Catch a Flight on ARCTIC AIR

Arctic Air

For many years the proliferation of shows from “across the pond” has been unprecedented with countless shows from the UK becoming hits here in the States. Just a few examples are shows such as Doctor Who, Torchwood, Luther and Being Human. But now the folks at the BBC and BBC America just might have a contender to deal with: Canadian television

Have you noticed how many Canadian shows are making it big with American viewers? Well, there is Being Erica, Flashpoint, Rookie Blue and Lost Girl just to name a few. This summer, American viewers will also have the chance to see the new Canadian series The L.A. Complex on The CW.

And now, there is another Canadian series that American audiences just might want to check out. It is called Arctic Air and it premiered on the CBC on Tuesday, January 9.

The series is, obviously, set in the Arctic and chronicles a maverick airline called, of course, Arctic Air and the unconventional family who runs the company. Actor Adam Beach (Flag of Our Fathers and Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee) plays Bobby Martin who, after living in Vancouver for the past 10 years, returns to his hometown of Yellowknife to seal a lucrative deal on behalf of his venture capital firm.

But when he learns that Arctic Air, the airline founded by his late father is on the brink of bankruptcy, he faces a difficult decision: stay and save the company or retreat back to the big city once again. If Bobby stays, he will have to work alongside Mel Ivarson, played by Kevin McNulty (Tin Man and Battlestar Galactica), the crusty co-founder of the airline, and his beautiful and headstrong daughter, Krista, played by Pascale Hutton (Sanctuary and Flashpoint).

The remainder of the cast of this new series is filled with a lot of familiar faces from Canada, including (but not limited to) Michael Hogan (Battlestar Galactica) as Doc Hossa and Lexa Doig (Stargate: SG-1 and Andromeda) as his daughter Petra; John Reardon (Painkiller Jane) as hotshot Arctic Air pilot Blake Laviolette and Carmen Moore (Caprica and Flash Gordon) as Arctic Air employee Loreen Cassway.

Other actors who will appear in the show include Kandyse McClure (Battlestar Galactica), Emilie Ullerup (Sanctuary) and Brian Markinson (Sanctuary).

Having had the chance to review the pilot episode, I have to admit that Arctic Air is unlike any other show because it is not a procedural, it is not medical, legal or police related; but it is filled with action and adventure and lots of family drama. And I, for one, think it will be a great series to follow.

The third episode of Arctic Air will air on the Canadian channel CBC this Tuesday, January 24 at 9 PM. If you get the chance to check out the show, I highly recommend that you do. You can also learn more about Arctic Air here.