Everything about Mohawk Girls, eh?

CBC, meet APTN

There are encouraging signs at CBC lately, in terms of the quality of what they’re putting on screen and how audiences are responding to it (let’s not talk about the rest).

With a vision that’s shifted toward distinguishing themselves from the private networks with more sophistication, more partnerships  and more international acquisitions, ratings have more or less followed with their new programming.

Less would be fall’s Strange Empire, which garnered an audience around the mid-200,000s. Not stellar for a not-cable network, though the quality isn’t in question.

More would be this winter’s The Book of Negroes co-production with BET, based on Lawrence Hill’s award-winning novel, with around 1.4 million watching each of the six episodes.

Somewhere in between would be Schitt’s Creek, which reunited Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy and premiered in January to a huge 1.4 million, but has plateaued at nearly half that audience.

Another mixed result would be X Company, which debuted last week to somewhere over 800,000. CBC must have hoped for more — the absence of a braggy ratings media release is a clue — but it’s a decent number with potential to grow.

They’ll air Young Drunk Punk sometime after its City run, and a highly credible rumour has it that Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays will come back, though CBC are taking their time confirming it. They apparently don’t care that I’m on the edge of my seat here.

But what of those killer budget cuts and the need to fill out a schedule with less money for original series and fewer episodes for the series they do make?

CBC, meet APTN: Canada’s other public broadcaster.

With every interview or review I do of an APTN series, I find myself thinking to myself — and to the interviewee, and to Twitter — that CBC would be a great home for a show like that.

Like Hard Rock Medical, the hugely entertaining half-hour Northern Exposure of the North that deserves a much, much bigger audience than it’s getting on TVO and APTN. And hey, it would make a great pairing for the equally cable-esque Michael, wouldn’t it?

Or like  Blackstone, which could be the closest Canada has come to The Wire, exploring social and political issues within a community.  And which could make a great pairing for a season two of Strange Empire.

I’m less sold on Mohawk Girls but it as well as some of APTN’s children’s and youth programming might benefit our actual public broadcaster, and be benefited in return with a wider fan base.

I used to wonder “why doesn’t CBC do the kind of distinct, uniquely Canadian programming APTN is doing,” but now it’s more “if CBC can air a City show in second-window, why not an APTN show?”

So CBC, meet APTN. Can I buy you guys a drink?

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Review: Mohawk Girls Find their “Rez Balls”

Written by Carolyn Potts

In this, the jam-packed season finale of Mohawk Girls entitled “Rez Balls” — written, directed, and produced by Tracey Deer and co-produced by the essential Cynthia Knight — we open with the latest contestant on “Finding Bailey’s Prince”.

*Cue the game show announcer voice*: “Today’s contestant is Aaron (played by Matt Cassidy). Aaron owns a successful women’s fashion boutique in Montreal. He is a devout Jew and believes in repairing the world. He has also been seen to treat the homeless with respect and dignity.” Bailey (Jennifer Pudavick) decides this guy is definitely a contender.

Our theme tonight appears to centre on being brave enough (or perhaps reckless enough) to do what you most desire (i.e. grabbing life by the “rez” balls) rather than worrying about how society will react.

We start with Zoe’s (Brittany Leborgne) plight following her Bridesmaidzilla breakdown. Zoe is holed up in bed afraid to face the world. Caitlin (Heather White), Anna (Maika Harper), and Bailey attempt to provide moral support, key word being attempt.

Ultimately conversation comes back to team #Thana (“Be still my beating Heart” Thunder played Kyle Nobess). The girls are surprised to learn Anna has broken her “Three Month Rule”. The realization that Anna actually regrets her decision and is considering a sexual hiatus until it “feels right” laid the foundation for my favourite one liner from Caitlin: “You can’t feed the beast and then starve it!” Anna is still feeling the pressure to conform to the rules of “Being a Mohawk” and still fears word of her 48.2% blood quantum number will leak out to the community, thus ruining any progress she has made to fit in.

Caitlin stays with her bestie Zoe and talk turns to Caitlin’s relationship with Butterhead. Caitlin is fearing that their baby will grow up just as she did, not knowing the love of her father and constantly living with that heartache. Zoe delicately suggests an abortion will break the cycle, saying “that women lose babies all the time. No one needs to know how she lost her baby.” Interestingly, Caitlin’s initial fear is how the community would react to that decision rather than the actual loss of her baby.

In the meantime, Bailey agrees to dinner with her father (Glen Gould) and Auntie Velma (Ashley Michaels). They voice their concerns about Bailey dating non Mohawks. Bailey retaliates, shocking them with the news that she has dated a wide assortment of “non-Mohawk- non-white” men. This argument prompts her call to Aaron and a date ensues. All appears wonderful. Aaron seems like the perfect guy. Sparks fly and the chemistry works.

Unfortunately for Bailey, even though they had a lot of “fun”, it is ironically Aaron who turns the table on Bailey. He announces that he can never date anyone who is not Jewish. Following her disappointment, Bailey heads to the bar to lick her wounds, and indulges a bit too much. Her advances on Thunder are rebuffed, he firmly declares he is with Anna and in response Bailey lets slip that Anna does not meet the Kahnawa:ke’s 50% blood quantum. Tulip (Jayli Wolf) overhears this shocking news.

We return to Zoe, found drinking alone. She receives an online message from a potential Dom and she informs him of her need to be punished. This leads to a meeting with “Dom” (Kyle Switzer) wherein he supplies a list of activities for Zoe to categorize according to interest and curiosity (borrowing on a very popular “50 Shades” moment). She ultimately agrees to be Dom’s submissive partner. Her training begins at once with lessons on demonstrating her sexuality.

After a two episode hiatus, Meangirl Vicky (Rachelle White Wind) returns tonight with her posse, taunting Anna once again. This time however, Anna stands up against Vicky which seems to engender a modicum of affection (is it just me or did Vicky’s makeup make her look a bit softer tonight?) Here’s to hoping we find out why Vicky uses her meanness as a defense mechanism next season.

Meanwhile it appears Caitlin has made a decision regarding the future of her baby; she is waiting in the Dr’s office for an abortion. She is desperately trying to reach Zoe for moral support. The heartbreak is once again clearly evident, but Caitlin is desperate to ensure she is not party to perpetuating the cycle of emotional neglect that she herself is a victim of. Zoe of course cannot be reached as she is otherwise engaged in her lessons. Caitlin once again puts on a brave face and forges ahead.

This final episode “climaxes” with a drunken Bailey, tired of being the good Mohawk girl and throws caution to the wind. She gives in to newlywed Trumpet’s (Kevin Loring) advances and they hook up outside the bar. At the same time Anna’s worst fear is realized and she is publicly confronted by Tulip who proclaims to all who will listen that “Hat Girl Anna” does not meet the 50% limit. Anna finally stands up for herself and takes Tulip down in a bar fight.

And so we close this premiere season not knowing if Caitlin goes through with an abortion. We don’t know how Zoe will react to her lessons. We are left to wonder whether or not team #Thana will survive or if Anna’s heart will be broken by Thunder. Will Anna finally be accepted as a true Mohawk? Finally, what will word of Bailey’s hookup with Trumpet mean to her, and her relationships with family, friends, and within the community? We will have to wait until next season to find out.

What a fabulous run ladies (and gentlemen). This has been such a treat to see and learn more about Mohawk culture, but best of all to be entertained but such a uniquely Canadian show. Thanks to the brilliance of Ms. Deer and Ms. Knight, and the fabulous assortment of actors they managed to collect, viewers have been given a program that showcases a part of Canada so rarely seen in such a positive light, and that anyone, regardless of your Mohawk Blood Quantum Number, can identify with on some level. Cannot wait for next season!

Let me know what you think will happen in season two in the comments.

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Review: Bridemaidzilla rampages on Mohawk Girls

Written by Carolyn Potts

… And reaching the penultimate episode of the season, Tracey Deer (creator, executive producer) and Cynthia Knight (executive producer) provide us viewers with a solid episode entitled “Bridesmaidzilla.” We start this installment with Zoe (Brittany Leborgne) now questioning her own mental health. She is still caught between a need to maintain her controlled good girl persona and the desire to let loose and submit. Her distress has now reached a point that she has sought the help of a counselor, albeit for a VERY short session.

Before we jump into the festivities celebrating Lollipop (Devery Jacobs) and Trumpet’s (Kevin Loring) impending nuptials, we are given what I call “the lesson of the week” for non-First Nations viewers. First we visit Anna (Maika Harper) at the university studying with a couple of her “white” classmates. As we have seen before, Anna is caught between cultures. She now represents the “Mohawks” instead of the “white girl with brown skin,” and she is now defending the very people who deny her her “Mohawk-ness.” This suggests an authenticity no doubt many people of mixed race can relate to. Anna again addresses a few of the more commonly held stereotypes of First Nations culture (the “rez” is scary, the oft times misconstrued history of scalping, and the need for FNMI people to “get over it and move on”). Then we pop in on Bailey (Jennifer Pudavick) who is out on yet another first date. This week’s challenger for the right to be Bailey’s prince is Rashid (Fajir Al-Kaisi), the gentleman she met speed dating during “Dating Mohawk Style” who is, ironically, from India. Deer and Knight also use this setting to briefly touch on a few more stereotypes: the despair commonly associated with life on the reserve, and the myth surrounding FNMI predisposition for alcoholism. By the way, Rashid fails to measure up. Bring on the next contestant!

Meanwhile, Lawrence Bayne returns as Caitlin’s father flying in from Stoney to attend Lollipop and Trumpet’s wedding. He has, it turns out, been in town for a couple days enjoying the bachelor parties and has not bothered to contact his only daughter Caitlin (Heather White). Caitlin’s disappointment in her father is once again clearly visible (I have to say that Heather White has, over the course of this premiere season, owned the most complexly crafted character of the show. Ms. White has this remarkable ability to suggest a bevy of emotions with a single glance that I feel many actors lack).

Finally the ceremony begins just in time for Zoe’s alter ego, Bridesmaidzilla, to take control. Her commanding nature sets the scene for the comic conflicts that so often occur at large family events. We have up until now only explored Zoe’s identity as a newly realized submissive. Now we finally come to realize why it is so hard for her to submit to this trait (I know, a bad pun). Zoe spends her time herding wedding guests throughout the festivities to ensure the perfectly orchestrated wedding. Sadly, her hard work is overshadowed by her need to control, and the wedding guests revolt against her bitchiness.

We return for a final look at Caitlin, once again left to make a silk purse from a sow’s ear. She is caught between her need to be loved, and the men in her life that seem incapable of giving her that love. Both her father and Butterhead (Meegwun Fairbrother) choose to continue their poker game, leaving Caitlin and Butterhead’s daughter (Kahsennonkwas Luna Berry Deer-Toelle) to dance the father-daughter dance together. Once again we can see Caitlin put aside her heartbreak and do her best, this time for the little girl she recognises in herself who was all too often disappointed by her father.

Meanwhile, Anna, who has been taunted all evening by yet another gaggle of competitive women vying for Thunder’s attention, decides to forgo her three-month waiting period. Team #Thana sneak off to do the deed.

We conclude with Zoe’s/Bridesmaidzilla’s meltdown. She explodes from the pressure her public and oh so proper, face has created. Unable to enjoy any part of the evening, she lashes out at the guests she tried so hard to please yet again. Regrettably, this devolves into the now cliché food-fight so often relied on for comic relief in these tension filled moments. It does however fit the storyline, and is appropriate for Zoe to do so, but I feel this bit was both predictable and ultimately detracted from an otherwise strong performance.

So, tell me what you think. Will Anna regret her impulsive decision to sleep with Thunder? How will Zoe recover from her public melt down? How will Caitlin cope with the betrayal of both of her men? Let me know in the comments.

Mohawk Girls airs Tuesdays at 9 and 9:30 p.m. ET on APTN.

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Review: Dating Mohawk Style on Mohawk Girls

Written by Carolyn Potts

“Dating Mohawk Style,” as the title suggests, is yet another 22 minutes that revolve around, you guessed it, dating. But wait! Hold onto your hats! I guarantee you have not seen a show quite like this one. Tracey Deer pushes the boundaries for primetime TV  in this installment and does so in hilarious fashion (I will, however, try to keep this summary PG).

We begin this lighthearted look at Mohawk relationships with Caitlin (Heather White) planning a candlelit evening for Butterhead (Meegwun Fairbrother). Sadly, he remains “Blockheaded Butterhead” and refuses her romantic overtures, leaving Caitlin to explore alternative solutions to her dilemma. Team Thana (Maika Harper & Kyle Nobess) follow up on last week’s “What’s Your Number” and lay the blood quantum system beast aside. Thunder agrees that there are failings within the system, and despite Anna’s 48.2% Mohawk blood, he finds her to be an incredible woman that he wishes to be with. Bailey (Jennifer Pudavick) is still without her prince and so Leon (Alain Chanoine) proposes that she attempt speed dating. Caitlin admits to the girls that she and Butterhead are currently not having relations which leads to Anna shocking the girls with her three-month rule. Meanwhile, Zoe (Brittany Leborgne) sets up her profile on AltMontreal.com, a fetish dating site.

Now that we are all caught up, dating advice flies from every direction. Danny (Jess Nobess), Caitlin’s assistant at the hair-shop, supplies her with his explicit instructions to ensure a man remains satisfied, and Caitlin gives Anna her five rules for Dating Mohawk Style (nothing terribly different from Non Mohawk Style but hilariously lampooned by Maika Harper and Kyle Nobess). Meanwhile, Zoe comes to learn the rules of a proper submissive partner from one of her many interested potential Doms.

The subplot in this episode (and our weekly lesson on Mohawk culture from Tracey Deer) involves Anna and Thunder. Anna is still fighting to fit in (an interesting use of the punching bag as a reinforcement of her struggle). She is reminded time and again that she is different, and more precisely, an outsider. This time Deer employs the Thana storyline to demonstrate there are many ways to be Mohawk. The blood number is not the only means, nor is behaviour. Reverse racism exists. The phrase, “No one can possibly know what it is like to be a Mohawk unless you grew up here,” is the commonly held attitude that our Anna is fighting to overcome in her quest to belong.

Which brings us to the climax of the show (pun intended). Following Danny’s advice, and desperate for some action from Butterhead, Caitlin coordinates an evening involving both Butterhead and bestie Zoe. Zoe and Butterhead share some of their more intimate secrets as Caitlin keeps the drinks flowing. Her plans for a “healthy compromise” do however go awry, and the evening ends abruptly as her victims recoil in disgust (I simply adored Meegwun Fairbrother’s facial expressions in this scene!), leaving Caitlin alone once again.

Will Thunder and Anna be able to iron out their cultural differences? Will anyone discover Zoe’s unconventional persona? What is in store for Butterhead and Caitlin? Can Bailey ever find her prince? Let me know in the comments below!

Mohawk Girls airs Tuesdays at 9 and 9:30 p.m. ET on APTN.

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