I had heard about this show, but hadn’t bothered to watch any of it until recently. What provided the shove was seeing “Saint Pierre,” Allan Hawco’s latest show, and thinking what else has this guy done? Oh! That was also his show? Well then…

This is great storytelling, with a soupçon of regional peculiarities. Having a familial connection with the city of St John’s helps, but no one could be left uncharmed by the people and their generous nature and yearning for doing the right thing.

The characters, writing, direction, acting, all are worth your while.

Highly recommended.

★★★★☆

#review #CineMastodon #TV #CBCGem #CBCTV #StJohns #NL

The last 20 minutes of CBC’s live midnight countdown show for Vancouver last night was embarrassingly bad. Absolute rubbish, time wasting filler with no entertainment value at all. The countdown hitting zero was so deflating as a result.

I guess they used up all their budget and good presenters for other provinces/cities.

#canada #cbc #CBCGem

This is on CBC Gem for only a few more days. Watch this as soon as you can — tonight, even — and relive something that’s ageless, pure, and more kind than anything you’ve experienced in a long time.

Please trust me when I say you should keep some tissues handy. You have no idea how much he meant to you until you see this wonderful documentary.

Seriously, grab a big box of tissues.

No, bigger than that little packet in your pocket. Yeah, the box. There you go.

If you are of a certain age, mandatory viewing.

★★★★★

#review #CineMastodon #Documentary #CBCGem

Tulsa King of Kensington, which will make no sense to anyone under 40 or outside of Canada.

#cbc #CBCGem #kingofkensington #TulsaKing

Story Of 4 Nations Face-Off Told In CBC Special From Blink49 Studios
#Documentary #News #4NationsFaceOff #Blink49Studios #CBC #CBCGem #NHL

https://deadline.com/2025/12/4-nations-face-off-cbc-special-blink49-studios-1236643262/

How refreshing to see a show with two people and their friends trying to do their best each and every day, as parents and at work, and they’re all making about as many mistakes as anyone else. It gives one hope that we can all get through the worst of it; even for some of us who aren’t sure they can or ever will be able to.

The writing is brilliant, the acting believable, and the moments of sadness perfectly balance the moments of hysteria. You know, just like life (if you had writers to help you with… words… to talk… real good).

Recommended.

★★★★☆

#review #CineMastodon #TV #CBCGem

I’m glad I gave this show the time to develop to the end of the season.

It starts a little light, seeming to be a typical ‘small-town with an alarming frequency of murder.’ It’s in the unique situation of being a French territory just barely off the Newfoundland coast, and has a history of smuggling.

By the time the season ends, it’s a riveting drama with tension aplenty. It just takes ten episodes to get there.

Give it a chance for more than a couple of episodes. You’ll be rewarded.

Highly recommended!

★★★★☆

#review #CineMastodon #TV #CBC #CBCGem

While there are moments clearly tweaked for American audiences (judges in the Old Bailey do not, nor ever have, used gavels), this is an excellent programme about a now-little known crime which spawned more crime and likely altered investigations ever since.

As I mentioned a few days ago, they stole so much gold bullion — by chance — that the market price was affected due to supply reduced by over 3 Imp Tons. Because gold is protean, none of it could reasonably be recovered.

But the trail of money, and what it did to the people and to businesses involved with it, took years to navigate. Everyone on both sides of the crime are fascinating, and I guarantee you a complete lack of boredom while watching.

Highly recommended.

★★★★★

#review #CineMastodon #CascadePBS #PBS #Materpiece #CBCGem #TV