CONTINUUM Advance Review: “A Stitch in Time”

No one ever said being a cop would be easy; even if you are a cop from the year 2077 where you have futuristic gadgets from which to work with and a specialized suit that not only acts like full-on body armor but also an interactive computer system that allows you to do virtually everything that a cop needs to do – all in one, gold form-fitting outfit that any member of the X-Men team would desire for themselves.

Enter CPS (City Protective Services) Officer Kiera Cameron (Rachel Nichols from Criminal Minds and Alias) who is on a tactical team that takes down Kagame (Tony Amendola from Once Upon a Time and Stargate: SG-1), the author of a manifesto that has inspired a revolution in 2077; a revolution that leads to his imprisonment along with 7 others, who are known in their time as the Liber8.

Liber8 are branded terrorists set for execution, but before their deaths can take place they escape through time, inadvertently taking Kiera with them in a Quantum Leap-like jump back to our present day. As Kiera attempts to navigate a world that is completely unfamiliar to her in a futuristic suit that is only working because the creator of the suit – Alec Sadler (Erik Knudsen from Jericho) – is in the same city, stationed in a high-tech lab/workshop that was originally created by his late father.

Alec is Kiera’s only connection to her time via the suit, but he is limited by the knowledge of 2012 rather than that of 2077. He cannot get her back to her own time nor return her to her husband (John Reardon from Eureka) and young son Sam. In order to capture the member of Liber8, Kiera joins forces with Vancouver Detective Carlos Fonnegra (Victor Webster from Mutant X), posing as a Portland police officer tracking down a dangerous gang.

Her biggest nemesis in 2012 is Travis Verta (Roger Cross from 24 and Fringe), the head of Liber8, who is driven by a need for revenge. What revenge does he desire? That would be taking down the corporations that, in his time, bailed out the government, slowly ripping citizens of their freedoms and happiness.

The observant sci-fi fans will recognize a number of supporting characters in the pilot episode of Continuum – entitled “A Stitch in Time” – who add a great deal of depth to the series, including Brian Markinson (Caprica and Sanctuary) as the Chief of the Vancouver Police Department; Stephen Lobo (Smallville), Lexa Doig (Andromeda and Stargate: SG-1), Terry Chen (Combat Hospital) and Mike Dopud (Stargate Universe) as members of the Liber8; Jennifer Spence (Stargate Universe and The 4400) as one of the employees at the police department; Richard Harmon (Caprica and The Killing) as a member of a movement that is being formed by Alec’s step-father and William B. Davis (aka The Smoking Man on The X-Files), as – well – I’m not going to spoil who he is because that will ruin all the fun.

Continuum is a little bit like Minority Report – especially in 2077 and in the form-fitting outfit that Kiera wears with all its high-tech capabilities – and Terminator – with the time-travel changing the past to change the future and Quantum Leap with a hero trapped in time trying to make a difference for the future. But, what really sets this new Canadian series apart from so many other sci-fi shows is that you feel the heart of the show from the very beginning. You care about the intentions of each character for better or worse (which will be made clear as the pilot episode progresses) and you root for Kiera to capture the members of Liber8 and to find a way home to her family in 2077.

The show also gives an eerie glimpse into our own possible future – almost as if the series is ripped from the headlines; only the headlines from our future. But even with the ominous foreshadowing of possible events and advancements in technology and mankind, it is a captivating series that will pull viewers in because of great story-telling, intriguing characters and the attractive cast doesn’t hurt either. [Judge for yourself in the photo gallery below.]

Continuum will debut on Showcase, the Canadian network that is the original home of Lost Girl and the folks who, along with Syfy, brought Haven to the airwaves, on Sunday, May 27 at 9 PM (ET/PT). The series was created and executive produced by Simon Barry (The Art of War) as well as Jeff King (White Collar), both of whom share show runner credit.

The series will consist of 10 hour-long episodes and was filmed on location in Vancouver. You can learn more about this fantastic new series here or go over to Facebook and “like” the show’s page here.

You can also see a teaser promo of Continuum here.

Mark your calendars and join Kiera in her trip back in time to safe the future.

PS: Thanks to Spoiler TV for the cast photos.