Continuum (TV series)

Last updated
Continuum
Continuum Title Card.png
Genre
Created by Simon Barry
Starring
Music by Jeff Danna
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes42 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Simon Barry
  • Sara B. Cooper
Production locationsVancouver, British Columbia, Canada / Riverview Hospital, Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
CinematographyJoel Ransom
Running time44 minutes [1]
Production companies
Original release
Network Showcase
ReleaseMay 27, 2012 (2012-05-27) 
October 9, 2015 (2015-10-09)

Continuum is a Canadian science fiction television series created by Simon Barry that premiered on Showcase on May 27, 2012, and ran for four seasons. It was produced by Reunion Pictures, [2] Boy Meets Girl Film Company, [2] and Shaw Media. [2] The plot centres around the conflict between a group of terrorists from the year 2077 who time travel to Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2012 and a police officer who unintentionally accompanies them. In spite of being many years early, the terrorist group decides to continue its violent campaign to stop corporations of the future from replacing governments, while the police officer endeavours to stop them without revealing to everyone that she and the terrorists are from the future.

Contents

Premise

City Protective Services (CPS) law enforcement officer Kiera Cameron lives with her husband and son in 2077-era Vancouver under the corporatocratic and oligarchic dystopia of the North American Union and its Corporate Congress, a technologically advanced high-surveillance police state. When a group of self-proclaimed freedom fighters known as Liber8 escape execution by fleeing to the year 2012, Kiera is involuntarily transported with them. Joining with Detective Carlos Fonnegra of the Vancouver Police Department and enlisting the help of teen computer genius—and future corporate oligarch—Alec Sadler, Kiera works to track down and thwart Edouard Kagame and his followers in the present day while concealing her identity as a time-traveler from the future and tries to find a way to return home to her family.

Prelude

Episodes from the first and second seasons begin with the plot of the show narrated via a voice-over from the point of view of Kiera Cameron.

2077. My time, my city, my family. When terrorists killed thousands of innocents, they were condemned to die. They had other plans. A time travel device sent us all back sixty-five years. I want to get home, but I can't be sure what I will return to if history is changed. Their plan: to corrupt and control the present in order to win the future. What they didn't plan on was me.

Starting with the third season, the narration was replaced by a new sequence that contains a computer-animated version of the time travel device, scenes from previous seasons, and cast credits before ending with Kiera Cameron (portrayed by Rachel Nichols) holding the device, followed by the title card. [3]

Cast and characters

Main

The main cast of the show at Fan Expo Canada 2012. From left: Erik Knudsen, Victor Webster and Rachel Nichols Continuum cast at FanExpo 2012-1.jpg
The main cast of the show at Fan Expo Canada 2012. From left: Erik Knudsen, Victor Webster and Rachel Nichols

Recurring

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1 10May 27, 2012 (2012-05-27)August 5, 2012 (2012-08-05)
2 13April 21, 2013 (2013-04-21)August 4, 2013 (2013-08-04)
3 13March 16, 2014 (2014-03-16)June 22, 2014 (2014-06-22)
4 6September 4, 2015 (2015-09-04)October 9, 2015 (2015-10-09)

The first season has 10 episodes. On August 25, 2012, Showcase renewed Continuum for a second season of 13 episodes, [4] which premiered on April 21, 2013, on Showcase in Canada, May 23, 2013, on Syfy in the UK, and June 7, 2013, on Syfy in the US. [5] On June 5, 2013, Continuum was officially renewed for a third season, [6] which premiered on March 16, 2014, on Showcase in Canada and April 4, 2014, on Syfy in the US. [7] [8]

During an interview in May 2014, Simon Barry revealed that he had 7 to 10 seasons in mind for Continuum. [9] Showcase announced on December 8, 2014, that Continuum had been renewed for a fourth and final season of six episodes, [10] which began airing on September 4, 2015, on Showcase in Canada, [11] and September 11, 2015, on Syfy in the US. The series concluded, with a complete and final outcome to the storyline, on October 9, 2015.

Production

Development

Series creator Simon Barry explains how the show was picked up by Showcase:

I had developed the idea for US networks (where I had been selling for several years, but not getting picked up) and before I got a chance to take Continuum out and pitch it, I was hired by CBS to write a different pilot. In the middle of that job, my director friend Pat Williams took a meeting at Showcase Network in Canada and called me in a panic because he didn't have anything to pitch. I gave him the idea for Continuum to pass on to the executives there. They immediately saw the potential and hired me to write a pilot script. Because it was first set up with Showcase, there was much more of an appetite for Sci-Fi and genre bending concepts. Showcase really understood what the show could be from day one. [12]

Broadcast

The series premiered in Canada on May 27, 2012, with Season 1 consisting of ten episodes; [13] and concluded on October 9, 2015, after forty-two episodes.

In French Canada, it debuted on addikTV on November 6, 2013. [14]

It premiered in the UK on September 27, 2012, on Syfy (UK), [15] [16] with season 2 returning on May 23, 2013, [17] and season 3 on January 28, 2015. [18]

The series premiered in the U.S. on January 14, 2013, on Syfy, [19] [20] with season 2 premiering on June 7, 2013, [21] season 3 on April 4, 2014 [22] and season 4 on September 11, 2015. [23]

The series premiered in Australia on SF on February 21, 2013, [24] and returned for season 2 on October 3, 2013. [25] Season 3 premiered on Syfy (Australia) (the replacement to the now defunct SF) on May 5, 2014. [26]

Cancellation

The show was cancelled mid-story, but was allowed to make a further six episodes in a fourth season to come to a conclusion. Because of the reduced number of episodes, the final season focused primarily on Kiera, Alec, Carlos and Kellog. Emily, Julian and the Traveler were originally all supposed to get larger stories, but their threads had to be dropped. The Traveler, who had a build-up in season three, was meant to be used as a way to branch out and expand the show's mythology by exploring his background in detail and how he was connected to everything. There were also talks about doing an entire season about the members of Liber8 and their individual backstories.[ citation needed ]

Simon Barry has also expressed interest in continuing the Continuum universe and mythology in other mediums if possible, as there were "some great ideas that never made it to the screen" due to the cancellation; for instance, he would love to follow Kellog's story after the final episode as a book or graphic novel. [27] He also says he would love to see fans exploring the universe and characters in the form of fan fiction. [28]

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports an 86% approval rating for the first season, with an average rating of 7.2/10 based on 14 reviews. The website's consensus reads, "Continuum blends time-tested genre ingredients to deliver a sci-fi crime drama that's solidly entertaining despite its overall familiarity." [29] Reviewer Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times described the series as "slick" and highlighted its attention to detail. [30] Reviewer David Hinckley of the New York Daily News compared Continuum positively to Life on Mars , another series with a time travelling police officer, and gave the show three stars out of five. [31] According to Hinckley, the series has potential to do well, and if it "doesn't aim to soar, it executes the basics well". [31]

Rotten Tomatoes gave an 80% approval rating for the second season, with an average rating of 6.1/10 based on 5 reviews, [32] a 100% approval rating for the third season, with an average rating of 8.4/10 based on 7 reviews, [33] and an 88% approval rating for the fourth season, with an average rating of 8.0/10 based on 8 reviews, [34]

Awards

On January 15, 2013, the day after the U.S. launch, the Canadian Screen Awards nominated Continuum for 5 Screenies: Best Drama Series, Writing, Direction, Music and Visual Effects. It won in the latter category. The show received a record 16 Leo Award nominations. [35]

YearAwardCategoryRecipientsOutcome
2013 Leo Awards Best Dramatic SeriesContinuumWon
Best DirectionWilliam Waring, "Family Time"Won
Best DirectionPatrick Williams, "Endtimes"Nominated
Best ScreenwritingSimon Barry, "Endtimes"Won
Best CinematographyDavid Pelletier, "Endtimes"Nominated
Best EditingAllison Grace, "Family Time"Won
Best EditingAllan Lee, "Endtimes"Nominated
Best Production DesignChris August, "Endtimes"Nominated
Best Costume DesignMaya Mani, "A Stitch in Time"Won
Best Stunt CoordinationKimani Ray Smith, "Wasting Time"Nominated
Best Male Guest PerformanceJesse Moss, "Matter of Time"Nominated
Best Male Guest PerformanceIan Tracey, "Endtimes"Won
Best Supporting ActorRichard Harmon, "Family Time"Won
Best Supporting ActorBrian Markinson, "Endtimes"Nominated
Best Supporting ActressJennifer Spence, "Playtime"Nominated
Best Supporting ActressLexa Doig, "Endtimes"Nominated
Constellation Awards Best Sci-Fi TV SeriesContinuumWon
Best Sci-Fi Film or TV ScriptContinuumWon
Best Female Performance in a Sci-Fi TV Episode Rachel Nichols Won
Outstanding Canadian Contribution to Sci-TV Film or TVContinuumNominated
Saturn Awards (39th) Best Television Presentation ContinuumNominated
Writers Guild of Canada Drama Series Simon Barry, "Second Time"Nominated
2014Leo AwardsBest Picture Editing in a Dramatic SeriesJamie AlainWon
Best Dramatic SeriesContinuumWon
Best ScreenwritingSimon BarryWon
Best CinematographyMichael WaleWon
Best Make-Up in a Dramatic SeriesJennifer KippsWon
Best Stunt Coordination in a Dramatic SeriesKimani Ray SmithWon
Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic SeriesLexa Doig, "Split Second"Won
Best Direction in a Dramatic SeriesWilliam WaringNominated
Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Dramatic SeriesRoger R. CrossNominated
Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic SeriesJennifer Spence, "Second Opinion".Nominated
Canadian Screen Awards Supporting Actress Luvia Petersen Nominated
Visual EffectsContinuumWon
Saturn Awards (40th) Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series ContinuumNominated
Best Television Actress Rachel NicholsNominated
Best Television Supporting Actor Erik KnudsenNominated
2015Saturn Awards (41st)Best Syndicated/Cable Television SeriesContinuumNominated
Best Television ActressRachel NicholsNominated
Best Television Supporting ActorErik KnudsenNominated
Best Television Supporting Actress Lexa DoigNominated
2016 Prix Aurora Awards Best Visual PresentationContinuumNominated
Saturn Awards (42nd) Best Science Fiction Television Series ContinuumWon
Best Television ActressRachel NicholsNominated
Best Television Supporting ActorErik KnudsenNominated

Other media

Zeros 2 Heroes Media Inc. has created an alternate reality game website, Continuum the Game. [36]

The game site also includes a "Comics" section, featuring Continuum: The War Files, which is an eight-part graphic novel that tells of the war going on in 2065 between the Corporations and Liber8. The comic was available only in Canada. [37]

Rittenhouse released a trading card set based on the show in June 2014. [38]

Notes

  1. Although, it was indicated at but never clarified whether Neelon had got orders to do this "job", or he had acted on his own.
  2. Possibly on orders of Catherine, the last leader of Freelancers.
  3. Presumed dead because he wasn't visibly there at the time of shoot-out. Later on, dead body was neither shown nor even mentioned in the episode. No development about his whereabouts till the conclusion of series finale.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Amendola</span> American actor (born 1951)

Tony Amendola is an American actor. He played the Jaffa master Bra'tac in Stargate SG-1 and Pinocchio's creator/father, Geppetto on Once Upon a Time. He also had a recurring role as revolutionary leader Edouard Kagame of Liber8 in the television show Continuum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tahmoh Penikett</span> Canadian actor (born 1975)

Tahmoh Penikett is a Canadian actor. He is known for playing Karl "Helo" Agathon on SyFy's 2004 television series Battlestar Galactica. He has appeared in TV series Supernatural, Dollhouse, the Showcase time travel show Continuum, and as the antagonist Darius in the 2006 racing video game Need for Speed: Carbon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Reardon</span> Canadian actor (born 1975)

John Henry Reardon is a Canadian actor. Prior to 2015, Reardon starred as Blake Laviolette on the CBC Television series Arctic Air and had a recurring role as Greg Cameron on the Showcase series Continuum. As of 2019, Reardon stars as Detective Charlie Hudson on the Canadian television series Hudson & Rex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Magnus</span> Fictional character in Sanctuary

Dr. Helen Magnus is the protagonist and central character of the Canadian fantasy-science fiction television series Sanctuary. She is portrayed by Amanda Tapping. In the series, Magnus is a biologist from Victorian era England, who currently runs the global Sanctuary Network, an organization tasked with finding a series of creatures called "abnormals", and later bringing them to a Sanctuary base for refuge, to protect them from the human population. The character is over two and a half centuries old, having been given her advanced longevity by injecting herself with vampire blood, as well as reliving the 20th century from temporal displacement. After traveling back in time, Magnus had to avoid people, so she isolated herself. In the season 4 finale "Sanctuary For None: Part 2", it was revealed that Magnus spent the 113 years creating a new Sanctuary.

<i>Lost Girl</i> Canadian supernatural drama TV series (2010–15)

Lost Girl is a Canadian supernatural drama television series that premiered on Showcase on September 12, 2010, and ran for five seasons. It follows the life of a bisexual succubus named Bo, played by Anna Silk, as she learns to control her superhuman abilities, help those in need, and discover the truth about her origins. The series was created by Michelle Lovretta and produced by Jay Firestone and Prodigy Pictures Inc., with the participation of the Canadian Television Fund, and in association with Shaw Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claudia Donovan</span> Fictional character

Claudia Donovan, played by Allison Scagliotti, is a fictional character from the US television series Warehouse 13 (2009–14). She has been portrayed as a talented computer hacker and inventor. Her first appearance in season 1 was as an employee of warehouse 13. As Claudia gains experience, her warehouse duties and responsibilities expand to the point where, in the series finale, she becomes the new caretaker of Warehouse 13. Her Partner is Steve Jinks.

<i>Continuum</i> season 2 Season of television series

The second season of the Showcase television series Continuum premiered on April 21, 2013 and concluded on August 4, 2013. The series is created by Simon Barry. The series centers on Kiera Cameron as she time travels from 2077 to 2012 with a group of terrorists, and attempts to find a way home. All the episodes titles in this season use the word "Second."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Last Lunch</span> 13th episode of the 7th season of 30 Rock

"Last Lunch" is the second part of the one-hour series finale of the American television sitcom 30 Rock. It is the thirteenth episode of the seventh season and the 138th episode overall. The episode, directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller and written by series creator Tina Fey and Tracey Wigfield, originally aired as an hour-long episode, along with "Hogcock!", on NBC on January 31, 2013. Guest stars in this episode include Al Roker, Conan O'Brien, and Alice Ripley.

<i>Continuum</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of the Showcase television series Continuum premiered on May 27, 2012 and concluded on August 5, 2012. The series is created by Simon Barry. The series centers on Kiera Cameron as she time travels from 2077 to 2012 with a group of terrorists, and attempts to find a way home. All the episode titles in this season use the word "Time."

<i>Continuum</i> season 3 Season of television series

The third season of the Showcase television series Continuum premiered on March 16, 2014 and concluded on June 22, 2014. The series was created by Simon Barry, and centers on Kiera Cameron as she travels back in time from 2077 to 2012 pursuing a group of terrorists. Kiera is focused on stopping the terrorists, unifying the time line and finding a way back to her time and family. All episode titles in this season use the word "Minute".

<i>Lost Girl</i> season 4 Season of television series

Lost Girl is a Canadian supernatural drama television series that premiered on Showcase on September 12, 2010. The series was created by Michelle Lovretta and is produced by Jay Firestone and Prodigy Pictures Inc., with the participation of the Canadian Television Fund, and in association with Shaw Media. It follows the life of a bisexual succubus named Bo, played by Anna Silk, as she learns to control her superhuman abilities, help those in need, and discover the truth about her origins.

<i>Lost Girl</i> season 2 Season of television series

Lost Girl is a Canadian supernatural drama television series that premiered on Showcase on September 12, 2010. The series was created by Michelle Lovretta and is produced by Jay Firestone and Prodigy Pictures Inc., with the participation of the Canadian Television Fund, and in association with Shaw Media. It follows the life of a bisexual succubus named Bo, played by Anna Silk, as she learns to control her superhuman abilities, help those in need, and discover the truth about her origins.

"A Stitch in Time" is the premiere episode of the first season of the Canadian series Continuum, and the series' 1st episode overall. The episode originally aired on May 27, 2012, on Showcase. The episode was written by Simon Barry and directed by Jon Cassar.

<i>Z Nation</i> Post-apocalyptic dark comedy series on Syfy

Z Nation is an American horror television series that aired on Syfy, created by Karl Schaefer and Craig Engler, and was produced by The Asylum. The first season of 13 episodes premiered on September 12, 2014. Z Nation was filmed in the Spokane, Washington, area.

"Fast Times" is the second episode of the first season of the Canadian series Continuum, and the series' 2nd episode overall. The episode originally aired on June 3, 2012, on Showcase. The episode was written by Jeff King and directed by Jon Cassar.

<i>Continuum</i> season 4 Season of television series

The fourth and final season of the Showcase television series Continuum was officially ordered on December 8, 2014. The season was originally slated to premiere on July 26, 2015, but was pushed back, and premiered on September 4, 2015, on Showcase Canada. The fourth season, and the series, concluded on October 9, 2015.

<i>Shadowhunters</i> 2016 American supernatural drama television series

Shadowhunters, also known as Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments, is an American supernatural drama television series developed by Ed Decter, based on the novel series The Mortal Instruments written by Cassandra Clare. It premiered in North America on Freeform on January 12, 2016. Primarily filmed in Toronto, Canada, the series follows Clary Fray, who finds out on her eighteenth birthday that she comes from a long line of Shadowhunters, human-angel hybrids who hunt down demons, and has to deal with the struggle of forbidden love.

"Lost Hours" is the premiere episode of the fourth season of the Canadian TV series Continuum, and the series' 37th episode overall. The episode aired September 4, 2015 on Showcase, and was released online two weeks early on August 21. The episode was written by Simon Barry and directed by Patrick Williams.

References

  1. Showcasedotca . (April 29, 2013). "Social Media Expands the World of Continuum". YouTube. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 ""Continuum" A Test of Time (TV Episode 2012) - IMDb". IMDb . Retrieved 2022-10-07.
  3. Continuum New Season3 Opening Credits.
  4. b3rt4 (August 25, 2012). "Continuum - Showcase Orders Second Season". Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. Matt Webb Mitovich (March 26, 2013). "Syfy Announces 'Continuum' Season 2 Premiere Date". TVLine. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  6. Pugsley, Sarah (June 3, 2014). "Coming to Showcase in 2013/14". Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  7. "Season Three". Continuum facebook. February 6, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  8. "Continuum Season 3: Coming April 2014". YouTube. February 3, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  9. Roco (May 14, 2014). "Continuum Eyes 10 Seasons To Complete Story, Plus Kiera's New Future Teased". Archived from the original on July 1, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  10. Etan Vlessing (December 8, 2014). "'Continuum' Renewed for Fourth and Final Season in Canada". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  11. Barry, Simon. "This just in from @ShawMediaTV_PR - @ContinuumSeries finale season will now premiere in Canada Friday September 4th 9pm on @showcasedotca". Twitter. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  12. Anders, Charlie Jane (24 June 2012). "The Origins of Continuum, Our New Favorite Time Travel Show". io9. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  13. "'Continuum Sponsorship Opportunities'" (PDF). Shaw Media Advertising Release. March 22, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  14. Meunier, Audrey (January 27, 2013). ""Continuum" Saison 1" ["Continuum" Season 1] (in French).
  15. Munn, Patrick (August 23, 2012). "Syfy UK Acquires Rights To Canadian Series 'Continuum'". TVWise. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  16. Munn, Patrick (August 23, 2012). "Syfy UK Sets Premiere Date For 'Continuum'". TVWise. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  17. Munn, Patrick (April 11, 2013). "Syfy UK Sets Premiere Date For 'Continuum' Season 2". TVWise. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  18. The TVWise Team (December 3, 2014). "Syfy Sets UK Premiere Date For 'Continuum' Season 3". TVWise. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  19. "Syfy Is Importing Canada's Sci-Fi Drama Continuum". August 27, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  20. Anders, Charlie (November 12, 2012). "The amazing time travel cop show Continuum coming to Syfy in January". IO9. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  21. Mitovich, Matt (March 26, 2013). "Exclusive: Syfy Picks Up Continuum Season 2, Sets Premiere Date". TVLine. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  22. Bibel, Sara (April 1, 2014). "'Continuum' Season 3 To Premiere Friday, April 4 on Syfy". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 4, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  23. Webb Mitovich, Matt (July 30, 2015). "Continuum's Final Season Gets Syfy Premiere Date — Watch the Trailer". TVLine. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  24. Knox, David (February 5, 2013). "Airdate: Continuum TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  25. Hopewell, Luke (July 30, 2013). "Australian Television Is Still Woefully Broken". Gizmodo. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  26. DHiggins (May 5, 2014). "New this week: Continuum, Secret Meat Business, House of Cards finale & Powerpuff Girls 15th anniversary" . Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  27. Continuum Creator Simon Barry Talks Characters, Conclusions, and What’s Next (Exclusive Interview)
  28. Exclusive: Continuum creator Simon Barry on the series finale, time travel rules and what's next
  29. "Continuum: Season 1". www.rottentomatoes.com. Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  30. Genzlinger, Neil (February 8, 2013). "They're From the Future, and Canada: 'Continuum' on Syfy Is Latest Canadian TV Import". The New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  31. 1 2 Hinckley, David (January 14, 2013). "TV review: 'Continuum'". Daily News. New York. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  32. "Continuum: Season 2". www.rottentomatoes.com. Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  33. "Continuum: Season 3". www.rottentomatoes.com. Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  34. "Continuum: Season 4". www.rottentomatoes.com. Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  35. "2013 Leo Nominations!" . Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  36. "Continuum the Game". Zeros 2 Heroes Media Inc. Archived from the original on November 28, 2014. Retrieved 2013-10-29.
  37. "Continuum: The War Files". Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-22.
  38. "2014 Rittenhouse Continuum Seasons 1 and 2 Trading Cards". Cardboard Connection. Retrieved 2014-06-20.