Fortunate Son (TV series)

Last updated
Fortunate Son
Genre
Written by Andrew Wreggitt
Jennica Harper
Directed byStefan Schwartz
Ken Girotti
Starring
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Andrew Wreggitt
  • Stefan Schwartz
  • Tom Cox
  • Jordy Randall
  • Erin Haskett
ProducersBrian Dennis
Jessalyn Dennis
Production companiesUniversal International Studios
Lark Productions
SEVEN24 Films
Original release
Network CBC
ReleaseJanuary 8 (2020-01-08) –
February 26, 2020 (2020-02-26)

Fortunate Son is a Canadian espionage drama television series, which premiered January 8, 2020 on CBC Television. [1] The show is loosely based on the experiences of Mary Cox, the mother of co-executive producer Tom Cox, who helped American draft dodgers cross the border into Canada during the Vietnam War. [2]

Contents

The show takes its name from the 1969 Creedence Clearwater Revival protest song "Fortunate Son".

Premise

Set in 1968, the show centres on Ruby Howard, an American expatriate living in British Columbia with her family involved in antiwar activism who is asked to help troubled American Travis Hunter cross the border into Canada in order to dodge the Vietnam War draft. Meanwhile, CIA handler Vern Lang is setting up a complex operation in order to infiltrate the peace movements on both the American and Canadian sides of the border in an effort to stop draft evasion. [2]

Cast

Production

The show was co-produced with Lark Productions in Vancouver, [4] which is backed by NBCUniversal, and Seven24Films, to be aired on the CBC. Executive producers included Andrew Wreggitt, Tom Cox, Jordy Randall and Erin Haskett, with Brian Dennis producing. Stefan Schwartz and Ken Girotti directed. [5] Andrew Wreggit was executive producer and showrunner, also stating the show's inspiration came from the childhood of Tom Cox and helping draft dodgers cross the American border in the late 1960s. [6] The drama is "inspired" by a true story. [7] In the story, Ruby Howard is loosely based on Mary Cox, the mother of Tom Cox, a producer at Seven24 Films. Cox stressed the TV series was fictional. [8] Cox's family lived in California in the mid-1960s, and when his brother turned 18 in 1965, their mother decided to move the family to Canada. [9] Cox has related that a CIA operative was planted in his family to spy on his parents for their activism. [10]

Moyer [11] and Matchett were announced as co-stars in July 2019. [12] It filmed some locations in southern Alberta. [9] In July 2019, the production took over a main street in Drumheller during its first days of the shoot, setting up vintage cars and extras with 1960s fashion. Drumheller, Tsuu T’ina reserve, Calgary and High River were used as replacement locations for British Columbia. [4]

The soundtrack includes music by bands such as Creedence Clearwater Revival. [13]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date  [14]
1"Fortunate Son"Stefan Schwartz Andrew Wreggitt January 8, 2020 (2020-01-08)
2"Chimes of Freedom"Stefan SchwartzAndrew WreggittJanuary 15, 2020 (2020-01-15)
3"All Along the Watchtower"Stefan SchwartzAndrew WreggittJanuary 22, 2020 (2020-01-22)
4"Eve of Destruction"Stefan Schwartz Jennica Harper January 29, 2020 (2020-01-29)
5"For What It's Worth" Ken Girotti Andrew WreggittFebruary 5, 2020 (2020-02-05)
6"White Rabbit"Ken GirottiAndrew WreggittFebruary 12, 2020 (2020-02-12)
7"Ruby Tuesday"Ken GirottiSarah DoddFebruary 19, 2020 (2020-02-19)
8"Suspicious Minds"Ken GirottiAndrew WreggittFebruary 26, 2020 (2020-02-26)

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Eric Volmers, "Stars of Calgary-shot period drama Fortunate Son see political parallels between then and now". Calgary Herald , January 3, 2020.
  2. 1 2 David Bell, "Fortunate Son brings complex draft-dodging drama to southern Alberta filming locations". CBC News Calgary, August 16, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "Casting Announced as CBC Original Series FORTUNATE SON Begins Production". CBC Media Centre. July 2, 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  4. 1 2 Volmers, Eric (5 July 2019), Calgary-based CBC series Fortunate Son explores the antiwar movement of 1968, Calgary Herald , retrieved 23 February 2021
  5. ↑ White, Peter (2 July 2019), 'Covert Affairs' Kari Matchett & 'True Blood's Stephen Moyer To Star In CBC's Canadian Spy Thriller 'Fortunate Son', Deadline, retrieved 23 February 2021
  6. ↑ Graveland, Bill (6 January 2020), 'Thank you Ken Burns': Actors watch Vietnam doc to prep for '60s anti-war series, Winnipeg, Canada: Winnipeg Free Press , retrieved 23 February 2021
  7. ↑ The cast of CBC's Fortunate Son reflect on the books that changed their lives, Canada: CBC, 26 February 2020, retrieved 23 February 2021
  8. ↑ Volmers, Eric (3 January 2020), Stars of Calgary-shot period drama Fortunate Son see political parallels between then and now, Calgary Herald, retrieved 23 February 2021
  9. 1 2 Bell, David (16 August 2019), Fortunate Son brings complex draft-dodging drama to southern Alberta filming locations, CBC , retrieved 23 February 2021
  10. ↑ Mutabdzija Jaksic, Vanja (12 December 2019), Why you should get hyped for Fortunate Son, CBC, retrieved 23 February 2021
  11. ↑ Martin, Annie (2 July 2019), 'True Blood' alum Stephen Moyer joins new spy thriller series, UPI, retrieved 23 February 2021
  12. ↑ Weiss, Norman (2 July 2019), True Blood's Stephen Moyer and Covert Affairs' Kari Matchett to co-star in 1960s-set CBC Canadian spy thriller Fortunate Son, Prime Timer / Deadline, retrieved 23 February 2021
  13. ↑ Hank, Melissa (7 January 2020), CBC drama Fortunate Son revisits Canada's link to Vietnam War, Canada.com, retrieved 23 February 2021
  14. ↑ "Fortunate Son – Listings". CBC Gem. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
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