Life these days is stressful. It costs over a hundred dollars to fill the belly of that behemoth SUV, and that’s only going to let you run everyday errands for a week or so. That's if you consolidate lunches, meetings, shopping, grooming trips and just getting to work.
Once you do get to work, you have to deal with office politics, and the gossip of who’s stabbing who to climb another flimsy rail up the corporate hierarchy. And to top it off, you have to worry if your cherished salsa and chips are going to end you up in the hospital with a case of salmonella. As if that weren’t enough, a retired senator/economist from Texas has the audacity to tell us, in perfect “I’m alright, Jack” style, we’re a nation of whiners.
We’re not whiners by any means — we’re stress junkies. We thrive on it, and when real life doesn’t feed us with enough tension, we’ll get a vicarious fix through the TV. Seeing those hopeless souls on game shows and reality series give us a momentary sense of smug superiority, just knowing we would have chosen the obvious “T” and not the what-kind-of-idiot-are-you “L.” In the comfort of our living rooms, we lord over all we survey, and pity the poor souls dripping in flop sweat on the screen.
Flashpoint (premiering on CBS Friday, 11 July, 10P EST, and on CTV — check your local listings) is all about stress, at least in the pilot episode. It begins in the height of the conflict in unnamed Toronto, as we see a really, really stressed out Croatian holding a gun to a woman’s head while a negotiator (Enrico Colantoni) tries to talk him down, despite language barriers.
Meanwhile, a police sniper is perched on a rooftop, coldly awaiting orders to neutralize the perp. It’s a brief moment that establishes the tone of the show. It cuts to a few hours earlier, when the day was just another day. The police sniper (Hugh Dillon) is a family guy, thinking he’s planning for a colleague’s retirement party, despite conflicts with his wife’s parents' fortieth wedding anniversary. The Croatian hostage taker began the day thinking he’ll reconcile with his estranged wife, despite a restraining order to the contrary.
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Article comments
1 - Brandon
Great article Ray. Flashpoint was surprisingly good entertainment. Let's hope the next 12+ episodes match/exceed the caliber of the series opener. Switching to a different night might help the viewership as well.
2 - Ray Ellis
Thanks, Brandon. As it turns out. CBS and CTV will be rebroadcasting the premiere episode this Sunday at 10P EST.
3 - Didi
Does anyone know the name of the song and the singer at the very end of this first episode - it is haunting and really underpinned the theme.
4 - charlotte
September episode*lyrics to song (Tom Waits kind of sound)
Lost it all, I've been lost at sea
Off the coast of Eternity
Seems to me I've been gone
A long time
Trouble is, trouble was...
If this is a Canadian song writer or lyricist, how do I find out who it is
5 - eumel
i'd love to know the song, same as charlotte!
any hints for flashpoint s1e08 song at the end?
6 - eumel
ok, found it! its hugh dillon
he plays no.1 ed in the show! love his voice!
7 - Ray Ellis
I think you mean "Fortress" by Dala.
8 - Nikki
Great article!
I think this show is pretty much awesome!
I wish they had kept the 13 episodes in stead of doing just 9...
Hope that continue to air it on CBS!!
9 - john
Is the song called fortress
10 - Binzee
I don't think anyone has hit the nail on the head with the song from charlottes comment. All over the net i have found people looking for that "fortress" song but thats not the one that I'm after. "Fortress" was episode 1. Any help would be much appreciated as it was an awesome acoustic song.
11 - Kristap
Hi, does anyone know the titles of songs in The Fortress [2nd season] and the In the heartbeat end song [1st season end]? Please if you know put the titles here! =)
12 - Kristap
Sorry for double post, but i found it and will post them here! Maybe someone else will be looking.
In a heartbeat - Matthew Good - Weapon
Business As Usual - Wintersleep - Search Party
but i still don't know the song in end of The Fortress. =(
13 - bk
what is the name of the song at the end of the episode on march 13?? some of the words are:
days like this, think about the one who love you,wake each day and see your face...does anyone know who this is by and the title?
great show luv it!!
14 - David
At the end of the March 13th episode they played a sond sung by a female, Day's Like These or maybe, On Days Like These. Would anyone know if that's the correct title and who the artist singing is? Thanks
15 - Magliore
It's "Days like this" by Kim Taylor
16 - Rachel
Hugh Dillon - Lost at Sea