Departure (TV series)
Departure is a 2019 British-Canadian suspense drama television series commissioned by Canadian broadcaster Global.[1] NBCUniversal pre-bought the series with an intent to air on Universal TV in the United Kingdom and Germany and 13th Street in France and Spain, as well as on Universal TV in Africa and 13th Street in Poland.[2]
| Departure | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Created by | Vince Shiao |
| Written by |
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| Directed by | T.J. Scott |
| Starring | |
| Composer | Keith Power |
| Country of origin |
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| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Cinematography | Craig Wright |
| Editors |
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| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Distributor |
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| Release | |
| Original network | |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | 10 July 2019 – present |
Departure premiered on Universal TV on 10 July 2019. Global scheduled the premiere for 8 October 2020.[3] On 14 July 2020, NBC's streaming service Peacock acquired the series in the United States, where it debuted on 17 September 2020.[4] The distributor is Red Arrow Studios International, although Starlings Television managed the sale to Peacock/Universal. The NBCUniversal media conglomerate purchased the series for Europe and Africa.[3]
On 11 September 2020, the series was renewed for a second season.[5] Production was already underway by 20 September 2020.[6]
Plot
The series follows the investigation by the fictional Transport Safety and Investigations Bureau into the disappearance of a British passenger plane over the Atlantic Ocean, and the reasons behind it.[1]
Cast
Transport Safety and Investigations Bureau personnel:
- Archie Panjabi as Kendra Malley: a TSIB investigator
- Christopher Plummer as Howard Lawson: the senior manager of the TSIB and Kendra's mentor
- Kris Holden-Ried as Dominic Hayes: a TSIB investigator and Kendra's partner
- Peter Mensah as Levi Hall: a senior TSIB investigator
- Claire Forlani as Janet Friel: an MI5 officer assigned to the investigation
- Tamara Duarte as Nadia: a TSIB investigator
- Mark Rendall as Theo: a TSIB investigator
British Global Airlines Flight 716 crew and passengers:
- Allan Hawco as Richard Donovan: the pilot of Flight 716
- Tyler Fayose as Arthur Delaney: the co-pilot of Flight 716
- Chloe Farnworth as Leah Sims: a flight attendant on Flight 716
- Rebecca Liddiard as Madelyn Strong: the sole survivor of Flight 716
- Kristian Bruun as Daniel Hoffman: a passenger on Flight 716
- Emilio Doorgasingh as Hassan Esmaili: a former Iranian terrorist and secret Israeli double agent, who is a passenger on Flight 716
Additional characters:
- Alexandre Bourgeois as AJ Malley: Kendra's adopted son
- Shazad Latif as Ali Basra: Madelyn Strong's boyfriend
- Evan Buliung as Derek Strong: Madelyn Strong's father
- Sasha Roiz as Pavel Bartok: the CEO of Bartok Airways
- Chantelle Han as Su-Lin Donovan: Richard Donovan's wife
- Ryan Pierce as Hugh Keehlar: Richard Donovan's secret husband
- Dougray Scott as Ethan Moreau: the CEO of British Global Air
- Mark Lutz as Gavin Malley: Kendra's late husband
- Paris Jefferson as Gillian Malley: Gavin's sister
Episodes
| No. | Title [7] | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Vanished" | T.J. Scott | Vince Shaio | 10 July 2019 (UK) | 354600-1 |
| At Kennedy Airport in New York City, Madelyn Strong, returning to her fiance Ali in London, misses her scheduled flight and instead boards British Global Air Flight 716. In charge of the flight, Captain Donovan appears distracted; he locks the First Officer out of the cockpit and appears to take control of the aircraft with the intent of crashing it. BGA 716 suffers an explosive decompression, with the First Officer, flight attendant and Madelyn apparently ejected in flight. The aircraft disappears over the Atlantic Ocean and Kendra Malley, on leave from the TSIB after an accident which killed her husband, is recalled to lead the investigation and find the aircraft before any survivors succumb to hypothermia. She is partnered with Dominic Hayes, a former police officer, who immediately suspects a terrorist link to the disappearance. In the course of the investigation, Dom discovers Donovan was leading a double life. Using pings from the aircraft ACARS system, Kendra narrows down the search area, which allows search teams to locate a single survivor – Madelyn. | |||||
| 2 | "Survivor" | T.J. Scott | Malcolm MacRury | 17 July 2019 (UK) | 354600-2 |
| Madelyn is recovered from the crash site and rushed into surgery, suffering from a possible concussion. Donovan's husband is questioned; he was aware of Donovan's second family but chose to accept it. Dominic questions Ali over his previous arrest at a protest at the Syrian Embassy, and over a package addressed to him Madelyn received at the airport before departure; the package turns out to be a gift from Madelyn she had left behind in her ride share. Kendra attempts to question Madelyn after she awakens but triggers a seizure. AJ struggles with the death of his father Gavin, convinced that the car accident which killed him occurred under suspicious circumstances - including Kendra's survival and Bartok's possible involvement. Kendra and Dominic are followed and then contacted by agents of the Israeli Mossad, who reveal that Esmaili was not a terrorist, but a retired double agent. The black boxes from BGA 716 are located and the British Navy attempts to recover them using a submersible, but the sub dives below crush depth and implodes, killing the pilot; AJ and his girlfriend Sophia watch via a trojan implanted on Kendra's computer. Madelyn awakens, confused and disoriented, mumbling a cryptic phrase to Dominic before losing consciousness again. | |||||
| 3 | "Prime Suspect" | T.J. Scott | John Krizanc & Ellen Vanstone | 24 July 2019 (UK) | 354600-3 |
| As Madelyn regains consciousness, she struggles to make coherent sense of the events preceding the crash. A former colleague of Donovan's comes forward, claiming the night before the crash, whilst intoxicated, Donovan admitted his intention was to take his own life the following day. A search of Donovan's house uncovers a key to a storage locker, which is found to contain a flight simulator pre-programmed with a virtual reconstruction of the crash. Esmaili's DNA sample is provided by the Mossad; it does not match the blood recovered from Madelyn's raft. AJ finds himself being hunted by the police after spray-painting a plane belonging to Bartok; he and Sophia argue and she leaves him. Continuing to spy on Kendra through her computer, he discovers that his father was schizophrenic, and having gone off his medication, tried to kill himself and Kendra by deliberately crashing the car. In the hospital, a suspicious man in hospital scrubs makes an apparent attempt to poison Madelyn, but then turns the needle on her father instead, killing him. | |||||
| 4 | "Sabotage" | T.J. Scott | John Krizanc & Ellen Vanstone | 31 July 2019 (UK) | 354600-4 |
| Madelyn regains consciousness, and identifies Daniel Hoffman as the man in the raft with her. Kendra looks deeper into Hoffman's potential involvement in the case. Madelyn learns of her father's death, while Dominic investigates the suspicious circumstances around it. AJ makes contact with a group planning an embarrassing attack on Bartok; he witnesses Janet leaking information on Kendra, and emails video proof to her. Under scrutiny, Janet's explanation for her actions leaves much to be desired, and she is ejected from the TSIB investigation; AJ, having apparently bugged her computer as well, later sees her meet with Ethan Moreau. Kendra is forced to approach Bartok for help in retrieving the black boxes from the wreckage of the plane. AJ becomes embroiled in a bomb attack on Bartok's car, which misfires when he sees Kendra meeting with Bartok and warns them. He is pursued by the same suspicious man from the hospital, and is hit by a car while trying to escape. | |||||
| 5 | "Grounded" | T.J. Scott | Vince Shaio | 7 August 2019 (UK) | 354600-5 |
| AJ recovers from his injuries in hospital; Howard removes Kendra from the investigation and replaces her with Levi, citing the appearance of impropriety given AJ's involvement in the attack on Bartok. Kendra retrieves AJ's laptop, and views further incriminating footage of Janet and Ethan Moreau. She is attacked the same assailant who attempted to murder AJ, but Dominic intervenes and the attacker escapes with the laptop. Kendra and Dominic inform Howard of the link between Janet and Ethan; he tells them that the British Navy is planning a second attempt to retrieve the black boxes, although Dominic later confirms this is not true. Theo and Kendra meet with a university professor who tells them that Hoffman was convinced there were security flaws in the software controlling the BGA aircraft. AJ reveals that the trojan he used to record Janet and Ethan was unknowingly installed by Howard, linking him to the conspiracy. Kendra, Dominic, Nadia and Theo put the official investigation to one side and work together, with the help of Bartok and his submersible, to retrieve the black boxes from the sea floor. As Nadia dives on the aircraft, Esmaili's body is discovered at the controls of BGA 716. | |||||
| 6 | "End Game" | T.J. Scott | Stephanie Tracey | 14 August 2019 (UK) | 354600-6 |
| Nadia recovers the black boxes. Ethan pressures Howard to produce a finding of terrorism as the cause of the crash. Howard and Levi listen to the cockpit voice recording; Howard suggests it indicates Esmaili crashed the aircraft as an act of fundamentalist terrorism, and recommends Levi close the case. Kendra finds Hoffman's files on the security vulnerability hidden on his gaming console; Janet intercepts her and tries to take it, but accidentally stabs herself with a poison needle intended for Kendra. Hoffman's files reveal his plan to take control of the aircraft to demonstrate the security flaw. Kendra, Dominic, Nadia and Theo, with Levi's assistance, recreate the accident using a type-equivalent aircraft, with Ethan on board and Howard watching via television. Theo recreates Hoffman's interference, forcing Ethan to admit his involvement while blaming Howard; Howard, watching, agrees to provide information implicating Ethan. Donovan and Esmaili are cleared; Esmaili's alias is credited with attempting to save the aircraft after Donovan became incapacitated. Howard and Ethan are arrested. Bartok subsequently invests in British Global Air, saving the aircraft program and making a profit; Kendra, suspicious, confirms the professor who led them to Hoffman's whistleblowing activity received a large payment after their initial conversation, suggesting that Bartok manipulated the investigation for his own financial gain. | |||||
Production
Location filming took place in several cities of Ontario, including City of Cambridge, Hamilton, and Toronto, in 2018. In Cambridge, the City Hall was used to represent Scotland Yard and Cambridge University.[8] In January 2019, filming shifted to London.[9][10] Shooting was completed in 40 days.[11]
Reception
As of early October 2020, the series had a 78% "certified fresh" rating based on nine reviews on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
The Hollywood Reporter was impressed with some aspects of the series but concluded its review with this comment: "just enough enticing elements to pique curiosity, but lacking the execution needed to actually be good".[12] The Variety review was quite positive and particularly praised Panjabi and Plummer in a "drama that punches above its weight".[13] Based on viewing the first two episodes, the Toronto Star reviewer commented that "the action is as taut and absorbing as any detective thriller".[11]
Second series
Already in production in September 2020, the second series was to feature the crash of an automated high-speed train travelling to Chicago from Toronto. The leads were again scheduled to be Plummer and Panjabi. A brief summary of the plot stated that the series would focus on the investigation:
into an accident that leaves multiple deaths in its wake and a web of potential suspects: the tech visionary who invented the train's control system; the anti-technology politician, and the FBI prisoner who disappears after the crash. When the feds swoop in to initiate a manhunt, Kendra's investigation evolves from finding the causes of the crash to working with federal agents to capture the fugitive – who may be the root cause of the entire disaster.[3]
Christopher Plummer died on the 5th of February 2021. It is unknown if he completed filming for Season 2.
References
- Tartaglione, Nancy (13 November 2018). "Archie Panjabi, Christopher Plummer Embark For Departure Event Series". Deadline Hollywood.
- Clarke, Stewart (7 January 2019). "NBCUniversal Lands Archie Panjabi, Christopher Plummer Drama Departure". Variety.
- ""Archie Panjabi and Christopher Plummer to Return to Departure Season 2". www.tv-eh.com. 10 September 2020.
- White, Peter (14 July 2020). "Canadian Drama Departure;; Takes Flight At Peacock As Streamer Unveils Premiere Date For A.P. Bio". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- "Departure Begins Production on Season Two; Archie Panjabi and Christopher Plummer to Return". The Futon Critic. 11 September 2020.
- "Christopher Plummer on his new series Departure". www.mimicnews.com. 16 September 2020.
- "Departure – Listings". Next Episode. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Cambridge city hall to stand in for Scotland Yard in new film project". CBC News.
- "Cambridge Filming Projects November 2018". CBC News.
- "Where Is Departure Filmed?". The Cinemaholic. 17 September 2020.
- "Vincent Shiao never expected his plane crash series Departure to get made — let alone star Christopher Plummer and Archie Panjabi". Toronto Star. 2 October 2020.
- "Departure: TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
- "Archie Panjabi and Christopher Plummer Make for a Thrilling Departure: TV Review". Variety. 15 September 2020.
