Give it to Haddock… He has intelligence
Intelligence, the new drama series from Vancouver’s Chris Haddock, definitely demonstrates that Haddock has the goods to deliver a Canadian TV drama and equally compete with the spectrum of new fall TV dramas produced north of the border.
His follow-up to the highly acclaimed Davinci’s Inquest reveals that his talent meets every existing standard for exciting drama. Those dictated by well-drawn characters along with intriguing, interesting and moving stories. These are things Haddock clearly knows how to achieve.
He also knows how to play his characters. Haddock’s Intelligence casts Ian Tracey as likable gangster Jimmy Reardon, whose business interests lie in the world of cocaine and heroin distribution with a story that, from the start, puts him in his corner even though he may disapprove of his business ethics. Actor Klea Scott aptly demonstrates the counterpoint to him, organized crime unit head Mary Spalding, through well-knit doses of reserve for the job at hand and indulgent exposure to her own personal demons. Her relationship leads you to believe that these two opposing forces respect each other despite being polar opposites on the bandwidth of good or evil.
The one to watch out for is Jimmy’s brother, Michael, played creepily by Bernie Coulson. He promises to be the fly in the ointment. The blunder that he can’t help himself and will likely defeat everyone around him in his quest to insert himself where he can to score the most points, regardless of who he hurts along the way.
Vancouver’s Penthouse nightclub, built in the 1940s, provides the backdrop for Reardon’s Chickadee strip club, not unlike Soprano’s BADA BING.
This is the setting that allows Brother Michael’s Shakespearean-esque character to fester and boil while interfering with Reardon’s slowly crumbling empire. It’s the only place of business that Jimmy is willing to extend to his brother, mistakenly believing that it allows for the slightest intrusion from Michael into his business interests.
And you Brutus?
Watch it to find out.