Departure (TV series)
Departure is a 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.[1][2] Starring Archie Panjabi and Christopher Plummer and directed by T. J. Scott, the series premiered on Universal TV on 10 July 2019, with Global scheduling the Canadian debut for 8 October 2020.[3] During the first season's release in Canada and the UK, the series averaged more than one million viewers per episode.[4]
Not to be confused with Departures (TV series).Departure
Vince Shiao
- Vince Shaio
- Malcolm MacRury
- John Krizanc
- Ellen Vanstone
- Stephanie Tracey
- Archie Panjabi
- Christopher Plummer
- Kris Holden-Ried
- Florence Ordesh
- Rebecca Liddiard
- Tamara Duarte
- Mark Rendall
- Peter Mensah
- Claire Forlani
Keith Power
Canada
English
3
18
- Patrick Cassavetti
- Carlo Dusi
- Scott Garvie
- D. Matt Geller
- Diane Hendricks
- Christina Jennings
- Karine Martin
- Archie Panjabi
- Chris Philip
- T. J. Scott
- Ben Silverman
- Bo Stehmeier
- Jeff Stentz
- David A. Stern
- Malcolm MacRury
- Julie Lacey
- Tina Grewal
Craig Wright
- Vesna Svilanovic
- Paul Winestock
45 minutes
- Shaftesbury Films
- Greenpoint Productions
- Corus Entertainment
8 October 2020 –
present
In 2021 the series was renewed for a third season, with Eric McCormack joining the cast.[5] That year, the series was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Dramatic Series.[6]
Production[edit]
First season[edit]
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.[7] In January 2019, filming shifted to London in the United Kingdom.[8][9] Principal photography was completed in 40 days.[10]
Second season[edit]
Departure was renewed for a second season on 11 September 2020.[11] Production was already underway by 20 September 2020.[12]
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.[13] Plummer had completed filming his scenes for the second season shortly before he passed away on 5 February 2021.[14] Plummer's work in the second season was his final on-screen performance before his death.[13][14]
Third season[edit]
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."[15]
Streaming was moved from Peacock to the Canadian network Global in May 2021.[16]
Broadcast and release[edit]
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.[37] On 14 July 2020, NBC's streaming service Peacock acquired the series in the United States, where it debuted on 17 September 2020.[38] 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.[3] 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[39] 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[edit]
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 [lacked] the execution needed to actually be good".[40] The Variety review was quite positive and particularly praised Panjabi and Plummer in a "drama that punches above its weight".[41] Based on viewing the first two episodes, the Toronto Star reviewer commented that "the action is as taut and absorbing as any detective thriller".[10]
In 2021 the series was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Dramatic Series.[6] The episode Vanished was nominated for the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) 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.