From Greg David of TV Guide Canada:
‘Cracked’: CBC’s psych drama heads in a new direction
At its core Cracked is still the same series — a gritty melding of traditional police procedural and exploration into the human mind — with David Sutcliffe reprising his lead role as Det. Sgt. Aidan Black. Dayo Ade returns as psychiatric nurse Leo Beckett, Luisa d’Oliveira is back as Det. Poppy Wisnefski and Karen LeBlanc checks in as Insp. Diana Caligra. Continue reading.
Murdoch Mysteries, CBC – “Murdoch Ahoy”
Murdoch investigates the disappearance of a ship magnate’s daughter and the discovery of a body aboard a ship on its inaugural Victoria Day voyage.
Cracked, CBC – “Swans”
After a masked gunman kidnaps a young woman from a locked psych ward, it becomes clear that the case is more complicated than it looks. Psych Crimes needs help from a new psychiatrist, Dr. Clara Malone (Brooke Nevin), before things spiral out of control in this thrilling tale of love on the run. Guest stars: Kacey Rohl, Stephen McHattie, Sebastian Pigott, Nicole De Boer, Rob Stewart.
Package Deal, City – “The Dinner”
Danny (Randal Edwards, The Killing) believes he’s found the perfect girl and Kim (Julia Voth, Bitch Slap) thinks she’s found the perfect guy, but things go awry when Danny introduces Kim to his intrusive brothers – Sheldon (Harland Williams, There’s Something About Mary) and Ryan (Jay Malone, Monk). As their meddling threatens to derail his relationship, Danny seeks advice and counsel from his favourite client, McKenzie (guest star Eugene Levy, American Pie) – who knows a lot about love since he’s on trial for murdering his wife. Realizing that Danny really cares about Kim, Sheldon and Ryan finally convince her to accept the fact that he’s already committed to his brothers, who come as part of a “package deal.â€
Project: Guatemala, OLN and City – “The Hazingâ€
Tensions run high within the group as they begin to miss family and the modern conveniences of home. Later, the campers turn on each other and one individual threatens to leave the goodwill mission.
From Andrea Gordon of the Toronto Star:
Cracked star David Sutcliffe on how therapy helps him play a cop with mental health issues
Actor David Sutcliffe, who plays him on the CrackedCBC show Cracked, brings something a little unusual to the tormented cop who investigates cases on the psych crimes unit: his own experience with therapy. And not just being in therapy like most of Hollywood, but on the other side. Sutcliffe is a trained therapist — called a facilitator — of a mind-body psychotherapy known as core energetics. Not only has he plumbed his own darkest fears and feelings, he also has experience helping others do the same. Continue reading.
From John Doyle of the Globe and Mail:
This slick Canadian comedy is only slightly funny
Package Deal (CITY-TV, 8:30 p.m.) is a sitcom that arrives after considerable delay. The series got some promotional backing from Rogers, owner of the CITY channel, and was announced for an early May start, but then was postponed to June. What happened in June was only a sneak-peek look at the pilot. Now, at last, the series starts tonight. Continue reading.
From Alex Strachan of Postmedia:
Inspector Murdoch at sea in Murdoch Mysteries season premiere
Intrepid Inspector Murdoch is at sea, metaphorically and literally (well, a lake), when Murdoch Mysteries returns for a seventh season Monday. A prominent shipping magnate has received a threat aboard a steamer, the S.S. Keewatin, during is its maiden voyage on Lake Ontario, on Victoria Day no less, and avowed landlubber Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) must shake out his sea legs and calm his queasy stomach to get to the bottom of the mystery. He’s still recovering from his emotional separation from Julia Ogden (Héléne Joy), and he hopes the new mystery will take his mind off recent events, if only temporarily. Continue reading.
From Ed Conroy of BlogTO:
That time when Murdoch Mysteries went to sea
Murdoch Mysteries kicks off its new season on Monday night with a salty sea-bound whodunit that not only showcases how polished this homegrown chestnut has become during its seven years on air, but also serves up a slice of legit historical Canadian rolled gold – the S.S. Keewatin, last of the great lakes passenger steamships. Continue reading.