Trickster is a Canadian coming-of-age supernatural thriller drama television series, which premiered on CBC Television on October 7, 2020. The series is created by Tony Elliott and Michelle Latimer with Latimer also directing, and is adapted from Eden Robinson's 2017 novel Son of a Trickster.

The series was renewed for a second season prior to the first season's premiere; however, these plans were eventually cancelled on January 29, 2021, due to controversy around Michelle Latimer's Indigenous heritage.

Premise The series centres on Jared, an Indigenous Haisla teenager and small-time drug dealer in Kitimat, British Columbia, who becomes increasingly aware of the magical events that seem to follow him.

Cast Main Joel Oulette as Jared Crystle Lightning as Maggie, Jared's mother Kalani Queypo as Wade Nathan Alexis as Crashpad, Jared's best friend Anna Lambe as Sarah Georgina Lightning as Sophia, Jared's grandmother

Supporting Craig Lauzon as Phil Nelson, Jared's father Joel Thomas Hynes as Richie, Maggie's dealer Mark Camacho as Tony Gail Maurice as Georgina Jamie Spilchuk as Mr. Good, a school guidance counselor William C. Cole as Mr. Jacks

Episodes

Production Despite being set in British Columbia, the majority of the show was filmed in and around North Bay, Ontario, although some outdoor establishing shots were filmed in Kitimat. The production was supported by Ontario Creates and regional film organizations in Northern Ontario, which promoted the series as part of growing film production activity in the region. Officials in North Bay stated that the production generated temporary employment opportunities for local crew members and contributed to local businesses through hotel stays, catering, and location rentals during filming. Local media coverage also noted that Trickster was among several productions that increased North Bay’s visibility as a filming destination outside of major production hubs such as Toronto and Vancouver. The costume designer for the series was Adriana Fulop.

In advance of the television premiere, two episodes of the series were screened in the Primetime program at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival, and at the 2020 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival in Sudbury.

The first season was directed and co-written by Michelle Latimer. Following the emergence of questions about the legitimacy of her indigenous status, producers Tony Elliott and Danis Goulet resigned in protest on December 18, 2020, and Latimer resigned from the series three days later. The network did not immediately announce any decision on whether to replace her or simply cancel production of the followup seasons; the show's cancellation was announced in January 2021.

Writer Drew Hayden Taylor criticized the network's decision to cancel the series, writing that "if the chief executive officer of a company does something questionable, you fire the CEO, you don’t dissolve the company." He pointed out that a significant number of indigenous filmmakers are working in the contemporary Canadian film industry, who could easily have been hired to continue the show under new leadership: "The Indigenous film community is thriving, eager and capable of maintaining, maybe even improving, the framework that is already there and continue it forward. Just get a new showrunner. Showrunners come and go all the time in the television industry. I know three that are baristas."

International broadcast In Australia, SBSOnDemand acquired the broadcast rights for the series, where it premiered on October 27, 2020.

In the UK, Syfy acquired the broadcast rights for the series, where it premiered on November 23, 2020.

In the US, The CW acquired the broadcast rights for the series, where it premiered on January 12, 2021.

In Brazil, Globoplay acquired the broadcast rights for the series, where it premiered on March 5, 2021.

Response In its December 2020 year in review, the Canadian film and television industry magazine Playback named Trickster the Scripted Series of the Year.

Writing for The Globe and Mail, Drew Hayden Taylor positioned the series as a leading voice in the contemporary emergence of indigenous speculative fiction, alongside authors such as Cherie Dimaline, Waubgeshig Rice and Yvette Nolan. He linked the genre to indigenous storytelling traditions, which are often based on stories of the fantastical and mystical, and concluded that "Earlier, I mentioned that it was a genre we were interested in exploring. I may have been wrong. I think it’s a genre our Elders were familiar with. We’re just rediscovering it and putting new moccasins on it."

Awards +AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryNomineesResultReferenceCanadian Screen AwardsMay 20, 2021 Best Actor in a Drama Series Joel Oulette Brent Furdyk, "Television Nominees Announced For 2021 Canadian Screen Awards, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Leads The Pack With 21 Nominations". ET Canada, March 30, 2021. Best Actress in a Drama Series Crystle Lightning Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Joel Thomas Hynes Kalani Queypo Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Anna Lambe Georgina Lightning Gail Maurice Best Makeup (Television) Steve Newburn, Emily O’Quinn Code, Kayla Dobilas, Trina Brink — "Episode 104" Best Hair (Television) Ashley Nay, Dann Campbell — "Episode 103" Best Editing in a Dramatic Program or Series Katie Chipperfield — "Episode 102" D. Gillian Truster — "Episode 104" Production Design/Art Direction in a Fiction Program or Series John Dondertman — "Episode 105" Best Visual Effects (Television) Tom Plaskett, Tracy Grant, Dayna Pearce, Matt Philip, Mercedes Delgado, Janis Cudars, Chris Doe, Adam Smith, Sawyer Tomkinson-Hunnef, Jay Stanners — "Episode 104" Best Writing in a Drama Series Penny E. Gummerson — "Episode 105" Best Stunt Coordination Randy Butcher

References

External links