May 21, 2015 (2015-05-21) – August 4, 2016 (2016-08-04)
Between is a Canadian science fictiondrama television series which debuted on Citytv on May 21, 2015. Created by Michael McGowan, the series stars Jennette McCurdy as Wiley Day, a pregnant teenage daughter of a minister living in the small town of Pretty Lake, which is coping with a mysterious disease that has killed everybody over the age of 21.[1]
The series is a co-production between Citytv and Netflix, which distributes the series outside Canada as a Netflix Original Series.[1][2] The series was renewed for a second season on July 8, 2015, which premiered on June 30, 2016.[3] Though the series was never officially cancelled, no news has been released about the series since the last episode of the second season aired on August 4, 2016.
Plot
Between is the story of a small town called Pretty Lake and surrounding rural area under siege from a mysterious disease that has wiped out everybody aged 21 and older. The series also explores numerous themes: the power vacuum that results when the government quarantines a 10 square mile zone and leaves the inhabitants to fend for themselves; the desire of inhabitants to escape, ignoring that they will spread the deadly disease to the entire planet; and the effect of hormonal teenaged/young adult angst becoming the guiding force for an entire community.
Charles "Chuck" Lott is an entitled kid from a rich family who had been on the school hockey team, and assumes the role of a leader among the survivors, including several of his siblings. Their father, Charles Lott Sr., was the town's wealthiest person, owning half the town. Having died after the first episode, he is seen as a corpse in the second.
An outbreak of unexplained illness arises in the small town of Pretty Lake and leads to the death all people over the age of 21. The government puts the city in quarantine to prevent the disease from spreading. Locked, the people who are still alive try to find a way out and an explanation for these deaths while dealing with personal problems.
2
2
"Who's the Boss"
Jon Cassar
Peter Mitchell
May 28, 2015 (2015-05-28)
102
The government orders the survivors in Pretty Lake to burn the bodies of their loved ones who died of the viral outbreak, after which they will lift the quarantine. Wiley faints and is taken to the fire pit of bodies. Adam thinks that a scientist named Art Carey has something to do with these unexplained deaths. Chuck's sister Amanda accidentally sets fire to the supermarket containing the town's major food supply, and blames it on Ronnie.
3
3
"Crossing Lines"
Jon Cassar
Malcolm Macrury
June 4, 2015 (2015-06-04)
103
The government maintains the quarantine, and restricts airspace over Pretty Lake. Frannie is in danger on the farm when a tiger breaks loose from the local zoo. Chuck accuses Ronnie of murdering his sister Lana, and Gord is shot trying to help. Power goes down and Wiley and Adam think it's the perfect time to try to escape.
4
4
"Love Hurts"
Michael McGowan
Story by : Michael McGowan Teleplay by : Michael McGowan & Blain Watters
June 11, 2015 (2015-06-11)
104
Ms. Amy Symonds, who turns 22, fears she may be the next victim of the virus; Chuck punishes a kid who wrecks a car; Melissa searches for Wiley and her baby. Ronnie exaggerates the drugs and tries to do something to shock everyone.
5
5
"End of the Rope"
Michael McGowan
Story by : Mark Bacci Teleplay by : Michael McGowan & Blain Watters
June 18, 2015 (2015-06-18)
105
Ellen interrogates Adam about remaining residents in Pretty Lake; Chuck's friend collapses and needs to get out of the quarantine zone. Wiley and Pat make an irreversible mistake.
6
6
"War"
Michael McGowan
Story by : Michael McGowan & Ellen Vanstone Teleplay by : Michael McGowan & Blain Watters
June 25, 2015 (2015-06-25)
106
Adam thinks he may have found a way out of Pretty Lake: Chuck and the Creekers agree to a ceasefire, but it will require Ronnie to make a sacrifice. Melissa convinces Wiley to reveal who is the father of her child.
After four weeks stuck in quarantine, Pretty Lake residents are already running out of food and the despair to escape becomes the highest priority among them.
8
2
"Us vs. Them"
Richard Bota
Sam Egan
July 7, 2016 (2016-07-07)
July 1, 2016
202
After a tragic accident, Chuck returns to Pretty Lake. A strange scientist enters Pretty Lake claiming to have a cure and the hope and distrust resurge among the youngers.
9
3
"Hope"
Richard Bota
Sam Egan
July 14, 2016 (2016-07-14)
July 1, 2016
203
Ronnie discovers an abandoned place where a group of survivors led by Renee tries to live day after day. Wiley has to make a choice that could change her life. Adam and Chuck go in search of answers.
Wiley and Liam seek someone about to turn 22 years to test the cure. Frannie and Harrison begin a search for answers. The reign of Renee in The Horde may be at stake.
11
5
"Horatio Rising"
Michael McGowan
Sandra Chwialkowska
July 28, 2016 (2016-07-28)
July 1, 2016
205
Adam gets what he wanted and risks everything in a plan that may cost the lives of everyone in Pretty Lake. Wiley takes the lead within the fence. Minister Miller orders total extermination of the inhabitants of the town.
12
6
"Don't Look Back"
Michael McGowan
Sandra Chwialkowska
August 4, 2016 (2016-08-04)
July 1, 2016
206
Adam continues trying to get out all the vaccinated citizens of Pretty Lake before the extermination authorized by Minister Miller. Wiley failed negotiations with Renee, which could cost Mark's life.
Production
The series was originally set for a season of six one-hour episodes, co-produced and financed by Citytv and Netflix as part of a collaboration deal. The series represents the first major television solo starring role for McCurdy.
Production of season 1 began on October 20, 2014. Citytv aired an exclusive preview of the series during their broadcast of the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, and the series premiered on May 21, 2015.[6]
Jesse Carere was promoted to managing director for season 2.[7] Production of season 2 began in January 2016, with six one-hour episodes like the first season.[8] The series shot through March 11, 2016, with two new characters, Liam (played by Steven Grayhm) and Renee (played by Mercedes Morris).[9]
Web series
Between the Lines
As an accompaniment to the show, a web series called Between the Lines has been released, featuring eight two-minute webisodes. The web series follows the character Amanda as she interviews students at Pretty Lake High as an assignment for the school's yearbook. The series begins pre-outbreak, and continues throughout the quarantine and ensuing chaos, taking an in-depth look at a different character each week. The first installment of the web series was posted on May 22, 2015, with new webisodes made available every week on CityTV.com, after each TV episode broadcasts.[10] The season 2 edition of the web series, a six-part video diary kept by Wiley and Adam, became available on June 23, 2016.[11]
Inside Between
In addition, season 2 includes an after-show web component called Inside Between, hosted by Angelina LeDrew-Bonvarlez and Nicole Stamp[12] and streaming live (then remaining available) on CityTV.com's Between page, directly following each TV episode's initial broadcast on City.
Broadcast
Per the collaboration deal, the series airs terrestrially on City,[13] and streams on Shomi in Canada and Netflix internationally.[14] It is the first series originating from Canada to air on Netflix from its inception.[13]
Episodes air on a week by week basis on City, on Thursdays at 8 pm Eastern Time. During season 1, they were later added on week by week basis on Netflix, for international viewing at 11:30 pm Eastern.[15] Season 1 was added to Netflix's Canadian service one year after its Shomi debut.[14] For season 2, all six episodes were released on Netflix on July 1, 2016, outside Canada.
Ratings
Between's season 1 ratings on Citytv pulled a combined 3.2 million viewers, reaching roughly 10% of the Canadian population. The show performed at 31% in the desirable 18–34 age demographic, significantly above the channel average of 19% for the demographic.[16]
Reception
Rotten Tomatoes reports a 22% approval rating with an average rating of 4.3/10, based on 18 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "A poorly acted regurgitation of post-apocalyptic cliches, Between falls short of Netflix's other high quality offerings."[17] On the review aggregator Metacritic, the series has a weighted average score of 47 out of 100 based on 10 critics, indicating "mixed or average".[18]
Brian Lowry of Variety called Between "an utterly ho-hum addition to Netflix's original lineup".[19] Keith Uhlich of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "It's the end of the world as they know it, and viewers won't care."[20] Mike Hale of The New York Times called it a "familiar ensemble soap opera with conspiracy-theory embroidery".[21] Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "The town is lovely, the premise solid if overfamiliar, but the script lacks both depth and tension (big problem), and McCurdy is one of the few cast members who can act."[22] Kevin P. Sullivan of Entertainment Weekly rated it C− and criticized the show's writing.[23] Joshua Alston of The A.V. Club rated it C+ and wrote that the series lacks a compelling hook.[24]
See also
The Girl Who Owned a City (1975), a United States post-apocalyptic novel by O.T. Nelson detailing a pandemic which killed off anyone over the age of 12.
Empty World (1977), a United Kingdom post-apocalyptic novel by John Christopher where a plague kills off all the adults.
The Tribe (1999 TV series), a New Zealand post-apocalyptic television series where the adult population has been wiped out by a deadly virus and the kids become warring tribes.
Jeremiah (TV series), a United States-Canada post-apocalyptic television series where the adult population has been wiped out by a deadly virus.
Gone (novel series) (2008), a United States post-apocalyptic novel series by Michael Grant where anyone over the age of 15 disappear mysteriously.
The Sparticle Mystery (2011), a United Kingdom post-apocalyptic television series detailing an experiment that made anyone over the age of 15 disappear mysteriously.
The Society (TV series) (2019), a United States post-apocalyptic television series where only a group of teenagers remain after their entire town disappear mysteriously.
^k. ip, j.leung – copyright 2008 – Rogers Media Inc. "Rogers Media TV Access". Rogersmediatv.ca. Archived from the original on June 14, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2017.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
