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Featured, Frankie Drake Mysteries

Preview: Frankie Drake Mysteries says goodbye to magical Season 2

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Say it isn’t so! Season 2 of Frankie Drake Mysteries has come to an end already? I’m sad, but what a ride it’s been. I’ve enjoyed this sophomore set of 10 episodes under new showrunner James Hurst. Interesting cases, killer guest cast in folks like Natalie Brown and Anthony Lemke and lead character advancement has been a joy. Seeing Mary has been a particular treat; new we need to learn more about Flo.

On Monday, it’s the second season finale. Here’s what the CBC has revealed about “Now You See Her,” written by James Hurst and directed by Ruba Nadda.

When a magician’s assistant is killed, Frankie goes undercover to find the culprit. But can she see clearly through the smoke and mirrors?

And, for the last time this year, my thoughts after watching a screener.

The magic man
Saving Hope and Burden of Truth fans will be happy to see Benjamin Ayres appear in Monday’s season finale as Ben Sellers, a magician who is key to the case. Other guest cast include Timothy Dowler-Coltman, Amy Groening, Raoul Bhaneja, Mishka Thébaud and Murdoch Mysteries fan favourite Nigel Bennett.

Trudy’s in charge
With Frankie going undercover, her right-hand woman steps into the lead investigator role. It’s a great opportunity for Trudy to show her stuff and progression as a sleuth. As for Mary? Well, magicians aren’t her favourite thing. Kind of like me when it comes to clowns.

Frankie Drake Mysteries airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

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Featured

Comments and queries for the week of November 23

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Please tell me that these possible murderers [on Canada’s Worst Driver] are never allowed to drive on the road. None of these drivers should be allowed to drive, ever. The commercials for this show are sickening enough, much less any episodes. The thought that these people exist and are willing to show how dangerous they are is mind-boggling. —B. Stanford

The Bob Sher [Murdoch Mysteries] piece was so interesting or, as Julia would say, fascinating! I especially enjoyed the info about covering parking meters, road lines and the colour palettes! Thanks for sharing!! —Linda

Can this dreadful website just get it over with and rename itself the “Murdoch Mysteries Fan-page?” Seriously, is this even journalism, or just nonsensical interviews about the aforementioned, and the less impressive Frankie Drake Mysteries (which would be taking no great stretch to rename itself “The Great Missed Opportunity.”) Honestly, this website really needs to start pulling its punches and discussing other Canadian TV shows, or at the very least looking at the ones it does under a more critical lens, lest it fall even further into sycophantic drivel that is already is! Shame! —Gary

Hey Gary, thanks for your comment. We’ll be covering a bunch of new and returning shows next month and in January. Look for Kim’s Convenience, Schitt’s Creek, Burden of Truth, Frontier and Travelers, just to name a few. We recently covered the first season of Bletchley Circle and Season 2 of Bad Blood. You’re not a fan of Murdoch and Frankie Drake, but a lot of folks are and come to this site to get exclusive interviews and information on both. —GD

I’m hoping the success of Bad Blood will be a wake-up call to Citytv to not keep showing the American schlock on their station, and to invest in Canadian content more often. Our stories are great, our talent is amazing. Let’s continue to show the world who we are. —Mel

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

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Amazing Race Canada

Seventh Season of Hit Series The Amazing Race Canada set to air on CTV in Summer 2019; casting now open

From a media release:

Following a heroic sixth season finale this past September, host Jon Montgomery announced today that the adventure continues as CTV has renewed THE AMAZING RACE CANADA for a seventh season to air next summer. The announcement sets the stage to welcome an all-new cast of racers to the starting line, as they push themselves out of their comfort zones in a non-stop, action-packed race. The most-watched Canadian series of the year, THE AMAZING RACE CANADA is currently available for customized and wholly integrated brand partnership opportunities.

THE AMAZING RACE CANADA is looking for new teams with a story to share about what has given them the confidence to take on an amazing adventure. Fans and aspiring racers with stories of strength, determination, and perseverance are invited to pair up with someone they know – a friend, sibling, parent, partner, or anyone else they share a relationship with – and submit an audition for the opportunity to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime expedition.

The submission deadline is January 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET. For all casting details and updates, including instructions on how to submit an audition video, viewers can visit CTV.ca/TheAmazingRaceCanada, the CTV Facebook page, and follow @AmazingRaceCDA.

The sixth season of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, had an average audience of 1.8 million viewers per week. For six consecutive years, THE AMAZING RACE CANADA has earned the title of Canada’s #1 most-watched summer series.

Fans looking to relive the high-stakes thrills and excitement of previous seasons of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA can find it on the all-new Crave.

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Bad Blood

Link: Citytv’s Bad Blood is about to go global

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From Tony Wong of the Toronto Star:

Link: Citytv’s Bad Blood is about to go global
Canadian actor Kim Coates was talking recently to his friend, the visionary bad-boy American writer and producer Kurt Sutter.

Sutter had cast Coates in his defining role as enforcer Tig Trager in FX’s violent, genre-defining biker drama Sons of Anarchy. But what the producer really wanted to know was when he would be able to see Coates’ well-regarded Canadian Mafia-themed show, Citytv’s Bad Blood. Continue reading.

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Featured, Murdoch Mysteries

Preview: Murdoch Mysteries spotlights Brackenreid in “Secrets and Lies”

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After a week off to celebrate Canadian literature with the Scotiabank Giller Prize, Murdoch Mysteries returns with “Secrets and Lies,” a very Inspector Brackenreid-centric instalment.

Here’s what the CBC has released with regard to an official synopsis:

When Brackenreid leaves Toronto to help an old friend find a missing woman, he learns he’s a lot closer to the case than he thought.

And here are more tidbits I gleaned after watching a screener for the episode, written by Peter Mitchell and directed by Leslie Hope.

What is Thomas up to?
The episode starts in disarray. Thomas Brackenreid is looking for someone, but it’s not clear who they are and what their relationship to him is. Not only that, it’s not even obvious where the good Inspector is. It’s all pretty unsettling. And then, well, what he says just past the four-minute mark will cause your jaw to drop.

John and Margaret put in an appearance
With Brackenreid at the centre of “Secrets and Lies,” it makes sense that his son and wife would be part of the storyline. It’s always nice to see Charles Vandervaart and Arwen Humphreys on-screen. Look for Raven Dauda, Shailene Garnett and Masa Lizdek in guest roles.

Meanwhile, at Station House No. 4 …
… Murdoch and Crabtree become more concerned as the hours tick by and the Inspector remains unaccounted for.

Murdoch Mysteries airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

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