Tag Archives: Featured

Featured, Mohawk Girls

Review: Mohawk Girls go to “Freaksville”

Written by Carolyn Potts

So often other people make us feel as though we are just complete aberrations of society. We are made to feel as though our wants or desires are wrong by mainstream standards. Or, we feel that those we care most about are on an unsuitable path that we feel compelled to alter. This episode entitled “Freaksville” explores exactly this and nicely sets the stage for the next episode entitled “What’s Your Number”. Both deal with understanding who you are and where you belong in life, but this episode focuses on the emotional perspective in a very playful manner.

We have three main story lines this week: Bailey feels at odds with the constrictions of life on the rez, Zoe is coming to terms with her freakish beast, and our loveable Caitlin finds herself a fish out of water with Butterhead and his mother. Anna does not figure prominently this week as she is recuperating from the beating she took at the hands of Mean Girl Vicky (Rachelle White Wind) at the conclusion of “Building a Nation”. Anna is however, still hat girl, an outsider with her abnormal styles and interests, even with “be still my beating heart” Thunder at her side.

Our girls throw a celebratory party for Caitlin and Butterhead. Butterhead the Blockhead arrives to the party, with his freakishly rude table manners on full display, thoroughly embarrassing Caitlin in front of her friends. Still, Caitlin trusting that Butterhead the Warrior is still buried deep inside, agrees to move in with Butterhead and his “ma” (played by Esther Sky). We witness Caitlin and her struggles to exercise patience as she tries to adjust to her new family.

Meanwhile Zoe is confronted by a confused Caitlin for her outrageous fetish outfit. With the knowledge that Prim and Proper Zoe secretly owns some freakish outfits, the girls decide to mount the exact same intervention they attempted on Caitlin last week. Zoe tries to explain that she doesn’t have to live up to anyone’s expectations at these parties. Being the supportive friends that they are, Caitlin and Bailey agree to attend one of these parties in the hopes of understanding what it I that attracts Zoe. The “Freaksville” costume party, as outrageous as the experience is for GOGO Bailey and Mistress Caitlin, is also a strangely liberating experience for our girls as they let their freak flags fly. After all what happens in Freaksville stays in Freaksville. Knowing she has her friends’ acceptance of her secret, Zoe now has the confidence to stand up for herself.

With Anna keeping a low profile Mean Girl Vicky turns her vitriol on Bailey, declaring Bailey will end up a spinster. After all, she cannot even keep a white guy. Sose (Bailey’s Father) and Auntie Velma comfort Bailey as she grieves the loss of Jack but in truth, they are elated that the short lived romance is done. Sose and Velma believe a mixed culture relationship would be the end of their world (more on this in the next episode). Bailey blames the community for driving Chicken Hearted Jack out of her life. She believes liking a white boy shouldn’t be the end of the world but to most of Kahnawa:ke it is. It spells the end of Kahnawa:ke. At odds with both her family and her community, Bailey realises that she just wants to be who she is and enjoy what she likes. She needs more stimulation than Kahnawa:ke can provide her. She refuses to settle and by the episode’s end she makes the decision to move to the city.

We should also note that a number of small comments by Caitlin came up throughout the episode setting the stage (I think) for another interesting future storyline involving her mother. What do you think? Will Zoe get caught with up with her leash in a compromising position? Will we ever get to see Butterhead the Warrior? How will Bailey make it alone in the city? Let me know in the comments!

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Blackstone, Featured

Review: Fracking and fractured relationships on Blackstone

And just like that, Blackstone‘s Debbie Fraser is no more. In the final seconds of last week’s episode, Debbie drove into the path of a tractor trailer while on the phone with Alan, leaving a cliffhanger regarding her health.

“Discovery” by Damon Vignale opened with Andy sitting silently in prison, clearly numb at the news and unable to do anything before heading to Deb’s memorial, where Alan was getting hammered in a vain attempt to block out the pain. He has a lot to feel pained about: he’d shown nothing but contempt and hatred for Deb and he was the reason she was behind the wheel in the first place. Alan coming unglued on the Shale executives was an exercise in uncomfortableness.

With just one more episode to go in this fourth season, storylines were quickly wrapping up. Gail began her journey of healing with help from Dr. Crowshoe, who explained that Gail needed to grieve the death of those she loves as well as own up to the mistakes she’s made. She did just that, first saying sorry to Greg and then confessing to Leona that her relapse was her own fault and not something that Leona should be beating herself up for.

Things were looking very, very dire for Jumbo. He’d managed to elude Jack’s thugs for a bit, but they finally caught up with him and said he had just hours to pay back the cash he owed. After a lot of grousing, Daryl came through and paid Jack the money Jumbo owed. I’ve really enjoyed Daryl’s storyline this season. Aside from his growing relationship with Gina, he’s kept the club running smoothly and has very much been a father figure to Alan while Andy’s been in the clink. Speaking of the clink, did anyone else find the timing just a little too good in that the Shale folks came sniffing around Daryl and Andy’s land at the exact same time Andy’s bail needed to be posted? I’m sure it was all part of advancing the story, but it was just a little too smooth for me.

Next week’s Blackstone season finale episode is called “There Will be Blood,” and I can’t help but feel dread. After all, Darrien just escaped from prison and is hitching his way back to Blackstone. What will he do when he gets there? I’m not sure, but I’m betting he’s not planning on letting the past slide when it comes to Gail.

Blackstone airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on APTN.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Blackstone, Featured, Podcast

TV eh B Cs podcast 9 – Carmen Moore, Future Superhero

leona-big-0x700

Carmen has worked steadily in TV and Film for two decades. She was nominated for the American “First Americans in the Arts” award, for her role in Brothers of the Frontier (1996). She played Dawn Star, in the movie Spooky House (2002), and in 2004 she worked with John Woo for the TV series The Robinsons: Lost in Space (2004). Carmen was nominated for her performance as Simone in Godiva’s at the 2006 Leo Awards and won the Women in Film and Video’s Artistic Merit Award for her portrayal of Rebecca in the Canadian independent feature Unnatural & Accidental.

From 2012-2014 Carmen has had leading roles on two hit Canadian Series. She played Loreen Cassway on Arctic Air (2012) for which she was nominated for a Leo award in 2012. She continues her role of Leona Stoney on the multi award winning series Blackstone (2011), which won Best Dramatic Series at the 2012 Leo’s. She was nominated for both a Gemini Award and a Leo Award in 2012 for Blackstone, and won the Leo for Best Lead Performance in 2011.

We’ll talk about all of this, Carmen’s future superhero status, and why Gwen Stefani leads to some upsetting sense memory.

Listen or download below, or subscribe via iTunes or any other podcast catcher with the TV, eh? podcast feed.

Want to become a Patron of the Podcast? We’ve got a Patreon page where you can donate a small amount per podcast and get a sneak peek of each release.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured, Package Deal

Review: Package Deal says goodbye

I’m suspecting it’s the end of the road for Package Deal. Of course, things may change and a third go-round may be ordered, but I’m betting that won’t be the case. Moved to at least three different nights and timeslots since Season 2 bowed last fall, one could argue City attempted to find a night and spot where the Canadian sitcom could attract a larger audience (like right after 2 Broke Girls for a few weeks), but I never saw a commercial promoting Package Deal. If I wasn’t following several of its cast members and the show itself on Twitter I would have lost track of it long ago.

And that’s too bad. Aside from the friendly cast and crew I met while on a set visit for Season 1, this sophomore season has been tighter, funnier and more raw. Sunday’s back-to-back season finale, “The Break Up” parts 1 and 2, plunged couple Kim and Danny into truly stressful territory for the very first time by throwing marriage into the picture. (“This can’t be happening. He’s so young, to be cut down in his prime,” wailed Sheldon. “There’s so much more for you to experience. You haven’t even slept with an albino.”)

The fact that they both waffled independently over the prospect of advancing their relationship to the next level was a departure from the usual light-hearted weekly bickering and allowed actors Julia Voth and Randal Edwards the opportunity to play some very serious moments and heartfelt emotions … at least until Harland Williams’ Sheldon or Jay Malone’s Ryan jumped in to say something ludicrous.

The ensuing break-up that concluded the first instalment made for several interesting moments that carried to the second script, written by creator and executive producer Andrew Orenstein. Danny and Kim both re-entered the dating market and while Danny was disgusting gals with his “dump stink,” Kim found a paramour in TJ (John Dore), the produce guy working at his local market. The addition of Dore ramped up the laughs thanks to his hippie views on life, a stark contrast to Danny’s lawyer profession.

The conclusion of “The Break Up” certainly could have kept Kim and Danny apart–setting up a cliffhanger–but I’m glad that didn’t happen. If this is indeed the final episode of Package Deal, I’d much prefer the pair to be a couple than apart. Thanks, Package Deal, for two seasons of laughs.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured, Lost Girl

Review: Lost Girl looks for a leader

1 Comment

“Strong, merciless, vulnerable,” were the words Bo used to describe a good leader in Sunday’s Lost Girl. While the episode may have only touched on the big mysteries unveiled last week as Bo and Tamsin took on a case of the week, in the end Musashi’s story did feed into the season’s bigger arc as Bo questioned what being the Chosen One meant for her and those around her.

And it was the vulnerability aspect that was most important in “Big in Japan,” not just for Musashi and his faux-claim to fame, but for Bo who was coping with Kenzi’s departure in obvious (see: decorating) and less obvious (see: not taking in chi) ways. While Bo may have been able to spot Musashi’s resistance to embrace his own vulnerabilities, in the end it was Tamsin who had to force Bo to confront hers—a nice parallel that ended up moving Bo’s evolution along in an episode that original seemed like it was going to kill time with a case of the week.

For all her bravado going into hell, confronting what may have been the arm of her father and coming back out (with the world’s worst candle) Bo’s challenges this season look like they’re going to be delving into the most personal, and possibly fragile, parts of her life. The show has already alluded to her father’s dark nature and a big part of what’s to come for Bo must be accepting whatever influence that has had on her without letting it define her. But as she pointed out, being who she is has also already cost her plenty and taking time to acknowledge that loss, especially in the face of losing Kenzi, is rightfully another part of her role she has to live with. Though what makes Bo a better leader that Musashi just might be her willingness to see leadership, and its cost, for what it really is and not just the glory of a bar full of Fae wanting to be like her.

Although—and maybe it’s blasphemous to say this—it was pretty fun to see Tamsin helping Bo with this week’s case and stepping into that empty spot next to her. While nothing could replace all of Bo’s years with Kenzi, those heartfelt moments in Lauren’s surgery were a good reminder for Bo that she’s still got plenty of friends with her. And while Tamsin may have a number of strikes against her, she rightfully got recognition for knowing a bit more about her roommate than she’s been given credit for. I expect she’ll been taking Dyson’s suggestion that she leave the shop and join the family business pretty soon, if not in the coming week. Though with this season set to deal with daddy dearest, I don’t know how much time they’re going to have to take cases—even if they do fit as neatly into the story as this Sunday’s.

It was also another week of Dyson and Lauren teaming up with their sass providing a nice counterbalance to all the flirtatious teasing going down between Bo and Tamsin (the writers are just playing with us, right?). There’s a bigger sense of the stakes the season is building towards whenever these two talk since their main common ground at the moment is Bo and how to help her survive what’s coming. Given their flirt-free zone, I’m actually digging the friendship between these two since Dyson’s down a buddy, and the combination of Dyson’s training and Lauren’s science-savvy made for a pretty sweet takedown of the first Fae to come for her.

Though Lauren might need more than her wrist and some ketamine if elevator-lady is still in the lab when Lauren returns to work because I’m getting the sense—from the maniacal face, resurrection stunt and neck snapping—that she’s not your average baddie. I guess the question we’re left with, aside from last week’s “who is she?” is whether she’s very, very old or really new. Any bets?

Lost Girl airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Showcase.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail