Everything about Pure, eh?

Comments and queries for the week of February 10

Why, oh why, is the History Channel constantly showing repeats of Canadian Pickers, especially during the day? So annoying. —Christina


While Pure started off really REALLY hokey (Ep. 1 and 2), it has now settled into a super show with great cliffhangers (so far Ep 3 and 5 have knocked it out of the park with fantastic writing and cliffhangers). With one more episode to go, I now can’t wait to see how this ends. I’m not sure how they will end it, (and by the time I am writing this, it’s already finalized how it ends). However, I hope that it has such a great cliffhanger that it lends itself to a second season (if CBC runs with it again). The potential of further material to do more seasons on this premise is huge—as I’ve researched some of this stuff in the past—and I can see more future in this show.

When I first heard about this production in 2016, I was so curious how this show would go, and I have now been totally blown away by the cast, directing, writing and creativity.

Thanks, CBC, for having the guts to go with this show. —Dale

I love the timeslot for Pure in Ontario. It comes right after the Murdoch Mysteries which I love. Pure is great, love it! I look forward to Mondays where I can watch it! —Rolfe

Pure (CBC) is a phenomenal show which is so well cast that it stands head & shoulders above the rest. Hoping for more next year! —Sandra

 

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

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Pure: Plots, plans and power plays

With just two episodes left, Season 1 of Pure is headed for a dramatic conclusion. Gerry Epp (the always great Patrick Garrow) has vowed to “hurt” Noah now that he’s out of jail, Eli Voss continues to evade Noah and Bronco’s plan and Tina (Jessica Clement) has discovered what’s really going on with her mother and father.

CBC has said the following about Monday’s new episode, “Communion”:

Noah’s attempt to trap Voss backfires when the Mob leader uses the ruse to turn the tables on his nemesis DEA Special Agent Phoebe O’Reilly (Rosie Perez).
Here’s what we can tell you after watching a screener.
Kudos to the supporting players
Dylan Taylor, Gord Rand, Aaron Hale, Clement and Dylan Everett don’t get top billing, but without them Pure would be one-dimensional. Joey Epp (Taylor) questioning his decisions, Abel Funk (Rand) trying to shake his demons and prove his worth, Ben Novak (Hale) attempting a relationship with Tina, Tina swapping between worlds and Isaac Funk (Everett) proclaiming his strong faith have been fantastic stories to experience.
Gerry wants back in the game
Infuriated at being benched, Gerry is out and plots his revenge on Noah. Our only question is: will Joey let it happen? Joey seems to be wavering on whether or not he wants to be part of the criminal enterprise anymore. Will he betray Gerry and support Noah?
Road trip for Noah, Abel and Bronco
The brothers fly down to Mexico to show Eli how to get cocaine out of milk while Bronco plots to wire them for sound in order to get evidence on Voss. With all of the bad luck Noah has been having, he desperately needs a win. Will it happen in a warmer climate?
Phoebe O’Reilly joins the party
After weeks of phone conversations, O’Reilly (Rosie Perez) is featured heavily on Monday night, organizing the jaunt to Mexico. Perez is perfect as the soft-spoken DEA agent intent on taking Eli down.
Noah and Eli face off
During our set visit to Pure, Ryan Robbins told us he was in awe of working with Peter Outerbridge, particularly during one scene. Now we’re in awe too.
Pure airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Pure explores life, death and tainted dairy in “Funeral”

Wow, I can’t believe Eli Voss hasn’t just dispatched Noah Funk and found another community member to handle things. It really has been a comedy of errors for Noah, who went from learning how a cell phone works to pulling the drug-filled, cheese-filled plane out of the lake and then facing off against Mr. Crowbar and his cronies.

By the end of last week’s episode, Crowbar had been taken care of—in bloody fashion, we might add—opening the door for Noah to continue with his task.

Here’s CBC’s episode synopsis for, “Funeral,” Monday’s new episode:

Noah and Anna must find a way to dispose of four dead bodies at the same time as they devise a trap for Eli Voss.
And here’s what else we can tell you after watching a screener:

Pure‘s cinematography is beautiful
We’ve been meaning to say this since Episode 1: Ken Girotti’s colour palette and framing of shots is incredible. He’s taken advantage of big skies to show the connection—or perhaps severing?—between Heaven and the land. Noah is plotting to take down the sinners … will he get closer to Heaven as a result?

Bronco is the best
I love this cast, but A.J. Buckley is a hoot as Bronco. From his high school football rings and pornstache to his quips (“Is he praying?! We don’t have time to pray!”), Bronco is an entertaining hombre. We’re loving his evolution from laughingstock to serious cop. Also? Buckley and his friend, Artie, have created a seriously awesome line of diaper bags.

Trailer Park Boys cast member alert!
Viewers probably picked up on this in Week 1, but that’s Trailer Park Boys‘ Cory Bowles portraying Bronco’s partner, Jay. Bowles just wrapped filming of his feature film, Black Cop, in Halifax.

It’s a matter of trust
Trust is front and centre in Monday’s episode. Can Abel, Anna and Noah trust Bronco? Can Bronco rely on them for support as things get progressively more complicated and bloody? And, while we’re at it, can Bronco trust Jay?

Half-baked ideas
Bronco has a unique solution to getting the cocaine across the border into the U.S.

Pure airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Image courtesy of CBC.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Link: A Conversation with ‘Pure’ Star Alex Paxton-Beesley

From Melissa Girimonte of The Televixen:

Link: A Conversation with ‘Pure’ Star Alex Paxton-Beesley
“If it was about keeping the children alive, Anna would leave. She’d leave if it was life or death. She would fight pretty hard for her community at large, but at the end of the day, her number one priority is her children and her husband, and that family unit. She would do whatever it takes to keep them safe.” Continue reading. 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Link: Pure, Schitt: CBC starts 2017 off with ye bang

From Bill Brioux:

Pure, Schitt: CBC starts 2017 off with ye bang
It’s new year, Jacob, so walk away from ye (snow) plow; CBC has a barn full of new TV shows comin’ atcha. This week is especially big with the premiere of the Menonnite drug drama Pure Monday at 9 p.m. ET/PT. That’s followed Tuesday by the third season premiere of the hit comedy Schitt’s Creek and the series debut of Workin’ Mom’s; then it’s the third and final season of X Company Wednesday. Michael Every Day, the Lazarus-like re-boot of Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays, premieres Sun., Jan. 15. Continue reading.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail