Between (TV series)

Between
Genre Science fiction
Teen drama
Created by Michael McGowan
Written by Michael McGowan
Mark Bacci
Sam Egan
Directed by
Starring
Country of origin Canada
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 6 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
Running time 44 minutes
Production company(s)
Distributor
Release
Original network City (Canada)
Netflix (United States and International)
Picture format 1080p (16:9 HDTV)
Audio format Dolby Digital Plus 5.1
Original release May 21, 2015 – present
External links
Official website

Between is a Canadian science fiction drama television series which debuted on May 21, 2015, on CityTV and Netflix. Created by Michael McGowan, the series stars Jennette McCurdy as Wiley Day, a pregnant teenage daughter of a minister living in the small town of Pretty Lake, which is coping with a mysterious disease which has killed everybody who is over 21 years old.[1][2] The series was renewed by CityTV and Netflix on July 8, 2015 and will premiere in 2016.[3] The series production is a 50/50 partnership between Netflix and Canadian media company Rogers with both having control.

Cast

Main

Recurring

Production

The series was originally set for a season of six one-hour episodes. It is being co-produced and financed by City and Netflix as part of a collaboration deal. The series represents the first major television solo starring role for McCurdy. Production of the series began on October 20, 2014. City aired an exclusive preview of the series during their broadcast of the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. The series premiered on May 21, 2015.[4]

Jesse Carere was promoted to Managing Director for Season 2.[5] Production of Season 2 began in January 2016 and will consist of six one-hour episodes same as season 1.[6] The series will shoot though March 11, 2016, and two new characters played by Steven Grayhm and Mercedes Morris have been introduced for season 2.[7]

Web series

As an accompaniment to the show, a web series called Between The Lines has been released featuring eight 2-minute mini-episodes. The web series follows the character of Amanda as she interviews students at Pretty Lake for an assignment for the school’s yearbook. The series begins pre-outbreak, and continues throughout the quarantine and ensuing chaos, taking an in-depth look at a different character each week. The first episode of the web series premiered on May 22, with new episodes premiering post broadcast on City every week on Citytv.com.[8]

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date Production
code
1"School's Out"Jon CassarMichael McGowanMay 21, 2015 (2015-05-21)101
When residents of Pretty Lake over the age of 21 begin to suddenly die of no apparent cause, the government quarantines the town, trapping the residents. Chuck, the captain of the school's hockey team, takes charge of the town, and pregnant teen Wiley makes plans to escape with her friend Adam. Wiley drops out when she gives birth, and Adam turns back when he is nearly shot.
2"Who's the Boss"Jon CassarPeter MitchellMay 28, 2015 (2015-05-28)102
The government promises to lift the quarantine if the residents burn their dead. Ronnie Creeker, a local drug dealer, engages in petty theft and hoarding. Tensions between Chuck and the Creeker family lead to a confrontation that nearly turns violent. Chuck discovers his missing sister Lana is dead and has possibly been murdered. Adam's research leads him to believe that Art Carey, a resident of the town, may have been involved in the outbreak, and he recovers a canister from the man's body before it is cremated. After Adam rescues Riley, they begin a relationship.
3"Crossing Lines"Jon CassarMalcolm MacruryJune 4, 2015 (2015-06-04)103
The government reneges on its promise to lift the quarantine, and the residents of Pretty Lake panic when they lose communications and power. Chuck finds a text on Lana's cell phone that leads him to believe that Ronnie is responsible for her death. Chuck's friend Gord is shot when they confront the Creekers. Ronnie attempts to use Chuck's girlfriend Stacey as an alibi, but she betrays him. Ronnie's brother Pat goes into town with evidence that proves Ronnie's innocence and ends a standoff between Ronnie and Chuck. Adam and Riley break up after their latest escape attempt fails.
4"Love Hurts"TBATBAJune 11, 2015 (2015-06-11)104
Adam's teacher Ms. Symonds turns 22. As they celebrate her birthday, she dies. Chuck institutes a public punishment for a young boy, not knowing that he's diabetic. When the boy refuses to apologize for stealing a car, he is left tied to a pole for hours and eventually goes into diabetic shock. Shaken, Chuck admits he has gone too far. Wiley moves in with the Creekers, and when Ronnie attempts to rape her, his sister stops him. Pat reveals that Lana was Ronnie's drug supplier and that he was there when she committed suicide.
5"End of the Rope"TBATBAJune 18, 2015 (2015-06-18)105
Pat and Riley accidentally kill Chuck's sister Amanda when she runs in front of their car. They panic and leave the scene, fearing repercussions from Chuck. Chuck organizes an emergency airlift when a friend bursts his appendix, but their airplane is shot down by a missile shortly after taking off. Adam tracks down more information on Art Carey, who is revealed to be an employee at the local prison. There, he runs into a prison guard who reveals that she and Carey were involved in a conspiracy. Just before she can kill him, Adam's father, who disappeared years ago, saves him by killing the guard.
6"War"TBATBAJune 25, 2015 (2015-06-25)106
The government sends in soldiers to inoculate the residents, but Adam's father claims that it is a conspiracy to clean up the mess and will kill everyone. Adam's father dies after urging Adam to flee through a secret tunnel, but Adam returns to warn everyone. With Gord, Chuck, and Pat, he saves most of the children. His father, revealed to have faked his death, explains that the fate of the human race depends on everyone in the town dying, as Adam and his father are the only people immune to the virus. Adam is forced to kill his father to save the town. Meanwhile, Pat surrenders to Chuck to end the vendetta between Chuck and the Creekers. Wiley saves Pat's life when she admits she was with him when Amanda died.

Broadcast

Per the collaboration deal, the series airs terrestrially on City,[9] with streaming on Shomi in Canada and Netflix internationally.[10] It will be the first series originating from Canada to air on Netflix from its inception.[9]

Episodes air on a week by week basis, first on City Thursdays at 8 PM Eastern, then on Netflix for international viewing at 11:30 PM Eastern.[11] It will be added to Netflix's Canadian service one year after its Shomi debut.[10]

Ratings

Season 1 ratings for Between on City pulled a combined 3.2 million, reaching roughly 10% of the Canadian population. The show performed at 31% in the desirable 18-34 age demographic, significantly above channel average of 19% for the demographic.[12]

Reception

Brian Lowry of Variety called it "an utterly ho-hum addition to Netflix's original lineup".[13] Keith Uhlich of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "It's the end of the world as they know it, and viewers won't care."[14] Mike Hale of The New York Times called it a "familiar ensemble soap opera with conspiracy-theory embroidery".[15] Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "The town is lovely, the premise solid if overfamiliar, but the script lacks both depth and tension (big problem), and McCurdy is one of the few cast members who can act."[16] Kevin P. Sullivan of Entertainment Weekly rated it C− and criticized the show's writing.[17] Joshua Alston of The A.V. Club rated it C+ and wrote that the series lacks a compelling hook.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Netflix Teams With Canada's City and Shomi on Deadly Disease Drama ‘Between’". The Wrap, October 20, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Touring Toronto: On Location With 'Between' Star Jennette McCurdy". Yahoo! TV, January 23, 2015.
  3. ↑ Denise Petski (July 8, 2015). "‘Between’ Returning For Season 2 On Netflix". Deadline Hollywood.
  4. ↑ Laura Prudom. "OITNB Season 3 Premiere Set for June, Wet Hot American Summer in July - Variety". Variety.
  5. ↑ Canada Media Fund. "Conference at MIPCOM 2015 with Carere listed as Managing Director of Between". Twitter.
  6. ↑ "Rogers Media TV Access". Rogers Media Inc.
  7. ↑ Etan Vlessing (January 13, 2016). "Steven Grayhm, Mercedes Morris Join Jennette McCurdy in Drama 'Between'". The Hollywood Reporter.
  8. ↑ "Rogers Media TV Access". Rogers Media Inc.
  9. 1 2 "Canadian drama series to debut on ‘shomi’ streaming service". Global News, October 20, 2014.
  10. 1 2 "Netflix, Rogers’ Shomi to partner on dramatic series". The Globe and Mail, October 20, 2014.
  11. ↑ Casey Rackham (May 21, 2015). "Jennette McCurdy's grown-up Netflix drama 'Between' not for binge-watching - Zap2it - News & Features". Zap2it.
  12. ↑ "The allure of escapism: Canadian sci-fi TV series know success" (Press release). Canada Media Fund.
  13. ↑ Lowry, Brian (May 12, 2015). "TV Review: Netflix's 'Between'". Variety. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  14. ↑ Uhlich, Keith (May 19, 2015). "The Bottom Line". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  15. ↑ Hale, Mike (May 19, 2015). "Review: Netflix’s 'Between' Puts a Polite Damper on Growing Old". The New York Times. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  16. ↑ McNamara, Mary (May 21, 2015). "Review There's no growing old in the YA thriller 'Between'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  17. ↑ Sullivan, Kevin P. (May 20, 2015). "Between: EW reviews Netflix's new dystopian drama". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  18. ↑ Alston, Joshua (May 20, 2015). "Netflix’s sci-fi drama Between makes a risky bid for the YA audience". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 11, 2015.

External links

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