Departure (TV series)


Departure is a Canadian suspense drama television series created by Vince Shiao. It was commissioned by the Canadian broadcaster Global and the American streaming service Peacock, being produced by Shaftesbury Films, Greenpoint Productions and Corus Entertainment. Starring Archie Panjabi and Christopher Plummer and directed by T. J. Scott, the series premiered on Universal TV in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2019, with Global scheduling the Canadian debut for 8 October 2020. During the first season's release in Canada and the UK, the series averaged more than one million viewers per episode.
In 2021 the series was renewed for a third season. That year, the series was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Dramatic Series.

Cast

Main

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

  • Patrick Sabongui as Shakir Urgessa
  • Savonna Spracklin as Annie Sullivan
  • Mikaela Dyke as Terry-Lynn Crawford
  • Brit MacRae as Jessica Hicks
  • Cihang Ma as Michelle
  • Tyler Elliott Burke as Arlo Shank
  • Eric McCormack as Cole Banks
  • Pamela Estrada as Lily
  • Ben Carlson as Jack Bazin

Production

First season

Location filming took place in several cities of Ontario, including Cambridge, Hamilton, and Toronto, in 2018. In Cambridge, the city hall was used to represent Scotland Yard and Cambridge University. In January 2019, filming shifted to London in the United Kingdom. Principal photography was completed in 40 days.

Second season

Departure was renewed for a second season on 11 September 2020. Production was already underway by 20 September 2020.
Christopher Plummer filmed his scenes from his home in Connecticut instead of traveling to the sets in Toronto due to travel restrictions into Canada owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Plummer had completed filming his scenes for the second season shortly before he died on 5 February 2021. Plummer's work in the second season was his final on-screen performance before his death.

Third season

Location filming took place mostly in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, and in Toronto. Weather was cited as a huge element in the story since the season revolved around a ferryboat dealing with "big waves and lots of water and rain".
Streaming was moved from Peacock to the Canadian network Global in May 2021.

Episodes

Season 1 (2020)

This season 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.

Season 2 (2021)

The plot featured an investigation of the crash of an automated high-speed train travelling to Chicago from Toronto. The accident leaves multiple deaths in its wake and a web of potential suspects which include, in addition to possible mechanical or software errors, the tech visionary who invented the train's control system; an anti-technology politician, and an 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.

Season 3 (2023)

The plot follows the investigation into the sinking of a sea ferry, The Queen of the Narrows. It is a beautiful day in Boston when almost 500 passengers board the ferry destined for Newfoundland, Canada. A few hours into the journey, an explosion onboard throws passengers into a panic, rushing for lifeboats as the ferry takes on water with alarming speed. What unfolds for many of the passengers is an unimaginable nightmare with serious loss of life as the ship sinks in record time.

Broadcast and release

NBCUniversal pre-bought the series to air it on Universal TV in the United Kingdom and Germany and on 13th Street in Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Ukraine, and Spain, as well as on Universal TV in Africa and 13th Street in Poland. On 14 July 2020, NBC's streaming service Peacock acquired the series in the United States, where it debuted on 17 September 2020. The distributor is Red Arrow Studios International, although Starlings Television managed the sale to Peacock/Universal. The NBCUniversal media conglomerate purchased the series for distribution in Europe and Africa. The first season premiered on 10 July 2019 on Universal with 5Star premiered on 20 September 2021 and Sky Witness premiering on 12 October 2021.
The second season of Departure was released on Peacock in the United States on 5 August 2021 and in the United Kingdom the series was released on Sky Witness on 1 November 2021.
The third season of Departure was released in the United Kingdom on 3 October 2022 with the premiere airing from 2 August 2023 on Sky Witness.

Reception

The Hollywood Reporter was impressed with some aspects of the series but concluded its review noting the series had: "just enough enticing elements to pique curiosity, but the execution needed to actually be good". The Variety review was quite positive and particularly praised Panjabi and Plummer in a "drama that punches above its weight". Based on viewing the first two episodes, the Toronto Star reviewer commented that "the action is as taut and absorbing as any detective thriller".
In 2021 the series was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Dramatic Series. The episode Vanished was nominated for the Directors Guild of Canada Craft Award in the categories Best Sound Editing - Dramatic Series.
Christopher Plummer won the 2021 Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor, Drama. Vesna Svilanovic won the 2021 Canadian Cinema Editors Award for Best Editing in TV Drama. T.J. Scott and Christina Jennings won the 2021 Content Innovation Award for Best Returning Scripted Series.