From Jeff Rose-Martland of Huffington Post Canada:

Blackstone is a top Notch Canadian Show You Need to Binge Watch now
Poverty. Crime. Substance abuse. Rape. Corruption. Death. It’s not the inner city, but the despair and desperation is the same. It’s not The Wire, but it can stand right up to it. This is Blackstone. Continue reading.

From a media release:

Prairie Dog Film + Television announces that the fifth and final season of the award-winning prime time drama Blackstone will feature the characters moving towards hope, healing and retribution – and will conclude with a dramatic finale on Dec. 22. Blackstone season five (8 x 60’) airs Tuesdays starting November 3 on Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) (check below for exact times per region).

In the new season of Blackstone, there is hope in the midst of adversity as the Blackstone First Nation strives toward a better life by building a stronger community. Panicked and grief-stricken, the Stoneys fight for the authorities to expand the search for Wendy.  Meanwhile, Andy tries to work his usual channels to stay out of jail. Chief Victor’s lack of leadership has left the Blackstone community struggling. Leona gets close to a foster child, but is left seeking justice when tragedy strikes. A sober Gail searches for a new identity and a new path while coping with Wilma’s failing health. Smokey moves back to Blackstone to serve the community, and Daryl makes a business decision that pulls him and Gina deeper into a criminal world.

Blackstone airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on APTN HD and APTN East starting Nov. 3; Tuesdays at 10 p.m. MT on APTN West starting Nov. 3, and Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. CT on APTN North starting Nov. 7.

The award-winning predominately Aboriginal cast has roots across Canada including Carmen Moore (Arctic Air, Godiva’s), Eric Schweig (Last of the Mohicans), Michelle Thrush (Arctic Air, Jimmy P.), Steven Cree Molison (Brokeback Mountain, Fifty Shades of Gray), Ashley Callingbull (the newly crowned, Mrs. Universe), Jennifer Podemski (Degrassi), Glen Gould (Mohawk Girls) and Tantoo Cardinal (Legends of the Fall, Dances with Wolves).

Canadians can catch-up on seasons one, two, three, and four on http://aptn.ca/blackstone/. In the US, viewers can watch season one, two, and three on Hulu.com and Hulu Plus. Season one and two are also available for purchase on iTunes Canada and will soon be available on iTunes in the U.S.

Blackstone is produced by Prairie Dog Film + Television, with Ron E. Scott as executive producer, writer and director, Jesse Szymanski as co-executive producer, and Damon Vignale as writer/producer. The series currently broadcasts in Canada on APTN, in the United States on Hulu and HuluPlus, in New Zealand on Maori Television, and in Australia on SBS/NITV.  Blackstone has been nominated for 86 awards including Best Dramatic Series, and Best Dramatic Writing at the Canadian Screen Awards.

From Bill Brioux of the Canadian Press:

CBC answers call for edgier TV fare with aboriginal series ‘Blackstone’
If you can’t make ’em, acquire ’em. That seems to be the mantra these days at the CBC. Faced with budget cuts and dealing with the steep loss of NHL advertising revenues, the public broadcaster – when it isn’t fending off scandals – has been forced to take its content where it can find it. Continue reading.