October 17(2005-10-17)– December 19, 2005(2005-12-19)
Terminal City is a Canadian miniseries about a woman (Maria del Mar) diagnosed with breast cancer. She's brought in to star on a failing reality television show, turning it into a hit as her life and body begin to change.
Created by Angus Fraser, Terminal City is a daring blend of comedy and drama inspired by Fraser’s near-death experience and his mother’s battle with cancer. Filmed in Victoria, the series weaves themes of breast cancer and reality TV, focusing on life and humor in the face of mortality. Maria del Mar’s unfiltered audition secured her the lead role, which she found emotionally challenging as the demands of her character pushed her into intense and vulnerable territory. Gil Bellows described his portrayal of her husband as a deeply resonant exploration of love and loss.
Terminal City has received widespread acclaim for its bold storytelling, emotional depth, and nuanced performances. Critics have praised its ability to tackle complex themes such as cancer, family, and mortality with a mix of sharp humor and raw honesty. Maria del Mar's portrayal of Katie Sampson has been universally celebrated for its charisma and authenticity, while Gil Bellows' performance as her supportive husband has been noted for its depth and emotional resonance. The series is lauded for its unique blend of absurdist humor, poignant family dynamics, and incisive commentary on reality TV, making it a standout in contemporary drama.
The show has also been recognized with numerous accolades. It won several Leo Awards, including Best Dramatic Series, Best Screenwriting, and Best Direction. At the Gemini Awards, Gil Bellows received a nomination for Best Performance in a Leading Role, while Paul Soles won Best Supporting Actor. Maria del Mar earned the ACTRA Award for Outstanding Female Performance.
Premise
Fraser's plot follows a family woman who finds she has cancer and becomes the star of a reality show simultaneously.[1]
Angus Fraser, a native of Vancouver,[2] was the director-creator, with Rachel Talalay also brought in as a director.[3] As the writer, Fraser was partly inspired by his mother's cancer diagnosis and later recovery, and his own near-death experience when he was stabbed in the heart while working as a bouncer.[2] Originally conceived as a feature film, Terminal City was filmed in Victoria, British Columbia in 76 days.
Fraser combined drama and comedy through the themes of breast cancer and reality tv, he explains "we're watchers of TV and we're victimized by cancer. But this show is about laughter before it's about breast cancer. And it's about life before it's about death. Because death animates our lives, right? We're all going to die, and I think the more you accept that, the richer your life is."[2]
Actor Gil Bellows explained what Fraser "does extremely well is he takes moments that I think lesser writers would turn into a joke, and makes them serious. And he takes moments where they'd go serious, and goes for the joke. So you're being hit with these experiences and responses that are surprising/ I think that's what boundary-pushing subjects do, they surprise you."[2]
Fraser had a hard time finding someone to play Katie. Maria del Mar auditioned after spending the day in the hospital with her child and an attempt to stop smoking. Fraser explained that "she'd had a crisis with her kid that night and she was trying to quit smoking so she was chewing Nicorettes, I told her to take the gum out of her mouth. And she said, 'I can't. I'm addicted to cigarettes and I can barely hang in there.' Well, she finally took it out and then she went on this hysterical monologue, this jag, about heroin addiction [not hers] cigarette addiction, and babies with large heads." The emotion that she put into it won her the part.[2]
On working on Terminal City del Mar said "this show, more so than any other show I've ever worked on before, has the freedom to be more in your face, because we're not saddled with all kinds of network restrictions." Later in series del Mar's character lost 15 pounds and said "I'm exhausted most of the time physically. I've never been a method actor but there's no avoiding the emotional territory playing a character like this."[4]
Bellows believes that his part as Ari, Katie's husband, was "as good and complex a role as I ever had", on the part he said "it really spoke to me, I have children, I'm the grandson of a Holocaust survivor. These shows will get people to talk about the stuff that usually sits in the back of your head spinning before you go to sleep: What's going to happen if I lose you, or what happens if I go." Bellows explained that as they were shooting tragic moments "they're heavy scenes, and you're shaking, you're fighting the tears. You go outside and you'll see crew members in the same place, feeling the same way. One of them will talk about a spouse or relative."[4]
Critical reviews
Andrew Johnston of Timeout gave it five stars, found it compelling, and said the show "prominently counts reality TV among its subjects, but its chief concerns—marriage, family and mortality—are timeless ones that are given fresh urgency by the way screenwriter Angus Fraser approaches them from odd angles." He added that the final result is "in a wry yet raw and understated drama unlike anything else presently airing."[5]
In her review published in the The Ottawa Citizen, Allison Cunningham highlights Terminal City as a bold and emotionally charged drama driven by exceptional performances from Maria del Mar and Gil Bellows. Del Mar captivates as Katie Sampson, a woman facing a cancer diagnosis with humor, strength, and vulnerability, making even the audacious premise of flashing her tumored breast on live TV feel authentic. Bellows delivers a stunning performance as her husband Saul, balancing the weight of his family’s struggles while teetering on the edge of personal collapse. Together, their nuanced portrayals anchor the series, making it a compelling exploration of resilience and human connection.[6]
In his review appearing in The Vancouver Sun, Alex Strachan hails Terminal City as a standout Canadian drama that transcends typical television fare. He commends the series for its intelligent and authentic portrayal of a mother’s battle with breast cancer, avoiding clichés or sensationalism. Strachan praises creator Angus Fraser’s ability to craft relatable, fictional characters that feel more real than dramatized biographies. Highlighting the contributions of directors like Rachel Talalay and Lynne Stopkewich, he underscores their role in elevating the show’s artistic quality. For Strachan, Terminal City exemplifies the potential of Canadian TV to produce original, meaningful, and enduring drama.[7]
Kevin McDonough, in his review for The York Dispatch, commends Terminal City for its daring blend of sharp humor and emotional honesty. He highlights the standout performances, particularly Maria del Mar’s nuanced portrayal of Katie, and praises the series for its ability to balance dark themes with moments of whimsy. Unlike similar shows, Terminal City avoids smugness, offering a refreshingly genuine and engaging take on complex family dynamics and personal challenges.[8]
In his review for The Sentinel, Frazier Moore celebrates Terminal City as a deeply human and darkly humorous drama. He highlights Maria del Mar’s commanding performance as Katie Sampson, praising her ability to convey strength and wit amidst life’s cruel ironies. Moore notes the show’s unique charm in finding humor in adversity, balancing its emotional depth with sharp, relatable moments. Gil Bellows also earns praise for his nuanced portrayal of Katie’s supportive husband, making Terminal City a standout blend of humor, humanity, and heartbreak.[9]
In his review for The Boston Globe, Matthew Gilbert praises Terminal City for its bold mix of humor and emotional depth in tackling the weighty subject of cancer. He commends the show’s ability to balance absurdist moments, like Katie Sampson’s backyard golf outbursts, with poignant family dynamics and sharp satire on reality TV culture. Maria del Mar and Gil Bellows shine as Katie and Ari, portraying a loving, quirky couple whose bond anchors the series. Gilbert highlights the nuanced portrayal of the Sampson family’s psychological chaos and the show’s gradual exploration of Katie’s reality TV involvement, calling it a droll, touching, and refreshingly unconventional drama.[10]
Outstanding Achievement In Direction - Television Series - Winner - Kari Skogland - Episode 5[16]
Related Research Articles
Maria del Mar del Castillo is a Canadian television actress.
The City is a Canadian television drama series, created by Pierre Sarrazin and Suzette Couture, which aired on CTV from 1999 to 2000.
S. Epatha Merkerson is an American actress. She has received accolades for her work, including an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, four NAACP Image Awards, two Obie Awards, and two Tony Award nominations. She is known for her portrayal of NYPD Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the NBC police procedural drama series Law & Order, a role she played from 1993 to 2010, appearing in 388 episodes of the series. She is also known for playing Reba the Mail Lady on Pee-wee's Playhouse and Sharon Goodwin in the NBC medical drama Chicago Med since the series premiered in November 2015.
Helen Shaver is a Canadian actress and film and television director. After appearing in a number of Canadian movies, she received a Canadian Screen Award for Best Actress for her performance in the romantic drama In Praise of Older Women (1978). She later appeared in the films The Amityville Horror (1979), The Osterman Weekend (1983), Desert Hearts (1985), The Color of Money (1986), The Believers (1987), The Craft (1996),Tremors 2: Aftershocks (1996) and Down River (2013). She received another Canadian Screen Award for Best Actress nomination for the 1986 drama film Lost!, and won a Best Supporting Actress for We All Fall Down (2000). Shaver also starred in some short-lived television series, including United States (1980) and Jessica Novak (1981), and from 1996 to 1999 starred in the Showtime horror series, Poltergeist: The Legacy, for which she received a Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television nomination.
Elizabeth Joan Winch, known professionally as Liz Fraser, was a British film actress, best known for being cast in provocative comedy roles.
Gil Bellows is a Canadian actor, producer, screenwriter, and director. Upon graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, he began acting in films and television. Bellows also earned critical acclaim for his stage performances in The Snake and the Vein (1990–1992), Flaubert's Latest (1992), and his first starring role in Love and a .45 (1994). Bellows gained wide attention for his performance as Tommy, a pivotal role in The Shawshank Redemption (1994). The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards including “Best Picture” and is considered by many to be one of the greatest films ever made.
Michaela Evelyn Ann Strachan is an English television presenter. She is best known for her work with wildlife series such as The Really Wild Show and Springwatch. She lives in South Africa.
Maria Izadora Ussher Calzado-Wintle is a Filipino actress. Known for her roles in blockbusters and independent films, particularly drama, psychological thriller and horror, she has received a selection of accolades, including an Osaka Asian Film Festival Award, an Asian Television Award, a Gawad Urian, a Luna Award and three Metro Manila Film Festival Awards, in addition to nominations for five FAMAS Awards. Her films have collectively earned ₱1.96 billion, making her one of the highest-grossing Filipino box office stars this century.
Linda Pauline Griffiths was a Canadian actress and playwright best known for writing and starring in the one woman play Maggie and Pierre, in which she portrayed both Pierre Trudeau and his then-estranged wife, Margaret. Among her cinematic work, she is best known for her acclaimed, starring role in Lianna.
Gunn Wållgren (born Gunnel Margaret Haraldsdotter Wållgren; ; was a Swedish stage and film actress. She is best remembered for her role in Ingmar Bergman's film Fanny and Alexander.
Angus Fraser is a Canadian film and television writer. He has most recently been executive producer and writer for Terminal City.
Amanda Jane Mealing is an English actress, director and producer, known for portraying the role of Connie Beauchamp in the BBC medical dramas Holby City and Casualty.
Emma Williams is an English actress of stage, screen, TV and radio. She has been nominated four times for an Olivier Award.
Faye Morton is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actress Patsy Kensit. The character first appeared on-screen on 30 January 2007 in the series nine episode "Into the Dark". Kensit had made a former unrelated guest appearance on Holby City's sister show, Casualty, in 2001.
Samuel Noel "Sam" Strachan is a fictional character in the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actor Tom Chambers. The character first appeared on-screen on 3 January 2006, in episode "Mother Love" - series 8, episode 12 of the programme. Chambers was cast in the role after sending a video of himself performing a Fred Astaire dance routine to over 800 television producers, and piquing the interest of BBC Casting Director Julie Harkin. Although he originally auditioned for only a minor role in the show, he was later asked back to audition for the newly created role of major character Sam Strachan.
Madeleine "Maddy" Young is a fictional character in the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actress Nadine Lewington. The character first appeared on-screen on 16 January 2007 in episode "Face Value" - series 9, episode 15 of the programme. Her final appearance in the show was in the Series 11 episode "Just A Perfect Day" when her character was fatally stabbed. Her role in the show was that of a Senior House Officer undergoing her general surgical rotation in Holby's acute admissions unit. Described by the BBC as "enthusiastic [...] fun" and "dedicated to her job", Maddy was created alongside fellow new character General Surgical Consultant Dan Clifford. Her major storylines have centred on their friendship and relationship as well as her troubled family background and her continual rule breaking.
Shannen Maria Doherty was an American actress. During her career in film and television, Doherty played a number of notable characters, including Jenny Wilder in Little House on the Prairie (1982–1983); Maggie Malene in Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985); Kris Witherspoon in Our House (1986–1988); Heather Duke in Heathers (1989); Brenda Walsh in Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–1994), 90210 (2008–2009), and BH90210 (2019); Rene Mosier in Mallrats (1995); and Prue Halliwell in Charmed (1998–2001).
Jessica Steen is a Canadian actress in both film and television, who may be best known for her recurring role as Lisa Stillman, on the CBC primetime drama series Heartland (2007–present).
Mary Kills People is a Canadian drama television series starring Caroline Dhavernas. It premiered on Global on January 25, 2017.
Maria Rodríguez Soto is a Spanish actress from Catalonia. She has featured in films such as The Days to Come, Mamifera, and A House on Fire.
1 2 3 "Cancelled CBC drama gets 12 Gemini nods". Waterloo Region Record. August 30, 2006. pp.A-15.
↑ Strachan, Alex (October 19, 2006). "Lively drama about struggling theater company hauls in struggling theatre three Gemini Awards". Vancouver Sun. pp.D9.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
