CTV announced today that new CTV Original crime drama SIGHT UNSEEN is set to debut as part of a series premiere event immediately following the NFL Divisional Playoffs, Sunday, Jan. 21 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. An encore presentation of the series premiere airs Monday, Jan. 22 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, as the series moves to its regular timeslot of Mondays at 10 p.m. ET/PT beginning Jan. 22 on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app. Filmed in Vancouver, the first season of SIGHT UNSEEN consists of 10 one-hour episodes.
Created by sisters Karen Troubetzkoy (KILLJOYS, ORPHAN BLACK) and Nikolijne Troubetzkoy (SKYMED, TRANSPLANT), SIGHT UNSEEN stars newcomer Dolly Lewis as homicide detective Tess Avery alongside Agam Darshi (DMZ) as seeing eye-guide Sunny Patel. The series also stars Jarod Joseph (THE 100) as Tess’ oldest friend, Matt Alleyne, and Daniel Gillies (VIRGIN RIVER) in the role of Tess’ long-time detective partner, Jake Campbell.
In the series premiere (airing Sunday, Jan. 21 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, and again Monday, Jan. 22 at 10 p.m. ET/PT), top homicide detective Tess Avery (Lewis) quits the job she loves after being diagnosed as clinically blind following an accident in the field that nearly left her partner, Jake Campbell (Gillies), dead. Haunted by the case she left behind, and unwilling to accept her diagnosis, Tess forms an unorthodox partnership with remote seeing eye guide, Sunny Patel (Darshi), to solve the brutal abduction of a young mother Tess is certain is still alive.
SIGHT UNSEEN follows Tess (Lewis) as she balances her recent diagnosis while navigating her investigations through the eyes of Sunny (Darshi), a stranger located 3,000 miles away. Guiding Tess with the support of a micro camera and earpiece, Sunny, an agoraphobic and true crime fanatic who leaves her apartment only through the eyes of her clients, is quickly absorbed by the nature of her newfound partner. However, she is also hiding a violent secret of her own that she hopes to one day solve. Throughout the series, the duo challenge preconceptions about ability, trust, and where to draw the line.
To provide an authentic representation of the sight-impaired community, the production team for SIGHT UNSEEN committed to incorporate equity, diversity, and inclusion principles as a priority both in front of and behind the camera through sight-divergent lead, Dolly Lewis, and the guidance of consultants from the conception to post-production of SIGHT UNSEEN. Further inspired by co-creator Karen Troubetzkoy’s own experiences with ongoing experiences of sight loss, the series brings a fresh take on crime dramas.
SIGHT UNSEEN is produced by Blink49 Studios, a FIFTH SEASON backed company, and Front Street Pictures in association with Sisters Troubetzkoy Productions, CTV, The CW, and the participation of the Canada Media Fund and the Bell Fund.
In addition to directing several episodes, John Fawcett (ORPHAN BLACK) serves as an Executive Producer alongside co-showrunners Karen Troubetzkoy and Nikolijne Troubetzkoy, Blink49’s John Morayniss, Carolyn Newman, and Virginia Rankin, Front Street Pictures’ Charles Cooper and writer Derek Schreyer, as well as Ryan Knighton serving as co-executive producer.