgeons have, but getting a taste of that has been really, really exciting.

You’re the perfect guy to have in an emergency. You know how to take someone down and to sew someone up.
Yeah, I’m the perfect person to have during a calamity on a plane.

Jeremy shows up in Thursday’s episode and makes an immediate impression with his three-day stubble and buttoned-down shirt. How did you get the gig? Did you audition or did they seek you out?
This one was kind of special and rare. Rookie Blue and Saving Hope share producers, so they were already familiar with me because we share a lot of the same directors. I’d known the cast because we’ve been in side-by-side studios and some of the cast are very good friends of mine. So when it looked like Rookie Blue was wrapping up, there was a perfect opening on Saving Hope so I jumped on over. It was a speedy transition and not a lot of time to learn all of the medical base I would have liked to.

Tell me a bit about Jeremy’s back story. We learn on Thursday that he’s a friend of Charlie’s and that he had some trouble in L.A.
He and Charlie go way back, and that’s rolled out during the season. He’s from Toronto but spent years in L.A. doing his residency. He had a house there and was really settled down. His return to Toronto is an abrupt, surprising shift for him and his head is still spinning when he arrives.

Jeremy seems to have a good bedside manner.
Yeah, he’s very off the cuff. He’s running on impulse and not very calculating and that comes in handy with his bedside manner because he’s able to read the situation and their need and he’s able to respond to that. He’s not a clinical or removed doctor.

Talk about his journey this season. Any love on the horizon?
He’s there to complicate things that are going well for other people. High-stakes situations like this cause you to look at your co-workers a little differently and things can blossom.

You’re filming Saving Hope until the middle of December. What’s next in the new year? Are you writing and developing your own projects?
I am. I have several projects in the early stages in development that I’ll go back and focus on. But I’ll be back to auditioning too, which is kind of exciting. It’s been such a long time since I’ve done that … I’m kind of excited to get back to it.

Saving Hope airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.

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