Burden of Truth

This is what more Canadian TV should be like! The story is well delivered by the strong cast. The locations are beautiful - it's nice to see a show that actually had real scenes outside rather than always in a studio. I can't wait for more!

I don't watch a lot of television, but I was hooked on this show from the beginning. First of all it is Canadian, and it deals with many issues that face us all on a day to day basis. The central theme of our environment being poisoned is very important. Every day some new toxin enters our water supply. Our governments seem powerless to deal with these issues, although they are starting. The series has aspects that appeal to both young people and the older generation. The Millwood teens look forward to university careers in the big city, but tragedy intervenes. They each deal with their issues differently. Being a small town, we see all sorts of social interactions and problems brought out into the light of day. I thought the acting was really sincere and the writing excellent. The final episode is very cathartic, Joanna's dad is a type of lawyer that gives the profession a bad name, and that's putting it mildly.

The story lines are intriguing and the acting is pretty good. I want to give it a higher rating because at the end of each episode I've looked forward to the next one; However, the lack of logic and common sense (particularly in the earlier episodes) as well as continuity issues prevents me from doing so. The yo-yo effect of both main characters' commitment to the case, the unrealistic reactions by some of the characters in some instances and the confusing timeline references distract me from what would otherwise be a thoroughly enjoyable viewing experience. I have the season 1 finale to watch yet and I believe the show has been picked up for a second season so I will look forward to that. I hope some of the flaws will be addressed for series 2 but, I also hope the overall look and feel won't be drastically altered. Some shows in the past have been tweaked into nonexistence by network brass and viewer opinions. This first season seemed to be generally headed in the right direction. "Burden of Truth" could have a long run if handled properly.

Addendum: The way I rate shows... I don't usually review anything less than a 7 because 6 would be a failing grade and I won't waste my time watching it. I'm old; I don't know how much time I've got left. Since I probably turned it off before getting even halfway through, it wouldn't be fair to rate or review it. 7 is watchable but I may go a while between episodes since, though somewhat entertaining, there are other shows more interesting or compelling. 8 would be a regular in my lineup. 9 is a must see and probably bingeable. 10 is just the epitome of superbity and headed for my all-time favorites list. I'm adding this to my reviews because it seems there are a lot of binary reactions to pretty much everything these days. I am not a like/unlike kind of guy. I see a lot of grays so if I give something a 10 it doesn't mean the only alternative is a 1.

It took a few episodes to settle in to this, but I got totally hooked! Kristin Kreuk is a fine actress and I liked the character of Joanna. Alex Carter ( I loved him in Black Harbour) boy, can he do a good nasty b-tard! Good plot with characters you can actually care about. Give me more!

Changed my rating to 10/10t

Pleasantly surprised by this one and can't wait for the fourth season.

The plot with the sick girls is only the first season. The main characters, location, and much of the supporting cast doesn't change though as the lawyers continue to tackle emotionally and legally challenging cases. I wasn't sure I would like it even after the first episode but I've grown to love watching these characters fight for justice in this unjust world. They're interesting and real. The acting is great. I can barely look away from the screen.

But one of my favorite things is the season finales. There's no big cliffhangers or a bucket full of unanswered questions. It wraps everything up. There's always room to continue the story and stay interested in the next season but you don't have to wait a year to finish the main storylines. And, if it doesn't get another season, the end of the previous one feels like a good end to the story. It's satisfying and much less frustrating than most. They did a wonderful job.

It would have been nice if there were more episodes in a season though. I feel like they could have explored more of the side characters if they'd had more time to do so, especially in the first season. Instead, there's a lot of important characters to the cases that barely get five minutes of screen time.

The second season started slow and took a while to get to the point but the third season was better. There's some writing issues and some lose ends that just don't seem to have time to get tied up. But, overall, it's one of my new favorite shows and I will be eagerly awaiting season 4.