Terminal City (TV series) explained

Terminal City is a Canadian miniseries about a woman (Maria del Mar) diagnosed with breast cancer. She's brought in to star on a failing reality television show, turning it into a hit as her life and body begin to change.

Production

Angus Fraser, a native of Vancouver, was the director-creator, with Rachel Talalay also brought in as a director.^[1] As the writer, Fraser was partly inspired by a close call his mother had with cancer, and his own near-death experience when he was stabbed in the heart as a bouncer. Originally conceived as a feature film, Terminal City was filmed in Victoria, British Columbia in 76 days.

Cast

• Maria del Mar - Katie
• Gil Bellows - Ari
• Paul Soles - Saul
• Jane McLean - Jane
• Nakul Kapoor - Yash
• Katie Boland - Sarah
• Adam Butcher - Nicky
• Nico McEown - Eli
• Bill Mondy - Frank
• Michael Eklund - Henry
• Ross Birchall - Kristov
• Andrew McIlroy - Brendan

Plot

Fraser's plot follows a family woman who finds she has cancer and becomes the star of a reality show simultaneously.^[2]

Critical reviews

Timeout says the show "prominently counts reality TV among its subjects, but its chief concerns—marriage, family and mortality—are timeless ones that are given fresh urgency by the way screenwriter Angus Fraser approaches them from odd angles."^[3]

• "Terminal City...A new breed (and calibre) of must-see Canadian TV." - Gayle MacDonald, The Globe and Mail
• "World class writing and acting...HBO calibre." - John McKay, Canadian Press
• "A challenging, deeply disturbing 10-part hour drama that raises the bar considerably." - Jim Bawden, Star Week
• "Terminal City is one of the most original and intricate explorations of family dynamics ever created for television in this country." - Alison Cunningham, TV Times
• "Morality comes calling: Terminal City is like Six Feet Under with a comic twist." - Bill Brioux, Toronto Sun
• "Exceptional drama." - Alex Strachan, CanWest News Service
• "A challenging, relentlessly ambitious ride worth taking." - BB, Dose
• "Elegantly sinister, comic and deeply moving. Maria Del Mar in the tough lead role, handles it with aplomb." - John Doyle, The Globe and Mail
• "Challenging, evocative, addictive." - Rob Salem, The Toronto Star
• "New provocative drama." - Tara Merrin, Calgary Sun

Broadcasters

• In Canada, Terminal City originally aired its first run episodes on The Movie Network and Movie Central in 2005, later being rerun on Citytv.
• In the United States, Sundance Channel picked up the series and began airing the series in March 2008.^[4]

Partial accolades

• Best Dramatic Series - Winner^[5]
• Best Direction Dramatic Series - Winner - Rachel Talalay - For Episode 8
• Best Screenwriting Dramatic Series - Winner - Angus Fraser - For Episode 8
• Best Picture Editing Dramatic Series - Winner - Stein Myhrstad - For Episode 10
• Best Musical Score Dramatic Series - Winner - Schaun Tozer and Ben Mink - For Episode 1
• Best Overall Sound Dramatic Series - Winner - Chris Duesterdiek, Dean Giammarco, and Bill Sheppard - For Episode 6
• Best Guest Performance by a Female Dramatic Series - Nominee - Kathleen Duborg - For Episode 3
• Best Costume Design Dramatic Series - Nominee - Vicky Mulholland - For Episode 8

• Best Dramatic Series - Nominee^[6]
• Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role - Nominee - Gil Bellows
• Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series - Winner - Paul Soles^[7]
• Best Writing in a Dramatic Series - Nominee - Angus Fraser

• Outstanding Female Performance - Winner - Maria del Mar^[8]

• Outstanding Achievement In Direction - Television Series - Winner - Kari Skogland - Episode 5^[9]

External links

• Official website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Moss . Marilyn . 2008-03-04 . Terminal City . https://web.archive.org/web/20241125185627/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/terminal-city-125225/ . November 25, 2024 . 2024-11-25 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
2. Web site: Shattuck . Kathryn . What's On Tonight . https://web.archive.org/web/20241125185131/https://archive.nytimes.com/query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage-9907E1DC1F31F935A35750C0A96E9C8B63.html . November 25, 2024 . 2024-11-25 . query.nytimes.com . en.
3. Web site: Johnston . Andrew . 2008-03-05 . Terminal City . https://web.archive.org/web/20241125184218/https://www.timeout.com/movies/terminal-city . November 25, 2024 . 2024-11-25 . Time Out Worldwide . en-GB.
4. News: Gilbert . Matthew . 2008-03-06 . 'Terminal City' takes risks with cancer, family, and fame . https://web.archive.org/web/20241125184545/https://archive.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2008/03/06/terminal_city_takes_risks_with_cancer_family_and_fame/ . November 25, 2024 . 2024-11-25 . Boston.com.
5. Web site: 2006 . 2006 NOMINEES & WINNERS . https://web.archive.org/web/20241111232825/https://www.leoawards.com/past_winners/pdf/2006.pdf . November 11, 2024 . www.leoawards.com.
6. News: August 30, 2006 . Cancelled CBC drama gets 12 Gemini nods . Waterloo Region Record . A-15.
7. News: Strachan . Alex . October 19, 2006 . Lively drama about struggling theater company hauls in struggling theatre three Gemini Awards. . Vancouver Sun . D9.
8. Web site: February 24, 2007 . Pinsent, Wendy Crewson honoured by Toronto actors . CBC.
9. Web site: 2006-10-16 . Full list of 2006 Directors Guild of Canada Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20241128035519/https://www.sootoday.com/local-entertainment/full-list-of-2006-directors-guild-of-canada-awards-147683 . November 28, 2024 . 2024-11-28 . SooToday.com . en.