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

Comments and queries for the week of January 5

Watching Heavy Rescue: 401 and it makes me mad when someone says highway 11 is access to the lakes in the north. It seems like everyone in the south thinks the world ends at Orillia or Barrie. Highway 400 is part of highway 11 and highway 11 is a large part of the Trans Canada highway system. —Roy

Blue Ant Media

Just finished watching Marty and Bam Bam [on Backroad Bounty] for the second time on Netflix then I can’t find it again. What happens to it and will there be more shows? I love these guys. —Rita

Sadly, there were only two seasons of Backroad Bounty made.

I loved the mix of the travelers trying to fit into the roles they rolled into [on Travelers]. The first season there were definitely priority to the missions from the director. The second season had some good fast-paced travelers-only missions, but there was more free time which was used to strengthen the bond between the team member and their inherited family and seeing their struggles. It prepared a solid base for a third season. A lot of potential and it probably will be used to bring them all stronger in the end. Probably with personal choices between love and knowing the partner is from the future. Just hope it won’t be any cliché twist. But I have faith after the writing of the last two seasons. —Rick

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

 

 

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Cardinal

Links: Cardinal: Blackfly Season

From Bill Brioux of The Canadian Press:

Link: Billy Campbell on season 2 of CTV’s ‘Cardinal,’ feeling ‘spiritually Canadian’
The life of an actor isn’t always glamorous. Take Billy Campbell, for example. The lanky Virginian sits in a rundown mess hall on a remote and abandoned helicopter airfield. It’s late spring, cold, and raining hard. To kill time between shooting scenes on the CTV series “Cardinal,” he kills mosquitoes. Continue reading.

From John Doyle of The Globe and Mail:

Link: Season 2 of Cardinal is solid, but lacks searing sensibility
This season of Cardinal is still a solid crime drama and wonderful to watch at the start, but some mercurial ingredient used in the first season is missing. It’s a pity and the series is recommended this time with caution. Continue reading.

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Link: Cardinal’s Billy Campbell says there will be personal ramifications in Season 2
“What they do have in common is that they are both very thorough, and even a little obsessive I think. They also both feel a lot, though they aren’t really very easily able to express their feelings.” Continue reading. 

From Debra Yeo of the Toronto Star:

Link: Canadian TV crime drama Cardinal returns to its elements
“There’s a lot going on under the surface and that’s really kind of what I like about him. . . . Last season, the ice was kind of a nice metaphor for Cardinal the person, that there was this layer of ice on top of what would be a lot going on underneath. And I just thought, ‘Here’s something that I haven’t had a chance to do and I think I can do it.’ ” Continue reading.

From Brendan Kelly of the Montreal Gazette:

Link: Karine Vanasse relishes her return to CTV’s ‘real and raw’ Cardinal
“I feel like in Season 1 we got to know who Cardinal was and we got to know who Delorme really was on a more human level towards the end of the season. I think we start Season 2 knowing more about who she really is. I think that in Season 1 people might at first have been wondering if she was just a driven police officer wanting to get higher in the ranks.” Continue reading. 

From Heather M. of The Televixen:

Link: Karine Vanasse talks Cardinal Season 2
“I like the fact that we have six episodes [so] that you can go in-depth with the characters. You don’t have that much dialogue. It makes a difference that the camera takes the time to get reactions from the characters, so even if words aren’t being said, you get to go in-depth [as a viewer], and as an actor you get to explore those characters.” Continue reading. 

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Link: Cardinal’s Karine Vanasse on why Delorme is still questioning Cardinal in Season 2
“As we saw in Season 1, she loves her job and she loves to focus on her work. In regards to her journey in Season 2 and as far as Cardinal goes, there’s a level of trust that exists now. At the same time, he keeps a certain distance with her. For her, finding her place next to him is a little hard at first, and it is a little confusing for her to understand.” Continue reading. 

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Industry News

The Weekly with Wendy Mesley launches Jan. 14 on CBC

From a media release:

As first announced in July 2017, new CBC News Sunday morning show THE WEEKLY WITH WENDY MESLEY will launch Sunday, January 14 at 11 a.m. (11:30 NT) on CBC and CBC News Network, focused on the intersection of media, technology and politics.

In the new half-hour program, Mesley will put players from media, business and politics in the spotlight as she pushes for answers and transparency, and provides critical analysis on how the newsmakers of the week are delivering their messages.

From political pressure and corporate interests to technological manipulation and old-fashioned spin, the program will go behind the headlines to reveal the hidden and sometimes surprising forces shaping the news, providing a deeper understanding of what’s happening in the world by illuminating the influences at play behind the big stories of the week.

The show will broadcast live from CBC in Toronto and feature a wide range of Canadian and global contributors and guests.

 

 

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Featured, Murdoch Mysteries

Preview: Murdoch Mysteries solves a high-speed crime

Happy New Year, Murdoch Mysteries fans! I hope you all enjoyed the holidays—and celebrated by rewatching all three Murdoch TV-movies—and are ready for an awesome 2018.

An all-new episode of Murdoch Mysteries airs this coming Monday, and we think you’re going to love it. Here’s what the CBC has revealed, story-wise about “F.L.A.S.H.,” written by Paul Aitken and directed by Eleanore Lindo:

Murdoch investigates a man’s bizarre death, which may have been caused by a high-speed travel device.

And, as always, here are some other non-spoilery notes after we watched the episode.

Guess who guest-stars?
Anytime a Murdoch Mysteries storyline involves the word “device,” it’s a pretty safe bet that a certain inventor friend of William’s will be called upon. And yes, that’s the case this week. Kudos to everyone involved in set decoration and set building; they go above and beyond with their creations this week.

A double-dose of Margaret
Clearly, enough of us were good girls and boys last year because Margaret Brackenreid shows up. That’s two weeks in a row if you count Home for the Holidays.

Mon Dieu George!
If you’ve been paying attention—and I know you have—George is on a road trip this week with gal pal Nina Bloom. Bon voyage mes amis!

Code word: Lemniscate
This plays a major part in William and Julia’s storyline this week and it’s fantastic. And yes, I had to Google the word for spelling and meaning. Speaking of meanings, what F.L.A.S.H. stands for is unveiled 10 minutes into the broadcast.

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

Images courtesy of CBC.

 

 

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