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Featured, Haven

Review: Haven gets morbid

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Well, that lasted one whole week. The secret about Charlotte not being from the Center for Disease Control, I mean.

So, the big question at the end of Thursday’s new episode, “Mortality,” was: who the heck is Charlotte and who sent her to Haven? Of course, that question should be answered next week … unless Dave is unable to get cell service or drive back to Haven on his own.

Charlotte and Dwight spent a bunch of time together, mostly with him trying to convince her that a thing called the Troubles existed in Haven. She wasn’t buying it at first–she suspected Dwight had hired a sniper to shoot him at the same time she took target practice–but finally caved.

Other than that, “Mortality” didn’t have a ton of reveals. Audrey picked up a dose of the contagion, meaning she has some sort of Trouble after all, Pete was the one spreading the contagion amongst the Troubled folk (stress will do that to poor Pete), and a guy named Kirby was able to see how people will die and told Audrey he saw how she and her “twin” will meet their dual demise.

Duke appeared to be firmly in the “bad guy” camp with Mara after she brainwashed him into thinking the town hated him–he even unshackled and allowed her outside on an emergency run to the hospital to try and get to the bottom of the contagion conundrum–but was in his right mind by the time she killed Pete to stop the contagion. Mara re-attaching the handcuffs and telling Duke she wants to help him was either the biggest play this season’s villain has or she is genuinely softening towards the big lug. I’m hoping the former over the latter because I just don’t buy them as a couple.

Overall, not the best episode of Haven in my opinion but I view “Mortality” as more of a transition episode to bigger things to come.

Notes and quotes

  • “Easy on the turns, Thelma.”–Mara
  • I would like a Grey Gull baseball cap
  • Stan is the slowest cop on the Haven force
  • I’d love it if anything I touched turned to cake

Haven airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Showcase.

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Featured

Preview: The Nature of Things celebrates pigeons

I’ll never look at pigeons the same way again.

Living in Toronto for over a decade has taught this small-town boy a few things, including watching out for the ubiquitous grey-feathered beasts fluttering around the downtown core. They bob and coo their way up to people sitting on park benches, eager to dart in and scoop up any morsel of food that tumbles to the ground. I viewed them with scorn and labelled them as pests. But I’ll show them a little more respect the next time we cross paths.

This week’s excellent episode of The Nature of Things, “The Secret Life of Pigeons,” pulls back the curtain on a bird that was once an important part of our daily lives. Written and directed by Scott Harper (The Age of Anxiety), “Pigeons” goes back in time to reveal that they were the first animal on earth to be domesticated and the crucial role they played during wartime of old by flying important messages to troops.

And the suckers are smart. Among the uncanny skills revealed during the episode: pigeons recognize human faces, spread themselves out amid food scraps so each gets some, and their young are among the fastest-growing on the planet. The highlight of the instalment for me was not only an explanation into how pigeons find their way back home from long distances, but the moment an HD camera was strapped to a bird’s back, offering a glimpse into what life is like for a pigeon in flight.

My second favourite segment? A peek into the life of pigeon fanciers, who strive to prolong the life of some of the world’s rarest–and pretty freaky-looking–pigeons.

The Nature of Things, “The Secret Life of Pigeons,” airs Thursday at 8 p.m. on CBC.

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Blackstone, Featured

Review: Blackstone goes “Deeper and Deeper”

Tuesday’s new episode of Blackstone was called “Deeper and Deeper,” and from the outset it was obvious the title referred to Gail, Andy and Jumbo.

Gail’s descent into the rabbit hole of sleep to hide from the fact she stabbed Darrien advanced into dangerous territory. Her dreams were haunted by Natalie and soon her waking moments were filled by her too. Natalie asking Gail where Wendy had gone, taunting her to take more pills, imploring her to take a drink of alcohol (which Gail did) finally led to her offering Gail a knife and stating “there are faster ways to kill yourself.” Gail’s attempts to hide her lapses in time–and forgetting she had dropped Wendy off at Sarah’s house–were revealed to Leona, Marilyn, Wilma and Greg in a horrible public scene.

Actress Michelle Thrush won a Gemini for her role as Gail. It was well-deserved and she may just win a Canadian Screen Award this year. Her Gail is so tortured, so real, so pitiful … I wanted to look away but couldn’t, particularly when she was careening around the yard, trying to keep her numerous stories straight The only glimmer of hope by the end of the episode was that Leona realized how far Gail has fallen and will get her the help she so desperately needs.

Andy has been hitting the medication as well thanks to the stab wound he received last week. Of course, his father was there to mock and guffaw as Andy begged for more pain meds from the jail doctor. Angel, the stripper Andy shot to death, dropped by for a brief visit too, causing the former Blackstone chief to pee himself with fear. (Show creator Ron E. Scott advanced the overall prison story arc by having Andy converse with a young Native man who had been found guilty of manslaughter despite having an alibi. Andy promised to have his own lawyer look into the case, but he may be too drug-addled to make good on it.)

And finally there was Jumbo. Daryl’s right-hand man at the club has developed quite the addiction to online poker and was so desperate to play he took money from the night’s take to help supplant his gambling. He’s sinking deeper and deeper into debt (he’s going to lose the club’s money, of that I am sure) and Daryl is not going to be happy when he finds out.

Blackstone airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on APTN.

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Bachelor Canada, Featured

Review: Bachelor Canada shocker: Tim chooses his lady love

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After all of the drama surrounding April’s performance at the end of last week’s start to The Bachelor Canada season finale, I would have been shocked if Tim Warmels had chosen her over Trish. It seemed to be a no brainer. Trish was outgoing and April wasn’t. Trish was sure of her feelings and April waffled. Tim’s parents liked Trish and were dubious of April.

So, who did Tim choose after all of these weeks of tears and tribulation, brashness and booze? After summarizing that he only wanted to move forward with someone who wanted to be there, April suddenly had a change of heart and wanted to stay.

“Today is a good day,” she told Tim upon meeting him for an impromptu sit-down at the beach.

“That’s the best news I’ve heard from you all day,” Tim responded. One long kiss and a special note later, and April was back in the hunt for the bachelor’s heart. But would she steal it away from Trish?

For her part, Trish was confident in her chances with Tim and he admitted to having no questions regarding her feelings towards him. They even put a padlock on a love fence to prove their warm and fuzzies for each other. A brief meeting with Michael Hill, who pulled some diamond rings out of his leather satchel, and Tim was ready to propose. But who would it be to?

I guess someone’s going to have to go down and dig for the key to unfasten that padlock because Tim chose April. I can only surmise that Tim is looking for someone to protect rather than a gal who is sure of herself because his decision seemed out of character. Maybe it was the fact that Trish is an Edmonton Oilers fan vs. Tim’s beloved Maple Leafs. At this point I’m grasping at anything that makes sense. (As an aside, I thought April’s dress looked like it belonged at a Grade 8 prom rather than the coast of Tahiti.)

The After the Final Rose special was pretty much what we’ve come to expect from the franchise, with Trish confronting Tim over his decision and the reunion of the happy couple. Among the tidbits of information host Tyler Harcott was able to suss out by the end of the episode:

  • Trish has learned a lot about herself
  • Trish’s favourite moment was her date with Tim in Italy
  • Trish isn’t mad at April
  • Tim has fallen in love
  • Tim goes commando
  • There are wedding plans

What did you think of this season? Did Tim choose the right girl?

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Featured, Podcast

TV, eh? podcast episode 170 – A Space for Us All

With Diane off in the Galapagos, Anthony and Greg go it alone this week in a decidedly CBC-centric podcast. Among the stories discussed: CBC’s content sharing agreement with The Weather Network, Canadians giving input into the creation of a new series pilot called Let’s Get Hitched and the danger of the public broadcaster going away forever. Greg and Anthony break down just what a super-simulcast of Corner Gas: The Movie means for viewers and work blue while celebrating the fact that Canadian TV is comfortable with swearing.

Listen or download below, or subscribe via iTunes or any other podcast catcher with the TV, eh? podcast feed.

Want to become a Patron of the Podcast? We’ve got a Patreon page where you can donate a small amount per podcast and get a sneak peek of each release.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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