Continuum (TV series)

Continuum
Continuum intertitle
Genre
Created by Simon Barry
Starring
Music by Jeff Danna
Country of origin Canada
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 42 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Simon Barry
  • Sara B. Cooper
Location(s) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada / Riverview Hospital, Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
Cinematography Joel Ransom
Running time 44 minutes[1]
Production company(s)
Release
Original network Showcase
Original release May 27, 2012 (2012-05-27) – October 9, 2015 (2015-10-09)
External links
Website www.showcase.ca/continuum/

Continuum is a Canadian science fiction series created by Simon Barry and produced by Reunion Pictures, Boy Meets Girl Film Company, and Shaw Media.

The series centers on 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. The show premiered on Showcase on May 27, 2012, with ten episodes,[2] and concluded after four seasons and forty-two episodes on October 9, 2015.

Prelude

Episodes from the first season and the second 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. But 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.

The only notable difference in the second season is that in several episodes, visuals kept changing with each affected episode containing a different scene/shot for the same points in Kiera's narration. Most of the time where changes occurred, visuals were picked from thematically matching content of respective preceding episode for her relative words in the narration.

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 finishing with Kiera Cameron (Rachel Nichols) holding the device, followed by the title card.[3]

Plot

City Protective Services (CPS) law enforcement officer Kiera Cameron (Rachel Nichols) lives a quiet, normal life with her husband and son in 2077-era Vancouver. Under the corporatocratic and oligarchic dystopia of the North American Union and its "Corporate Congress," life goes on in apparent freedom under 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 into the past. Joining with Detective Carlos Fonnegra (Victor Webster) and the Vancouver Police Department, and enlisting the help of teen computer genius Alec Sadler (Erik Knudsen), Kiera works to track down and thwart Edouard Kagame (Tony Amendola) and his followers in the present day while concealing her identity as a time-traveler from the future.

Kagame and the members of Liber8 plot to alter the past to avert the rise of a dictatorial and Orwellian corporate regime to be stopped at all costs. Meanwhile, Kiera knows that Alec Sadler will become the future corporate mogul and head of SadTech, one of the mega-corporations that dominate the world in 2077. Liber8 also attempts to alter the past by going after an agricultural chemical company Sonmanto, which through the use of genetically modified food plants created a situation in the future where independent small farms are illegal. Sonmanto, also makes a bio-weapon, in the future, for which they also sell the antidote. In season three, Liber8 steals a tanker truck full of a key chemical mixture of the precursor to the bio-weapon.

Fighting to return home to her family, Kiera finds that her presence in 2012, and that of the members of Liber8, may be no accident at all.

Time travel

Throughout the series, multiple theories are suggested as to the nature of time travel and its effect on the timeline of events leading from 2012 to 2077.

In discussion with Kiera, Alec posits that his future self recalled his interactions with Kiera in the past, potentially inspiring the creation of his own cybernetic technology from her futuristic implants and equipment and leading to a "time loop" whereby conditions in 2077 cannot be altered. Otherwise, Alec and Kiera consider that the presence of Kiera and of Liber8 in the past may have already altered the timeline and created a separate chain of events, and thus the state of the world in 2077 is no longer certain.

Evidence for each possibility is presented over the course of the series. Ultimately, the first season finale, "Endtimes," reveals that the elderly Alec Sadler orchestrated the time jump that sent Kiera and the members of Liber8 back in time and that he knew precisely what was to occur in 2012. At the start of the second season, the contents of a message sent from the 2077-era Alec to his younger self reveal that his apparent goal is to avert the corporate-dominated future that his actions and inventions created. It is, however, unclear whether this is possible and what implications it may have for the unfolding timeline; it is presently unclear if future Alec has any memory of the events of 2013 since Kiera went to the past, although the fact that he appears to have been aware that Kiera would be in a position to meet himself—implanting certain codes and messages in her suit and CMR—along with his knowledge of the freelance time travelers that Kiera learned about during her time in the past, suggests that at least some version of the time-travel happened before.

It is established in the third season premiere that changing history is possible; when Alec travels back in time to the previous week to try and save his deceased girlfriend, the timeline he left begins to collapse as it now no longer has an Alec Sadler to become the corporate head of 2077 to send Liber8 and Keira into the past, requiring Kiera to be sent back to mitigate Alec's changes. As a result, there were two Alecs and two Kieras in the new timeline, but the Kiera of the new timeline is soon killed by a man from a different future created by Alec's actions, and the new Alec was killed in a fight with his other self at the conclusion of the third season. During the third season, a new timeline is revealed to have been created, but since this world is now approaching collapse in 2032 due to the machinations of Kellog, the rest of Liber8 decide to work with Keira against their former colleague. At the conclusion of the series, with most of Liber8 dead, Kellog is defeated when he is tricked into using a time machine programmed to take him back to pre-Columbian America, and Keira is able to return to 2077, finding herself in a new world where the elderly Alec Sadler remembers his time with her in 2012 and used her memory to inspire him to create a better world, although Kiera must accept that she cannot be reunited with her son because this world has a version of her in it already.

Series creator and executive producer Simon Barry confirmed that the creative staff established a set of "rules" for the version of time travel depicted, which was further explored as the series progressed.[4]

Technology

Kiera traverses the time portal with her standard City Protection Service equipment: an advanced suit, handgun, multitool, and cybernetic enhancements. The following features are from what is shown, and sometimes explained, throughout the series.

The suit appears metallic, quite akin to an ordinary jumpsuit (i.e., it features a combined shirt and pants), with the following capabilities:

The handgun takes the form of only a gun handle when not activated, but projects a barrel, finger guard and a holographic function display when activated. It has several different kinds of selectable ammunition (e.g., normal bullets, explosive bullets, various tracking beacons or darts). It appears that the gun never needs reloading so the ammunition is probably somehow generated or manufactured by the gun itself and it also has user identification so that it will emit a lethal charge to the user if he/she is unauthorized.

The multitool is a handheld device about as big as the gun handle. It can emit a particle spray that can almost instantly make any organic material (including fingerprints and bodies) visible and analyzable to Kiera's cybernetic sensor enhancements (or those of the suit) at least in a volume as large as a mid-sized room. It can also emit frequencies that can open electronic locks, appears to be capable of opening mechanical locks (the method is not clearly shown, the device is just touched to the lock) and has a medical injector that can apply various drugs (e.g. truth serum, stimulants and tranquilizers).

Kiera is cybernetically enhanced with visual implants that give her data directly overlaid on her visual field, sensors with functions that include biometric detection of close-by people (which can, for example, assist in determining whether a person is lying), other environmental metrics (e.g., precise measurement of various things around Kiera), heat detection and telescopic vision (can clearly see fingerprints on surfaces), and a memory implant that constantly records Kiera's sensory information (at least vision, hearing and smell are mentioned) so that she can recall any recent events with perfect clarity. Her sight and hearing can be live streamed in HD to people who have the tech capability and access. Additionally, when Kiera's suit is in proximity, she gains additional functionality, including complete personnel information on targets, and forensic data processing and computing. However it is not always clear whether a particular function is due to her implants, the suit, or the multitool. It is important to note that none of the enhancements are readily visible, so that Kiera appears as a perfectly normal woman of the twenty-first century.

Cast and characters

Main

The main cast of the show at Fan Expo Canada. From left: Erik Knudsen, Victor Webster and Rachel Nichols

Recurring

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
110May 27, 2012 (2012-05-27)August 5, 2012 (2012-08-05)
213April 21, 2013 (2013-04-21)August 4, 2013 (2013-08-04)
313March 16, 2014 (2014-03-16)June 22, 2014 (2014-06-22)
46September 4, 2015 (2015-09-04)October 9, 2015 (2015-10-09)

The show premiered on Showcase on May 27, 2012. The first season has 10 episodes. On August 25, 2012, Showcase renewed Continuum for a second season of 13 episodes[5] which premiered on April 21, 2013 (Showcase) in Canada, May 23, 2013 (Syfy) in the UK and on June 7, 2013 (Syfy) in the US.[6] On June 5, 2013, Continuum was officially renewed for a third season[7] which premiered on March 16, 2014 on Showcase in Canada and April 4, 2014 on Syfy in the US.[8][9]

During an interview in May 2014, Simon Barry revealed that he had 7 to 10 seasons in mind for Continuum.[10] Showcase announced on December 8, 2014 that Continuum had been renewed for a fourth and final season of six episodes,[11] which began airing September 4, 2015 on Showcase in Canada,[12] and on September 11, 2015 on Syfy in the US. The series concluded 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.[13]

Broadcast

The series premiered in the UK on September 27, 2012 on Syfy (UK),[14][15] with season 2 returning on May 23, 2013,[16] and season 3 on January 28, 2015.[17]

The series premiered in the U.S. on January 14, 2013 on Syfy,[18][19] with season 2 returning June 7, 2013,[20] and season 3 on April 4, 2014.[21]

The series premiered in Australia on SF on February 21, 2013,[22] and returned for season 2 on October 3, 2013.[23] Season 3 premiered on Syfy (Australia) (the replacement to the now defunct SF) on May 5, 2014.[24]

In Canada, the series debuted in Canadian French on addikTV on November 6, 2013.[25]

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports a 80% approval rating for the first season, with an average rating of 7.2/10 based on 10 reviews.[26] Reviewer Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times described the series as "slick" and highlighted its attention to detail.[27] 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.[28] According to Hinckley, the series has potential to do well, and if it "doesn't aim to soar, it executes the basics well".[28]

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.[29]

Year Award Category Recipients Outcome
2013 Leo Awards Best Dramatic Series Continuum Won
Best Direction William Waring, "Family Time" Won
Best Direction Patrick Williams, "Endtimes" Nominated
Best Screenwriting Simon Barry, "Endtimes" Won
Best Cinematography David Pelletier, "Endtimes" Nominated
Best Editing Allison Grace, "Family Time" Won
Best Editing Allan Lee, "Endtimes" Nominated
Best Production Design Chris August, "Endtimes" Nominated
Best Costume Design Maya Mani, "A Stitch in Time" Won
Best Stunt Coordination Kimani Ray Smith, "Wasting Time" Nominated
Best Male Guest Performance Jesse Moss, "Matter of Time" Nominated
Best Male Guest Performance Ian Tracey, "Endtimes" Won
Best Supporting Actor Richard Harmon, "Family Time" Won
Best Supporting Actor Brian Markinson, "Endtimes" Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Jennifer Spence, "Playtime" Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Lexa Doig, "Endtimes" Nominated
Constellation Awards Best Sci-Fi TV Series Continuum Won
Best Sci-Fi Film or TV Script Continuum Won
Best Female Performance in a Sci-Fi TV Episode Rachel Nichols Won
Outstanding Canadian Contribution to Sci-TV Film or TV Continuum Nominated
Saturn Awards Best Television Presentation Continuum Nominated
Writers Guild of Canada Drama Series Simon Barry, "Second Time" Nominated
2014 Leo Awards Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Series Jamie Alain Won
Best Dramatic Series Continuum Won
Best Screenwriting Simon Barry Won
Best Cinematography Michael Wale Won
Best Make-Up in a Dramatic Series Jennifer Kipps Won
Best Stunt Coordination in a Dramatic Series Kimani Ray Smith Won
Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series Lexa Doig, "Split Second" Won
Best Direction in a Dramatic Series William Waring Nominated
Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series Roger R. Cross Nominated
Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series Jennifer Spence, "Second Opinion". Nominated
Canadian Screen Awards Supporting Actress Luvia Petersen Nominated
Visual Effects Continuum Won
Saturn Awards Best Cable Series Continuum Nominated
Best Actress Rachel Nichols Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Erik Knudsen Nominated
2016 Prix Aurora Awards Best Visual Presentation Continuum Nominated

Other media

Zeros 2 Heroes Media Inc. has created an alternate reality game website, Continuum the Game.[30]

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.[31]

Rittenhouse released a trading card set based on the show in June 2014.[32]

Notes

  1. Although, it was indicated to but never clarified that whether Neelon had got orders to do this "job" or he 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 shootout. Later on, dead body was neither shown nor even mentioned in the episode. No development about his whereabouts till the conclusion of series finale.

References

  1. Showcasedotca . (April 29, 2013). "Social Media Expands the World of Continuum". YouTube. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  2. "'Continuum Sponsorship Opportunities'" (PDF). Shaw Media Advertising Release. March 22, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  3. Continuum New Season3 Opening Credits.
  4. Vogt, Tiffany (January 21, 2013). "Rachel Nichols, Victor Webster and EP Simon Barry Delve into the Complex World of the new Syfy Series CONTINUUM". The TV Addict. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  5. b3rt4 (August 25, 2012). "Continuum - Showcase Orders Second Season". Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  6. Matt Webb Mitovich (March 26, 2013). "Syfy Announces 'Continuum' Season 2 Premiere Date". TVLine. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  7. Pugsley, Sarah (June 3, 2014). "Coming to Showcase in 2013/14". Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  8. "Season Three". Continuum facebook. February 6, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  9. "Continuum Season 3: Coming April 2014". YouTube. February 3, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  10. 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.
  11. Etan Vlessing (December 8, 2014). "'Continuum' Renewed for Fourth and Final Season in Canada". The Hollywood Reporter. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  12. 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.
  13. Anders, Charlie Jane. "The Origins of Continuum, Our New Favorite Time Travel Show". io9. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  14. Munn, Patrick (August 23, 2012). "Syfy UK Acquires Rights To Canadian Series 'Continuum'". TVWise. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  15. Munn, Patrick (August 23, 2012). "Syfy UK Sets Premiere Date For 'Continuum'". TVWise. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  16. Munn, Patrick (April 11, 2013). "Syfy UK Sets Premiere Date For ‘Continuum’ Season 2". TVWise. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  17. The TVWise Team (December 3, 2014). "Syfy Sets UK Premiere Date For ‘Continuum’ Season 3". TVWise. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  18. "Syfy Is Importing Canada's Sci-Fi Drama Continuum". August 27, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  19. Anders, Charlie (November 12, 2012). "The amazing time travel cop show Continuum coming to Syfy in January". IO9. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  20. Mitovich, Matt (March 26, 2013). "Exclusive: Syfy Picks Up Continuum Season 2, Sets Premiere Date". TVLine. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  21. Bibel, Sara (April 1, 2014). "'Continuum' Season 3 To Premiere Friday, April 4 on Syfy". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  22. Knox, David (February 5, 2013). "Airdate: Continuum TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  23. Hopewell, Luke (July 30, 2013). "Australian Television Is Still Woefully Broken". Gizmodo. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  24. DHiggins (May 5, 2014). "New this week: Continuum, Secret Meat Business, House of Cards finale & Powerpuff Girls 15th anniversary". Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  25. Meunier, Audrey (January 27, 2013). ""Continuum" Saison 1" ["Continuum" Season 1] (in French).
  26. "Continuum: Season 1". www.rottentomatoes.com. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  27. 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.
  28. 1 2 Hinckley, David (January 14, 2013). "TV review: 'Continuum'". Daily News. New York. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  29. "2013 Leo Nominations!". Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  30. "Continuum the Game". Zeros 2 Heroes Media Inc. Archived from the original on November 28, 2014. Retrieved 2013-10-29.
  31. "Continuum: The War Files". Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-22.
  32. "2014 Rittenhouse Continuum Seasons 1 and 2 Trading Cards". Cardboard Connection. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
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