Preview: Coroner returns with fresh bodies, renewed energy for Season 4

January 5, 2022 A.R. Wilson 3 Comments

Coroner may be a crime/medical procedural, but its primary focus has always been on Jenny Cooper’s (Serinda Swan) personal mental health journey as she struggles with grief, childhood trauma and anxiety. That journey takes a turn—and the series gets an infusion of energy—in Season 4, kicking off Thursday at 8 p.m. on CBC.

In “Emerge,” written by new showrunner Adriana Maggs (Pretty Hard Cases), Jenny is still reeling from the shocking loss of Liam (Eric Bruneau) in the Season 3 finale. On a sabbatical from work, she’s holed up in an Airbnb trailer on a rural farm, growing a garden and trying to take a break from all things death-related. She keeps in close contact with Ross (Ehrem Kassam), who is at home caring for Gordon (Nicholas Campbell) with the help of her recently resurfaced mom Peggy (Jennifer Dale), but is clearly in no hurry to return to the chaos of her life.

Back in Toronto, Detective McAvoy (Roger Cross) is facing the opposite situation. After taking four months off to recover from his spinal surgery, he’s back at work and eager to prove he’s up to the job, especially to his partner Malik (Andy McQueen) and girlfriend Kirima (Sarah Podemski). Meanwhile, at the coroner’s office, rulebook-thumping replacement coroner Dr. Elijah Thompson (Thom Allison) is making life difficult for Jenny’s staff, who can’t wait for her to come back.

Just as we can count on Jenny having a new hairstyle each season (spoiler: it’s longer now), we know that a new case—probably one in the quiet community she’s seeking refuge in—will soon have her conducting post-mortems again. However, things are not quite business as usual once Jenny gets her groove back; altered relationship dynamics and fresh faces bring new vitality and direction to the series.

Liam’s death upends Jenny’s healing process in unexpected ways, letting the writers and Swan dig into the confusing layers of compounded grief and survivor’s guilt, subjects TV procedurals rarely make time for. In addition, both Dale and Allison turn in great performances as they shake up Jenny’s world at home and at work; and McAvoy’s reaction to his health scare provides some early twists, adding new shades to his partnership with Malik and giving Cross more opportunities to shine. Overall, the series feels refreshed and like it has a lot more to say, which is quite an accomplishment for a fourth-year drama about death.

Coroner airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on CBC and CBC Gem.

Image courtesy of CBC.

Son of a Critch

Links: Son of a Critch, Season 1

January 4, 2022 Greg David

From Stephen Cooke of Saltwire:

Link: New East Coast television series mines a Critch vein of warm family comedy
It was like a jovial family reunion broke out during a Zoom call to discuss the new Newfoundland-shot comedy series Son of a Critch, and it was hard not to get steamrolled a bit by the whole affair. Continue reading.

From Anne Brodie of What She Said Talk:

Link: The Son of a Critch shares his journey from boyhood to Canadian comedy icon
Mark Critch’s wonderfully wild and on-point humour has elevated CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes since 2013 and he remains a treasure there to this day, in Season 29. Critch has his own comedy series now! Continue reading.

From Tatiana Hullender of Screenrant:

Link: Mark Critch, Malcolm McDowell & Benjamin Evan Ainsworth Interview: Son Of A Critch
When comedian, writer and actor Mark Critch sat down to pen his memoir, Son of a Critch, he had little idea it would become its own comedy series. Continue reading.

From Sadaf Ahsan of the The Canadian Press:

Link: Comic Mark Critch on reliving childhood in his father’s shoes in ‘Son of a Critch’
Comedian Mark Critch is reliving his childhood for all to see in the new TV series “Son of a Critch” – but he’s doing it in his father’s shoes this time around. Continue reading.

From Bill Brioux of Brioux.tv:

Link: Son of a Critch is an East Coast Conners meets The Wonder Years
Watching the first two episodes of Son of a Critch brought me right back to the first time I saw The Wonder Years, the original, ABC version which premiered in 1988. Continue reading.

From Tara Bradbury of Saltwire:

Link: Did Mark Critch’s brother witness a would-be murder in St. John’s? Family lore will come to life this season on ‘Son of a Critch’
There was a Sunday evening, growing up in the boonies of Kenmount Road near the VOCM station, when Mike Critch Jr. may or may not have witnessed the aftermath of a murder. Continue reading.

From Steve Norton of Screenfish:

Link: Son of a Critch: Memories are Made of Critch
They say you can never truly go home again. But can you feel welcome revisiting someone else’s home? Continue reading.

From Bill Brioux of the Toronto Star:

Link: ‘Holy crap! That’s Malcolm McDowell!’ How the acting legend ended up on CBC’s ‘Son of a Critch’
Malcolm McDowell made quite an entrance when the new CBC sitcom “Son of a Critch” premiered earlier this month. Continue reading.

Transplant

Links: Transplant, Season 2

January 3, 2022 Greg David

From Debra Yeo of the Toronto Star:

Link: ‘This is so juicy’: The cast of Canadian hospital TV series ‘Transplant’ talks Season 2
“This is also an inherently Canadian story in that he’s trying to find his way here in this country, and not only the benefits here but the challenges here.” Continue reading.

From Bill Brioux of Brioux.tv:

Link: BriouxTV: The Podcast – Hamza Haq
When he was nine years old, Hamza Haq’s parents immigrated from Saudi Arabia to Ottawa. The young lad quickly acclimatized to Canadian culture. He turned on the TV and started rooting for WWE heroes such as The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin and many others. Continue reading.

Featured, Pretty Hard Cases

Preview: Sam and Kelly are back for more Pretty Hard Cases

January 3, 2022 Greg David

In the Season 1 finale of Pretty Hard Cases, Detectives Sam (Meredith MacNeill) and Kelly (Adrienne C. Moore) had wrapped up a massive drug bust and collared big bad Bill (played to perfection by Kim Coates) in the process. And, rather than seeing the pair split up, Kelly was set to join Guns and Gangs meaning—Sam hoped—they would become partners.

That’s exactly what happened, we learn when Pretty Hard Cases returns Wednesday at 9 p.m. on CBC.

In “Pencil Skirts,” written by series co-creator Sherry White, Sam and Kelly take their partnership to new heights when they go undercover as flight attendants to infiltrate a Central American gang’s drug route.

As with the first season of Pretty Hard Cases, the camaraderie between Sam and Kelly is the hook. And, now that they’re partners, that chemistry is even better. As with most second (and third, and fourth, etc.) seasons of a show, the characters are established and the writing is tighter, meaning a smoother ride. Not that Pretty Hard Cases was rough out of the gate, but there’s a groove in Wednesday’s return instalment that is palpable.

There are also some tantalizing peeks at upcoming themes in Season 2. Kelly’s lunch date off the top of “Pencil Skirts” with her estranged sisters hints she’ll be questioning her past relationship decisions and what motherhood might mean to her, Sam and Naz’s relationship moves to a tentative (and, as expected, awkward) next level, and the addition of Rookie Blue‘s Ben Bass as the cost-cutting DS Brad Michaels and Sonja Smits as Sam’s mom, Judy, promise to add verve.

Pretty Hard Cases airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on CBC and CBC Gem.

Image courtesy of CBC.

Featured, Workin' Moms

Preview: Workin’ Moms’ Kate struggles in Season 6 return

January 2, 2022 Greg David

Workin’ Moms continues to work it, six seasons in. The story of female friends supporting each other through the trials and tribulations of life has been a truly enjoyable one, thanks to strong writing and performances from everyone involved.

However, I was concerned coming into Season 6. Returning Tuesday at 9 p.m. on CBC, this would be the first without Juno Rinaldi, who announced in September that she had exited Workin’ Moms. Would there be a massive hole in plotlines where Frankie used to be?

Well, no, because there were plenty of storylines to go around for everyone else. When we last left the show, the Season 5 cliffhanger suggested Nathan had a son no one knew about and Kate and Sloane’s relationship had come to a disastrous head.

In Tuesday’s return, “Kate Fosters,” Nathan and Kate are struggling with the realization Nathan may actually be Nathan’s son. How will he fit into the family dynamic? Does he fit into the family dynamic? Is Nathan really Nathan’s kid? A DNA test will confirm it, but the physical characteristics they’re showing have Kate convinced, particularly during a spaghetti dinner that is equally cringy and laugh-out-loud funny.

The office isn’t a respite for Kate either. Sloane’s mind games derail a meeting with a potential client, while Mo is raking them in.

By the episode’s end, things seem to be slowly getting back on track, but I have a feeling things won’t be any easier in the weeks to come for Kate. I look forward to finding out how things shake out for her, and the other ladies, in Season 6.

Workin’ Moms airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on CBC and CBC Gem.

Image courtesy of CBC.