The new series Murder in a Small Town opens with the most Canadian scene ever.
Cassandra, played by Vancouver-born Kristin Kreuk (Smallville, Burden of Truth), meets Karl, played by another Vancouver native, Rossif Sutherland — he of the famous half-brother Kiefer and the late, great actor Donald and wife Francine Racette.
Cassandra and Karl are on a tentative first date inside Molly’s Reach, the iconic seaside diner in picturesque Gibson’s. B.C. — the one featured for almost 20 years on the most-Canadian of all scripted dramas, The Beachcombers. This was the first scene shot for the series according to Kristin Kreuk, my guest on the next episode of brioux.tv: the podcast.
Pour maple syrup over the two of them and add a side of Tim Bits and you’d have a scene so Canadian it would apologize.
This is, however, an American network series, originating on Fox and showcased in Canada on Global. The setting is actually supposed to be somewhere in the northwest United States; those are Yankee greenbacks changing hands in the restaurant. The producers and writers and lead actors and crew members and even several guest stars, however, are from north of the border. Let’s call it an international series and let the grants fall where they may.
Whatever. It doesn’t change the fact that the diner scene is adorable. There is something very sweet and winning about this bright, attractive librarian sitting opposite this seemingly shy, handsome police chief in a place where Adonidas (Bruno Gerussi) and Jesse Jim (Pat John) used to be the regulars. They quickly call each other on their deficits — he’s a sphynx, she’s into self sabotage — but it is clear they still want to take this relationship further.
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Police chief? That is Cassandra’s reaction. Seems Karl was a big city cop burnt out on downtown crime who needed to get away to a place carved out of mosquitoes and cedars. Cassandra, and her friend the waitress, want to believe that this guy, who has two grown daughters, is not just another weird-o dating site jerk.
Sutherland brings an intriguing, low-key energy to his role. Much like Aden Young, the Austrlian-Canadian at the head of Law & Order Toronto, he just has a different voice. You want to lean in a bit. The character seems to live inside his own head. He approaches a crime scene in a very deliberate, forensic manner. He’s good at his job, if awkward at being off-duty.
His police squad seem even more Canadian. B.C.-native Aaron Douglas who you’ve seen before on everything from Resident Alien to Battlestar Gallactica, plays a local police sargeant whom Karl hopes will continue to evolve. Vancouver’s Mya Lowe makes an impression as the new recruit from Philly.
The guest star stealing scenes left and right in the pilot is Emmy Award-winning veteran James Cromwell. He plays a cantankerous old cuss, a person of interest in the murder of a long time acquaintance. Cromwell’s scenes opposite Sutherland are the usual cat-and-mouse, but raised by the conviction of both actors. Cromwell in particular puts on a clinic Sutherland’s dad would have admired.
There is, in fact, less intrique in the murder mystery here than in the dating storyline. Murder in a Small Town is light on plot but heavy on atmosphere and character study, more British in its storytelling, which works for me. A few minor characters dart in and out to briefly raise a suspicion or two but most viewers will see where this story is headed long before the third act.
Kreuk as the vulnerable yet surprisingly strong romantic interest and muse, and Sutherland who brings a brooding yet game energy to the damaged cop motif, will draw viewers as long as the guest star suspect of the week can come close to Cromwell’s high bar start. Other guests will include top Canadians Noah Reid from Schitt’s Creek and Stana Katic from Castle.
Murder in a Small Town is based on a series of “Karl Alberg” books by novelist L.R. Wright. The ninety-minute opening episode — originally slated to be two hour-long shows — was written by head writer and executive producer Ian Weir. His credits date all the way back to Kreuk’s first series as a teen, Edgemont. Nick Orchard’s Soapbox Productions, which tried a re-launch of The Beachcombers over two decades ago, is among the production companies. Look for it Tuesday nights on Fox and Global.
