Canadians are patriots of their country, so in many areas they try to give preference to local food, culture, traditions, and customs. TV series are no exception, and Canadian cinema ranks among the best in the world. There’s no shortage of local productions, and Canadians are sure to find something to their liking, as there are comedies, dramas, and thrillers alike. This guide will be helpful for those who like to stay home during vacations or weekends and spend time in a warm bed.
The Last Casinoz
The Last Casino is a 2004 Canadian TV series, which locals consider one of the best works about gambling and card counting in blackjack. The director of the film is Pierre Gilles, who has repeatedly stated that he created the series based on real events and was inspired by the real story of a team of students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The main character is mathematics professor Doug Barnes, who gathers a group of talented students to participate in a risky scheme to earn money in a casino. Knowledge of probability theory and mathematical analysis came in handy, so the team began to win constantly at blackjack. The film demonstrates that big wins are possible only thanks to discipline, memory, and accurate mathematical calculations.
The advantage of the series is the explanation of the principles of card counting, which is presented in a way that is understandable for viewers without knowledge of mathematics. The authors showed scenes about the psychology of players and teamwork. The Last Casino shows the plot of the film realistically, where the events take place in a land-based casino and you don’t have to look for online clubs on the CA analyzer website. The characters of The Last Casino constantly feel in danger, so the film received positive reviews for its interesting script and convincing acting despite the modest budget.
Orphan Black
Orphan Black is a Canadian science fiction series that aired from 2013 to 2017 and has a rating of 4.3. The story begins with Sarah Manning witnessing the suicide of an unknown woman who turns out to be her exact copy. She learns that there is a whole group of clones created as part of a secret scientific experiment, but each of the heroines has their own character, profession, and lifestyle. The main role was played by Tatiana Maslany, who beautifully played several different characters at once and received prestigious personal awards for her work. The series combines science fiction, thriller, drama, and detective, which has a complete story to date.
The director of the series decided to reveal the themes of personality, bioethics, genetics, and the human right to one’s own life in Orphan Black. The series raises the issue of the moral responsibility of science and demonstrates how technology can affect the fate of people. The fast pace of events, unexpected plot twists, and quality acting make each season high-quality. Tatiana Maslany convincingly embodied the various clones, so that the viewer perceives them as separate people. Orphan Black received high reviews from critics, with each episode ending with intrigue, as during a casino game.
Vikings
Vikings is a historical series that aired from 2013 to 2020 and became a high-quality work about the Viking Age. Canadians can see the plot around the warrior Ragnar Lodbrok, who wants to see new lands and fight. The series is based on Scandinavian sagas and combines real historical events with fiction. Viewers watch the struggle for power, sea voyages, and the conquests of England and France. Viewers’ reviews often state that a lot of attention was paid to the main characters, their ambitions, beliefs, and family relationships, which is annoying in some episodes. The main advantages of the Vikings:
-A high-quality plot based on Scandinavian legends.
-Realistic battle scenes and a realistic atmosphere of the Viking Age.
-Charismatic characters and a strong cast.
-Quality costumes, sets, and visual effects.
-A combination of history, adventure, drama, and political intrigue.
The series received high praise from critics for its spectacle, historical atmosphere, and emotionally rich plot. The main characters are Ragnar Lothbrok, Lagertha, Bjorn Ironside, and Ivar the Boneless. Vikings was nominated for prestigious television awards and won a wide international audience, while much of the filming took place in Ireland, but the production was carried out with the active participation of Canadian companies. Vikings is recommended for anyone interested in history, adventure, and dramas with deep characters.
Flashpoint
Flashpoint is a Canadian police drama series that ran from 2008 to 2012 and follows the work of the elite Strategic Response Unit in Toronto. Canadians may rarely see shootouts in the series, which is a rarity, but negotiations, psychology, and hostage rescue are common. Each episode showcases a new, dangerous operation where officers must make difficult decisions in a matter of minutes that can put lives at risk. The series is notable for its realistic nature, as its creators were inspired by the work of the real-life Toronto Police Emergency Task Force. Viewers will witness the personal lives of the team members, which feature many interesting scenes. Interesting facts about Flashpoint:
-Flashpoint was filmed entirely in Toronto.
-The series is based on the work of the real-life police special forces unit Emergency Task Force (ETF).
-The project received 28 television awards and over 100 nominations.
-Initially, the series had the working titles Sniper and Critical Incident, but they were later changed to Flashpoint.
-The American television channel CBS acquired the rights to broadcast Flashpoint.
The series received positive reviews on Reddit for its realistic portrayal of the work of special forces trying to resolve conflicts peacefully. Critics praised the acting of Hugh Dillon, Enrico Colantoni, Amy Jo Johnson, and David Petkau, who convincingly embodied their characters. Flashpoint is on the lists of the best Canadian crime dramas now and became popular far beyond Canada. One of the strengths of the series is the combination of intense special operations with psychological drama and human stories.
Cardinal
Cardinal is a Canadian crime drama series (2017–2020), based on the novels by Giles Blunt. The series is set in the fictional town of Algonquin Bay, where Detective John Cardinal, along with his partner Liz Delorme, investigates a series of brutal crimes. Each season is based on a separate novel, so viewers get a new, completed detective story that keeps them in suspense. The Cardinal has a nice atmosphere, slow plot, and psychological character development. The main characters are Billy Campbell and Karin Vanasse, who received positive reviews for their acting.
The series shows the personal difficulties of the characters, which makes the plot more emotional and realistic. Some episodes provide casino games, illegal gambling, and gambling establishments that are used by criminals to launder money or as meeting places for criminal groups. Viewers highlight the cinematography, winter landscapes, and interesting plot. Over four seasons, Cardinal has received nominations and awards from the Canadian Academy of Cinema and Television. This is a great choice for fans of quality crime dramas with unexpected plot twists and deep characters.