Everything about Frankie Drake Mysteries, eh?

Preview: Frankie Drake Mysteries flies high with Lucas Bryant and Laurence Fox

This week on Frankie Drake Mysteries are two truly high-profile guest stars. I’ve been excited for this episode ever since I saw a short video of Lucas Bryant and Laurence Fox fooling around in the Drake makeup trailer where they were on location.

“The Pilot,” written by co-creators Michelle Ricci and Carol Hay and directed by Leslie Hope, finds Bryant playing Phillip Anderson, an aviator whose son is kidnapped. I’ve been a fan of Bryant since Season 1 of Haven (serious Stephen King fan over here) and was furthered in CBC’s excellent miniseries Shoot the Messenger, which bows on WGN in the U.S. on Feb. 26. As for Fox, he’s been on my radar for over 40 episodes of the PBS series Inspector Lewis, where he played DS James Hathaway. Anyway, enough of me being a fanboy; here’s what the CBC has revealed as the synopsis for Monday’s episode:

A day off turns into a day at the office for Frankie and Trudy when the son of an aviator is kidnapped.

And here is more information I gleaned from watching a screener.

Airplanes aplenty
I love airplanes. I love history. I was, therefore, giddy to see “The Pilot” involved both as stunning old aircraft zipped around the sky in Guelph, Ont. for the episode. (Read Bill Brioux’s set visit piece for more details.) Interestingly, this was the first episode of Frankie Drake Mysteries to be filmed but airs as Episode 7. Ah, the magic of television. And meetings.

Charlotte Sullivan guest-stars
Hold onto your hats Rookie Blue and Mary Kills People fans! Charlotte Sullivan, who also appears in CBC’s Caught next month, is Meara, wife of Phillip Anderson and mother to Charlie, the missing child.

Cheeky Fox
When we first meet Laurence Fox, he’s an unnamed gent who sidles up to Frankie and begins some major flirting. Who is he, and why does he seem to have bad will towards Phillip Anderson? They have a history, but what is it? Like I’ve already said, this was the first episode of Frankie to be filmed, but it doesn’t feel like it. Frankie’s sass, strong character and love of motorcycles and planes are firmly in place, as well as her relationship with Trudy. As a matter of fact, we learn some key backstory about Frankie thanks to her motorcycle and the conversation she has about it.

A storyline never revisited
Kris Holden-Ried appears at the end of Monday’s episode as a someone Frankie turns to for support. What’s interesting is that it’s tied to the backstory we’ve already mentioned but is never referred to, so far at least, in Season 1. Again, this was the first episode of Frankie Drake Mysteries so things change, but it would have been interesting to see this storyline fleshed out more.

A very special guest star
On top of the folks we’ve already mentioned, a certain someone drops by to escort Frankie into a building where women aren’t allowed. I kind of wish their name had been left out of the credits because it’s a major spoiler. I’ve already said too much.

Frankie Drake Mysteries airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

 

 

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Preview: Frankie Drake Mysteries welcomes Wynonna Earp

It’s a new year and that means new episodes of Frankie Drake Mysteries on CBC! After a couple of weeks off for the holidays, Frankie, Trudy, Mary and Flo roar back with more crime-solving in Monday’s instalment, “Ties that Bind,” written by co-creator Carol Hay and directed by Eleanore Lindo, who also directed Monday’s episode of Murdoch Mysteries.

Here’s what the CBC has revealed with regard to an official synopsis:

Mary recruits Frankie and Trudy to find a missing teacher, but their investigation leads them to family secrets, Chinatown and murder.

And here are some tidbits we gleaned from watching a screener.

Wynonna Earp‘s Melanie Scrofano guest-stars
We’re used to seeing Scrofano kicking demon butt on Space’s rollicking series—heading into production on Season 3—so it was a bit jarring to see her decked out in 1920s fashion. Scrofano plays Jenny Smith, a voluntary English teacher who goes missing following a covert meeting in a darkened alleyway. Why was Mary trailing Jenny, and where did the young woman go? And how does Mary know Jenny?

TV critic gets acting gig
The Toronto Star‘s Tony Wong guests in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it gig as an extra. He wrote about his experiences on Frankie Drake Mysteries in his latest column. Give it a read.

Nora returns
We’ve missed the sass and snark of Wendy Crewson’s performance, especially when she’s in a scene with Lauren Lee Smith as mother and daughter deliver verbal jabs at each other.

Frankie Drake Mysteries airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

 

 

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Frankie Drake Mysteries explores faith in Episode 4

Well, last week’s episode of Frankie Drake Mysteries certainly ended in a memorable way. After assuming I’d see Frankie and Ernest Hemingway canoodling before long, it was Moses Page who she shared a liplock with. I applaud the writing room for throwing that twist in and am excited to see where that storyline goes from here.

As for this week, here’s the CBC’s official word on “Healing Hands,” written by Andrew Burrows-Trotman and directed by Sudz Sutherland:

When Trudy (Chantel Riley) gives shelter to a faith-healing preacher’s daughter, she and Frankie (Lauren Lee Smith) find themselves investigating Toronto’s jazz scene.

And here’s some more scoop after watching a screener.

Frankie and Trudy are equals in every way
It may say Drake Private Detectives on the door, but Trudy and Frankie are equal partners in this business. That means working together and a constant support system. Neither is more important than the other and we love it.

Karen Robinson returns
Yes, Karen Robinson is back on Monday as Mildred Clarke, critiquing Trudy’s driving and career choice. And just because she attends church with her mother doesn’t mean Trudy necessarily believes in a higher power. We’re getting some very interesting character backstory on Trudy so far, especially when she and Frankie get into the topic of faith.

Killjoys‘ Prince Amponsah guest-stars
Last seen in Season 3 of Canadian sci-fi hit Killjoys, Prince Amponsah drops by Frankie Drake to portray a wounded soldier who is healed at the hands of Elsie (guest star Greta Onieogou). Fellow Killjoys, Alias Grace and Murdoch Mysteries guest actor John Tench also appears as Lyle, a shady sort.

Robert Carli rules
Fans of Murdoch Mysteries already know Robert Carli is the man behind that incredible theme music as well as the weekly soundtrack. Well, Carli ups the ante with Frankie Drake‘s soundtrack, a wonderful homage to the 1920s jazz scene jam-packed with trumpet, percussion and, I’m pretty sure, some oboe too.

Frankie Drake Mysteries airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Image courtesy of CBC.

 

 

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Preview: Frankie Drake Mysteries delivers a solid right hook in Episode 3

With two weeks of episodes under our stylish belts, we can say Frankie Drake Mysteries is firing on all cylinders. Flo is a hoot, Frankie is fabulous, Trudy is terrific and Mary is magnificent. Seriously, this series looks as though it’s been on the air for two seasons, not just two episodes, so congratulations to co-creators Carol Hay and Michelle Ricci, showrunner Cal Coons and the rest of the cast and crew for making Frankie Drake so great.

Now, on to Episode 3, “Summer in the City,” written by Carol Hay and directed by Norma Bailey. Here’s what the CBC has released regarding Monday’s episode synopsis:

When a body is found in a young man’s trunk, the case brings Frankie and Trudy into Toronto’s elite social circles.

And here’s some more intel after watching a screener of the episode.

Rebecca Liddiard is has a comic gift
Liddiard has been all over our television screen of late thanks to Houdini & Doyle, Alias Grace, Slasher: Guilty Party and now Frankie Drake Mysteries. Her Mary is a delightful whirlwind of energy, innocence and flailing limbs that we can’t get enough of. Look for our interview with Liddiard in the coming days.

Welcome Emmanuel Kabongo and Grace Lynn Kung
Kabongo (21 Thunder) appears as boxer Moses Page who is training to fight real-life pugilist Jack Dempsey, while Kung (Mary Kills People) is Wendy Quon, who runs the local speakeasy.

Frankie & Hemingway create sparks
There was a definite connection between the two the first time we saw Frankie and Ernest Hemingway (Steve Lund) converse and there is more of that on Monday night thanks via sarcasm, snark and plenty of side-eye.

Trudy sings!
We were thrilled to see Carol Hay’s script offered the chance for Chantel Riley to step behind the mic for a little somethin’ somethin’. Fingers crossed there’s more of that to come in Season 1.

Frankie Drake Mysteries airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Image courtesy of CBC.

 

 

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