From Bill Harris:
Usually at this time of year if we’re talking about the Arctic, we’re imagining a bearded fat man in a bright red suit, or a reindeer with a strangely shiny nose.
But The Polar Sea is not about Santa or Rudolph, unless I really missed something. Rather, it’s an ambitious 10-part documentary series focusing on a self-proclaimed “Arctic hitchhikerâ€Â who is endeavoring to sail through the legendary Northwest Passage. Continue reading.Â
I’ve always been fascinated with the search for the Northwest Passage. From Shackleton to Franklin, to those who didn’t make the history books, I’ve read countless depictions of the unforgiving terrain and weather. So I was thrilled–and had high expectations–when screeners for The Polar Sea came across my desk.
Those expectations were filled. This gorgeous, 10-part peek at human, animal and plant life in the north–as well as access to traveling the Northwest Passage–is incredible. Narrated by Gordon Pinsent and airing from Dec. 1 to 12 on TVO, The Polar Sea kicks off by explaining that global warming has advanced to the point the  ever-elusive Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic is now open to traffic both tourist and business. Viewers are first introduced to Richard Tegnér, a Swedish architect and father of two who sets sail in a 9.5-metre sailboat named DAX together with his friends Martin Sigge and Bengt Norvik. Full of excitement, the trio make good time in their first part of their journey to Greenland before technical difficulties cause some delays. Richard marvels not only at how those early English expeditions stocked their war ships to the brim with three years worth of supplies while his trio did one traverse in just four days but at how those teams dealt with close quarters between over 100 men.
The journey Richard and his friends make are juxtaposed between two other ships attempting the same journey–a catamaran filled with a family and a high-end cruise ship packed with wealthy tourists. Some of the best footage in The Polar Sea is the jumping back and forth among the three boats illustrating the challenges faced by all on board them.
The Polar Sea isn’t just a triptych, however. Whole chunks of chapters are devoted to the scientists, biologists, geologists and researchers from around the world who are conducting studies across the Northwest Passage and Arctic, measuring the effects of climate change on glaciers, water levels and land. Dr. Shfaqat Abbas Khan, senior researcher at the National Space Institute in Denmark, for instance, illustrates how Greenland’s melting glaciers are actually causing the whole of the country to grow in height because the weight of the ice is no longer compacting the land. Yes, you read that right. The Polar Sea is packed with “holy crap” information segments–not to mention gripping views of glaciers–that are worth tuning in for.
TVO’s plan of getting the show out to as many viewers as possible isn’t confined to Ontario. The whole series is available on the network’s website on Monday while an accompanying website offers a stunning 360-degree view of the Arctic through the eyes of the Inuit and an online magazine is full of journal entries from those featured in the broadcast.
The Polar Sea debuts Monday at 9 p.m. on TVO and is available to the rest of Canada via the network’s website.
W5, CTV – “Hands of God” and “King of the Dinosaurs”
He claims to have the power of God and to be able to heal the sick. For one family that proved tragic. Not only that he was twice convicted for sexual assault. This faith healer was barred from treating any more patients. And now W5’s hidden cameras catch him back at it. Plus, the passion of Phil Currie: W5 digs into the distant past to find a world of dinosaurs with one of Canada’s most prominent experts.
From Michael Oliveira of the Globe and Mail:
The Polar Sea documentary looks to snag viewers with new technology
It’s a 10-part TV documentary series, an interactive Web doc, an online magazine and a virtual-reality experiment. The producers behind The Polar Sea, which follows a trio of middle-aged amateur sailors on an ambitious and arduous voyage through the Northwest Passage, don’t really care how people experience their investigation into climate change in the Arctic. But they are proud that the main attraction, the television documentary, is getting so much airtime. Continue reading.
From a media release:
SHOWCASE ANNOUNCES MONSTER-SIZED SLATE OF GUEST STARS FOR LOST GIRL’S FINAL SEASON
Ahead of Lost Girl’s epic return, Showcase announces fresh faces joining the Fae family and raising the stakes for the series’ dramatic final season. The previously unannounced guest stars joining the cast for a fond and ferocious #Faewell include Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight, The Expendables), Luke Bilyk (My Babysitter’s a Vampire, Degrassi: The Next Generation), Noam Jenkins (Covert Affairs, Rookie Blue, Longmire), Amanda Walsh (Two and a Half Men, NCIS, Grimm) and Shanice Banton (Degrassi: The Next Generation, A Day Late and a Dollar Short). The first eight episodes of Lost Girl’s fifth and final season begin Sunday, December 7 at 9pm ET/PT.
Lost Girl follows supernatural seductress Bo (Anna Silk), the kickass, loveable succubus who feeds off sexual energy. Since realizing she is part of the Fae, creatures of legend and folklore who live among humans, Bo has forged her own path between the human and Fae worlds, while embarking on a mission to unlock the secrets of her origin.
In season five, Bo’s determination to do the impossible for the people she loves triggers an explosive chain of events that will play out over the final episodes. Bo discovers that love is not always enough to keep a family together as she and her friends face an enemy unlike any they’ve faced before. In the season premiere “Like Hell Part 1,†Bo goes to hell and back to rescue a friend while Tamsin (Rachel Skarsten) faces a foe from her past.
Kris Holden-Ried (The Tudors, Underworld: Awakening) returns as Light Fae shape-shifter Dyson; 2014 CSA Fan Choice Award for Favourite Canadian Screen Star winner Zoie Palmer (The Guard, Instant Star) as human doctor Lauren; Skarsten (The Vow, Flashpoint) as Tamsin, the reborn Valkyrie warrior; Rick Howland (Billable Hours, Murdoch Mysteries) as Bo’s ancient and secretive grandfather Trick; Paul Amos (Bastards, Captain Canuck) as the devious Dark Fae Mesmer Vex; and Emmanuelle Vaugier (Two and a Half Men, Smallville) as the Morrigan, the sultry leader of the Dark Fae.
