Everything about Remedy, eh?

Global cancels Remedy after two seasons

Showrunner Greg Spottiswood’s tweet killed fan hope that Remedy, Global’s middling-rated hospital drama, would be back for a third season. The series starred Dillon Casey and Enrico Colantoni as father and son doctors, as well as Sara Canning, Sarah Allen, Genelle Williams, Niall Matter, Diego Fuentes and Patrick McKenna .

The double-episode season ender aired this past Tuesday rather than the series’ usual Monday timeslot — perhaps a sign Global wasn’t going to try nurturing it into higher ratings.

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Review: Remedy closes out Season 2 with hope

For me, the single most dramatic moment of Remedy‘s two episode second season finale wasn’t the shocking conclusion to the first hour, when Sandy had been hit head-on by a truck while driving around Toronto looking for Griffin, or the subsequent roller coaster surgery on her leg. It was that quiet scene between Griffin and Allen in the hospital chapel, a respite from the insanity of the world around them. And the perfect place for Allen to seek confession from his son.

“You don’t have to be a doctor. You don’t have to be anything. I’ll still love you, OK?” Allen said to Griffin during those spare minutes, tears in his eyes. Neither man knew then if Sandy’s leg would be saved by Dr. Jake (with help from Sam and Mel), but Allen took the first important steps to mending their fractured relationship. Congratulations to Dillon Casey, Enrico Colantoni, the episode’s writers, John Callaghan and Greg Spottiswood and director David Frazee for a scene that oozed emotion via body language, facial expressions and soft dialogue.

“Fight or Flight” began the night by serving as a set-up to the season finale, “Day One,” in several ways, the key being Cutler and Mel’s impending outbound flight to Dallas and Griffin’s drop further down the mineshaft of addiction. An attempted intervention for him held by Allen, Sandy, Zoe, Mel and Rebecca had the results I expected—Griff bolted after saying he’d go into rehab—and by nightfall he was literally teetering on the edge of an apartment building.

Which led to this:

Remedy_finale

And then this:

“I’m quitting. Today. I promise,” Griffin told Allen while Sandy was in surgery.

“And all it took was your sister being hit by a truck?” Allen responded.

Seeing the sister he could always rely on to support him like that shook Griffin to his core, especially when she told him post-surgery she already had one baby to take care of and couldn’t play mother to him anymore. That, paired with the time in the chapel with Allen, confirmed he needed to get better and for that he had to get away from his family. The final scene, where he, Frank, PJ and Bruno took a road trip to the Guelph rehab centre was a bro moment and established to Griffin that those three dudes would be there for him when he gets out.

Oh, and Mel is staying at Bethune. No surprise, though the news Cutler is sticking around too was.

Notes and quotes

  • Nurse Patel busting Cutler’s balls for leaving was fantastic. I laughed out loud at her having him paged as Dr. Quitter and scaring him by pretending to be a dead patient.
  • “We can just drive and eat and be miserable. You know, like a proper family.” — Rebecca
  • “Righty-tighty, lefty-loosy.” I hope someone comes up with an excuse to keep Jake around.
  • Did anyone else channel Forrest Gump when Allen took that bite of a chocolate?
  • Those Remedy folks sure come up with interesting ailments to spotlight. I was surprised to discover (via Google of course) that Kleine-Levin Syndrome or “Sleeping Beauty” syndrome really exists.
  • It was great to see Flashpoint‘s Michael Cram drop by for a guest gig on Remedy. Can we book Sergio Di Zio for Season 3?

What did you think of Season 2 of Remedy? Comment below or via @tv_eh.

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Tonight: Remedy, Illusions of Grandeur, Escape or Die

Remedy, Global – “Fight or Flight” and “Day One”
Mel and Cutler are slated to catch a flight to Dallas to plan their future there when Griff’s alarming behaviour holds them back. Sandy insists the Conners address Griff’s drug problem immediately as a family, despite warning signs that suggest they should utilize professional help. Meanwhile, Mel duels with her replacement, Dr. Jake Reuben, over the care of her cherished high school English teacher, and Cutler identifies a patient with critical symptoms that a distracted Allen has missed.

Then, in episode “Day One”, Sandy is in critical condition following a car accident on her way to find an unstable Griffin. Zoe tracks down a messed up Griff and peels him off the roof, but when she cleans him up and brings him into Beth-H to see Sandy, Allen is livid. Mel pressures Jake and Dr. Bernstein to deliver the best medical care possible to Sandy, and Cutler tries to help a family whose son is displaying bizarre and troubling behaviour. Through the darkness Allen and Griff are able to reach a measure of understanding, and Griffin ultimately turns to his downstairs family for help.

Illusions of Grandeur, OLN – “Chicago”
Zack visits Chicago, once America’s magic mecca. He soon discovers that magic is still alive and well in Chi-town, when he finds a magician who has performed at the same pub for 40 years, and an auction of Houdini collectibles which sell for a small fortune. Finally, Zack attempts an impressive feat of mentalism in the heart of the city.

Escape or Die, OLN – “Man vs. Machine Escape”
Dean returns home to icy Winnipeg and his nemesis the Red River. Over 30 years ago, Dean had a near-fatal escape here and is back to face the river again. Chained to two massive ice-resurfacer machines trying to pull him apart, he has 60 seconds to escape his restraints or be left in pieces on the icy river.

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Review: Broken hearts and ruined plans on Remedy

“You’re not alone, Griffin. You’re not alone.” Unfortunately, Allen’s cell phone plea fell on deaf ears. Last week I wondered just how far Griff could fall; if he goes any further Dillon Casey will be looking for another gig because Griffin is going to be dead.

By the time “Looking for Satellites” concluded, Griff had lied to Sandy, taken $1,000 of her money and bought coke with it. His face dusted with blow, he sat in a drugged-out haze in the apartment. I complained last week about Griff’s actions because I genuinely want him to succeed and kick the habit. Mirroring real life, it’s clear showrunner Greg Spottiswood isn’t going to do that with Griff this year. With just two more episodes left in the season, no epiphany is going to save Griff. I can only hope he doesn’t die.

Allen, meanwhile, did everything he could to get his son’s job back. He succeeded—and scored a tasty-looking omelette to boot—by threatening to let Frank’s job be eliminated, but he got the job done. But I fear it was all in vain. Griff has no interest in listening to Mel or Allen or in working at Bethune.

Monday’s new episode of Remedy wasn’t all about Griffin. Mel was waffling over her decision to move to Dallas with Cutler and it looked like she might not end up going … until EMT Nicole Foster (Kate Hewlett, The Stanley Dynamic and Stargate: Atlantis) walked into the ER looking to see the body of her dead wife, cop Stephanie. The sorrow in Nicole’s voice as she recounted how she and Stephanie met gave me a lump in my throat. I admit things got a little dusty on my couch when Nicole collapsed of a literal broken heart. That close call was enough to strengthen Mel’s resolve—and feelings for Cutler—and finalize her plans to move away.

The season is coming to an end, Remedy fans. Will Griffin die? Will Mel really move to Dallas? Sandy will find out about Griffin’s lie; will she forgive him?

Notes and quotes

  • “All my everything turned upside down.” Nicole with a perfect way to describe love.
  • “You’ve seen my face. Beauty rest. It’s the only shot I’ve got Conner.” Gotta love Sam.
  • “You’re too wild. Too alive.” Ooo, Marla.
  • “He has a vision. It involves a fertility clinic and a stripper.” Can Hugh hang out with Griffin every week?
  • Did Jerry really think kissing Mel would win her back? I just felt badly for the dude.
  • Lanagan Pike? Just where do the Remedy writers come up with these cool names?

Remedy‘s two-hour season finale airs Tuesday, May 19, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Global.

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Tonight: Big Brother Canada, Remedy

Big Brother Canada, Global
One houseguest will win the coveted Power of Veto—the ability to veto a nominee up for eviction!

Remedy, Global – “Looking for Satellites”
When a police officer is killed chasing an urban explorer through an abandoned factory, Mel fights to save her wife – EMT Nicole Foster – who suffers a dangerous reaction to the devastating loss. Griffin reconnects with his old partner-in-crime Hugh, and together they set off in search of Griff’s ex-girlfriend Natasha. But when Griff finally tracks her down, it isn’t quite the joyous reunion he was hoping for. Allen pressures Kanaskie to get Griff’s job back, and Cutler tries to protect the urban explorer from overzealous cops he believes are out for revenge.

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