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Slings and Arrows

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The Movie Network (ended 2006)

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emma5000

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Show Summary

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Behind the scenes of a Shakespearean theatre troupe, as troubled artistic director Geoffrey Tennant takes over after the sudden death of his former mentor to direct a production of Hamlet, the play that once drove him into a nervous breakdown. He also has to contend with an American action star as his leading man, an aging prima donna as his leading lady, a scheming general manager, and a ruthless corporate raider.

Episode Guide

S 3 : Ep 6	The Promised End	Aired 8/28/06	go Netflix Subscription Amazon Buy Amazon Prime Free Trial / Subscription
S 3 : Ep 5	All Blessed Secrets	Aired 8/21/06	go Netflix Subscription Amazon Buy Amazon Prime Free Trial / Subscription
S 3 : Ep 4	Every Inch a King	Aired 8/14/06	go Netflix Subscription Amazon Buy Amazon Prime Free Trial / Subscription
S 3 : Ep 3	That Way Madness Lies	Aired 8/7/06	go Netflix Subscription Amazon Buy Amazon Prime Free Trial / Subscription
S 3 : Ep 2	Vex Not His Ghost	Aired 7/31/06	go Netflix Subscription Amazon Buy Amazon Prime Free Trial / Subscription

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Cast & Crew

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Mark McKinney	Richard Smith-Jones
Graham Harley	Cyril
Sean Cullen	Basil
Don McKellar	Darren Nichols
Michael Polley	Frank
Jennifer Irwin	Holly Day

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Fan Reviews (7)

Pure genius

10

By tallactor, Jul 20, 2009

Having in the past three weeks watched all three seasons of "Slings & Arrows" on DVD, I can say without question that this is one of the best shows of any kind I have ever seen. From the brilliance of the writing to the beauty of the acting, this show is television of the highest quality. It manages to be very funny, often darkly so, as well as terrifically moving. There is not a false note in any of this series' eighteen episodes. And it is the rare example of a show that just gets better with every episode. The first season sets a high bar, and each succeeding season clears that bar with ease. The final season, in which artistic director Geoffrey Tennant tries to direct his dying acting idol in "King Lear," is truly magnificent. The entire cast is extraordinary, especially Paul Gross as Tennant, Martha Burns as leading actress Ellen Fanshaw, Stephen Ouimette as former director and now ghost Oliver Welles, Susan Coyne as administrative assistant Anna Conroy, and Mark McKinney as general manager Richard Smith-Jones. And the writing, by regulars Coyne and McKinney as well as Bob Martin, who appears briefly in the first season, is pitch-perfect. If you've never seen this show, I highly recommend it.moreless
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The last smart comedy I've ever watched.

9.0

By sandbur, Apr 08, 2009

I don't watch sitcoms on TV, not any of them and I haven't for several years. They're all a boringly similar substrate that needs to take advantage of lowest-common-denominator humour to "succeed".

"Slings and Arrows" was wickedly original in its concept, brilliantly daring in its presentation, hilariously funny-slash-poignant in its content and just a "who's who" of Canadian talent. And I do mean talent. Paul Gross and Martha Burns as regulars and then in and out of "New Burbage" flitted the likes of Rachel McAdams, Sarah Polley, Colm Feore, Geraint Wyn Davies, Peter Keleghan...and the list goes on.

Over the top storylines about the "creative half", but really, really good comedy.

Alas, I knew it well...moreless
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Outrageous fortune.

9.5

By DeadBabyDoll, Nov 07, 2006

Slings & Arrows follows the triumphs, tragedies and antics behind and in front of the curtain at the fictional New Burbage theatre festival. Each year New Burbage (a fictionalized version of Ontario’s Stratford festival) puts on a different Shakespearian play, Hamlet in the first season, MacBeth in the second and finally King Lear. You don’t have to be an English major to enjoy it, but Shakespeare lovers and drama geeks will get an extra kick out of it. The show was created by Mark McKinney (from The Kids in the Hall), Susan Coyne and Bob Martin; and the starring cast is a who’s who of Canadian television actors sure to inspire many games of “what have I seen that guy in?” The hunky Mountie from Due South, Paul Gross stars as actor Geoffrey Tennant, who returns to the festival now that he’s nearly bankrupt after having a nervous breakdown playing Hamlet seven years earlier. Back at New Burbage, Geoffrey returns to acting and acting up. He takes over for director Oliver Welles (Steven Ouimette) after Oliver falls over drunk and is run over by a truck of hams. Oliver begins to haunt Geoffrey much like the ghost of Hamlet’s father, only snarkier. Season one also stars Gross’s real-life wife Martha Burns as his former flame actress Ellen Fanshaw, Mark McKinney as Richard Smith-Jones, a scheming festival manager looking to sell out, and Rachel McAdams as a young ingénue actress as life quickly imitated art and McAdams herself became well known. Season 2 features Colm Feore (who played the title role in the CBC movie Trudeau) and Geraint Wyn Davies (who played the vampire detective in Forever Knight) as an actor playing MacBeth, directed by Geoffrey, which of course, doesn’t go exactly as planned. Season 2 plays Sundays at 9 pm on Showcase. Season one and two are available on DVD.moreless
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a wonderful show

10

By emma5000, Sep 29, 2006

i've only just seen season 1 of "slings & arrows" on dvd. it has enthralled me right away! to be honest i was mainly interested in seeing paul gross again (i'm huge fan of his and of "due south") but this show has to offer so much more! it has a most brilliant cast, it is very funny, at times even eccentric but then again very tragic and touching.

i just loved the scenes between geoffrey and oliver, the vulnerability and madness added to geoffrey's character, the wonderful love story between kate and jack, the evilness of holly, the self-centredness of claire and darren nichols, the manipulability of richard, geoffrey and ellen finally growing closer again, the sensitive way geoffrey explains the characters to his cast and i have finally discovered the beauty of the words of william shakespeare (not being a native speaker they are not part of the things i heard or read at school) ... i guess there won't be much of a chance for this show being broadcasted where i live. poor switzerland, you won't ever know what you're missing! complement: i've seen season 3 as well in the meantime and loved it as much (or even more) than i loved season 1. you can read my review under "the promised end".

i'm really sad there most likely won't be any more seasons. i would have loved to see more of this most wonderful and brillant show that, judging from the amount of people who have been scoring or tracking it in here, strikes me to be a jewel among todays shows overlooked by a major audience ...moreless
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A behind the scenes of a theater in Canada. With all the warts and all.

10

By ndebrabant1228, Apr 01, 2006

Slings and Arrows is another example of excellent programming from Canada.

The acting is great and the story line goes really well.

The second season had Geraint Wyn Davies and he was wonderful in the part of Henry Breedlove.

I would get the first season and watch it before tackling the second. The first season was Hamlet, the second was Macbeth.
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Watch Full Episodes: Slings and Arrows

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The Promised End

S 3 : Ep 6

Aired 8/28/06 (48:00)
go

Netflix

Subscription

Amazon

Buy

Amazon Prime

Free Trial / Subscription

All Blessed Secrets

S 3 : Ep 5

Aired 8/21/06 (47:00)
go

Netflix

Subscription

Amazon

Buy

Amazon Prime

Free Trial / Subscription

Every Inch a King

S 3 : Ep 4

Aired 8/14/06 (47:00)
go

Netflix

Subscription

Amazon

Buy

Amazon Prime

Free Trial / Subscription

That Way Madness Lies

S 3 : Ep 3

Aired 8/7/06 (49:00)

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Forums: Slings and Arrows

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Best Unknown Show On TV
Judging from the lack of activity on this forum, Slings and Arrows must be largely unwatched here in the US, which is a shame. A...

By louisms, May 12, 2007

02/04/10

10
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canadian shows
i've only just seen two canadian show (or shows with a big canadian influence) to be honest and that's "slings & arrows" and "due...

By emma5000, Sep 28, 2006

06/13/07

7
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a wonderful show!
being a huge fan of paul gross i've ordered season 1 on dvd from canada (i guess it won't ever be broadcasted in switzerland) and ...

By emma5000, Sep 24, 2006

05/07/07

8
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Season 3
Season 3 (which I understand to be the final in the "trilogy") starts in Canada on TMN July 24th, 10pm:http://www.themovienetwork....

By MorganPlus8, Jun 28, 2006

04/08/07

3
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Has anyone seen Season 3?
Do Geoffrey and Ellen wind up together?

By mlouprice, Nov 06, 2006

12/08/06

3
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