Flashpoint: Episode 1x08 - Never Kissed A Girl (2008)

Created by: Mark Ellis & Stephanie Morgenstern

Cast: Enrico Colantoni (1), Hugh Dillon (2), Amy Jo Johnson (3), Sergio Di Zio (4), David Paetkau (5), Michael Cram, and Mark Taylor

Read about 'He Knows His Brother', the seventh of Flashpoint.


Episode 8 - Never Kissed A Girl

"But he's blind man, so what? So is justice right?"
- Runaway Jury

Justice. I wrote a review on the film Runaway Jury in January and remembered the above quote about how justice is blind. This episode kinda reminds me of that. It's one of those cases where you find yourself secretly rooting for the guy holding the gun even though you know his methods is wrong you can't help but feel for the guy. This episode also ties in with the very first episode of Flashpoint and Ed being sued is one of the side effects of the job. It also does a good job of continuing to show how the job affects the team members. I also like that although their livelihood involved death and guns, the team understands that "a gun never solved anything". 

Ed: Are you kidding me? A guy walks into a building, shoots a woman dead, holds another woman hostage, turns his gun on you, I do what I'm hired and trained to do. Come on! 
Greg: I know, that's the truth of what happened nobody doubts that.
Ed: Somebody does! Somebody does! That's... You know.
Greg: Yeah, the guy's son. Everybody grieves in their own way, right, you know that. They look for somebody to blame.
Ed: Well look no further.

Michael: I spent 11 years in there wondering what happened. How somebody could get on the stand and say that I said things that I didn't even know. Ian if we don't appeal...
Ian: Michael! Come on. You're young, you're 26, you got early parole. You got your whole life, you're free. 
Michael: No I'm not free Ian. Okay. As long as they think I killed Katie, her family, my family, everyone I ever met, everyone I ever knew. I'd never be free.
Ian: I can't help you.

Greg: Parker here. 
Ed: Boss, hey, it's me. Yeah, I... I'm in a stairwell off a... off a third floor with a young man... what's your name? 
Michael: Forget my name! Ask about Cheznik! 
Greg: Young man? What are you saying, Ed? Are you telling me you're with the subject now? 
Ed: Yup. 
Greg: Okay. Hang tight, we're right outside the building. 
Ed: We're looking for a... for a... for a prosecutor named Dan Cheznik. 
Greg: You got your gun, Ed? 
Ed: No, no, no. It's... it's C-H-E... 
Greg: Are you telling me that he's got you at gunpoint? 
Ed: That's right, yeah. We just need a location for the young man and the lady here. 
Greg: Okay, he's got a hostage? 
Ed: Correct. 
Greg: Do you want the team on immediate action plan? Just give me "yes." 
Ed: No... no, no. He's a prosecutor. 
Greg: Okay, just stay on the line with me, Ed. 
Michael: Tell him you'll call him back. 
Ed: Boss, I'm gonna have to call you back. 
Greg: Okay. (to the team) Stairwell off the third floor. Guy's got 2 hostages, one's a young woman.
Jules: How do we know?
Greg: Cos Ed's the second hostage. Guys he doesn't have his gun with him.
Lou: Oh no.

Spike is so sweet and funny in this scene... 

Greg: Okay, subject is in the corridor, seconds away.
Sam: Spike. Let's go.
Spike: Okay. Hey! No! Up!
Greg: They're at the door.
Spike: Up! You can't be here. 

Old Lady: I'm scared. I'm...

Greg: 5 seconds.
Spike: Come on. Go...
Michael: You don't get it do you. I have nothing left. I'm not afraid to use this. I will kill you both, leave you both dying here. I do not care anymore.
Spike: Okay come here. That's it. Come.
Greg: Come on buddy, just buy us a minute here. Buy us a minute. 

Wordy: He came into the courthouse with a gun looking for you and you have no idea who he is?
Dan: That could be anyone. You remember every bad guy you've arrested?
Wordy: Any idea why he'd go after you?
Dan: Sure. Same reason I live in a bunker, drive home in an armored car. I'm a prosecutor who does his job well.
Wordy: Just so you know, that's my team mate staring down the long end of this guy's gun, so I'd appreciate it if you think real hard about this. Let's start over. Any hate mail recently? Any threatening phone calls?

Michael: Charged me as an adult but I was 15 when they put me away. Never finished high school, never had a job, never kissed a girl. I don't know anything about anything but I know what happened that day and I know I didn't kill Katie.

Spike: Okay Boss we're on the back roof, we should be at the vent soon.

Greg: Copy that.

Ed: Why don't you tell me about her? What was she like?

Michael: She was amazing. Incredible smile. She didn't have to be but she was nice to everybody. Didn't matter what kind of family you had, house you lived in. She just saw you. So I show up first day of school, you know I'm 12, the only black kid in class, it's like they'd never seen it before. Now kids are whispering, they're moving their desks, and I'm feelin' like I want to fall into a hole and disappear. But she comes right over, she sits beside me, smiles and tells me we're gonna be friends. And just like that we're friends.

Dan: She was raped. Dumped in the woods. Tied her ankles. Tied her wrists. Slit her throat. Covered her face with a t-shirt. Couldn't stand to see what he'd done.

Michael: Just like that, best friends. 3 years. 3 years we were best friends until I fell in love with her.

Dan: All the evidence pointed to Michael. She was killed with a knife, he had a knife that fit the specs. She was raped before she was killed, well, we knew from Michael's friends that he had said he wanted more from Katie.

Ed: Did Katie feel the same way?

Michael: I don't know. The day I told her, we rode to the park. She was sitting on the back of my bike, I was swerving, she was laughing, we were having such a great time. Just being together, just us. It was a perfect day. And then I just said it. I told her I loved her.

Sam: Bravo team in position. Frosted windows, limited joy.

Greg: Standby, we're 5 minutes away. 

Wordy: That one's Ed, can see the cuffs.

Sam: I've got the suspect, I can take him right now.

Wordy: We don't fire on a thermal image. We need to see the guy for real. Okay. Boss calls Scorpio, first shot's mine on the glass. You're a split second later on the subject as soon as you confirmed it's him.

Sam: Copy that.

"A gun never solved anything"

Michael: In prison I went over a lot of things. But there was this one thing that I kept asking myself over and over, I asked myself why Katie didn't want me to drop her at home that day. Why she wanted me to drop me at the corner. She didn't love me. She wanted me to drop her at the corner because she was meeting someone else. She had a date.

Ed: My God.

Michael: Whoever she was meeting, that's who killed her. It had to be. I promised her, first time I went to her grave that I would prove I was innocent, not for me, but for her. So they'd start looking for him, whoever he is, and justice would be done.

Ed: I promise you, we're gonna make sure that happens. And you're gonna get your appeal. Nobody dies today okay. That's it. 

Flashpoint: Episode 1x07 - He Knows His Brother (2008)

Created by: Mark Ellis & Stephanie Morgenstern

Cast: Enrico Colantoni (1), Hugh Dillon (2), Amy Jo Johnson (3), Sergio Di Zio (4), David Paetkau (5), Michael Cram, and Mark Taylor.

Read about 'Attention Shoppers', the sixth episode of Flashpoint.

Episode 7 - He Knows His Brother

This episode is about brotherhood and brotherly love. I love this episode because you can finally see the change in Sam. 

At the start of the episode you still see the young punk who just joined the SRU, but by the end of the episode, you see him connect with another human beings and he even directly helped in saving someone's life. I also love that we see the close relationship between Lou and Spike, a bromance that really deserves more notice. 

The special brand of humour the team members share also makes me laugh out loud. 

I love this scene. Sam's still the same Sam Braddock
we knew for the past 6 episodes until...

Ed: Comfy there Sam-o?
Sam: Very comfortable Sir.  
Ed: Get you some more coffee? 
Sam: All good Sir, but thank you for asking.
Jules: What are you doing here anyway?
Wordy: Course you just have to bring it up.
Sam: Well Constable Callaghan, that would be because yesterday I got...
Lou & Spike: ... tightest grouping at both long range and short range firearm practice.
Sam: Meaning you get to do monthly clean up and I get to do this. Missed a spot there Ed.
Ed: Yeah whatever.
Jules: Actually what I meant is why are you down here? Why aren't you upstairs training, you know, at something dangerous and exciting.
(Sam suddenly sees something in the paper that makes him sit up straight)
Wordy: Sam everything okay.?
Sam: Yeah... I just gotta...
(Sam walks away while Ed and Jules goes over to see what affected him)

Ed: Boss how's the infrared comin'?
Greg: Chopper arrived?
Ed: Yeah, it's messing up my hair.
Greg: Better you than me. Infrared. I'm 2 minutes away Eddie.

Finding joy in the little things.
"Don't suppose they have an 'armed 18 year old' filter for that thing"

Ed: Gentlemen and lady. This is our forward looking infrared. Every dot is a heat signature, every heat signature could be our subject.
Wordy: Don't suppose they have an 'armed 18 year old' filter for that thing.
Ed: Afraid not. Quad by quad.

Lou: What's your problem?
Spike: Woods. My people don't like 'em.
Lou: Your people? From woodbridge?
Spike: No. Romans. Three times we fought in the forrest against the Huns. Didn't go so good okay. 

Sam: I never had a brother must be nice.
Simon: It kinda depends. When he shoots your dad and gets the cops coming after him not so much.
Sam: A lot of guys I know same thing. Out of control. They just needed a little guidance. They turned out okay.
Simon: Yeah?
Sam: Yeah. Sure. This one guy I knew, basic training, loud, dumb, fat. Everybody says this is the guy that ditches out in a week. We took bets and everything. 6 months later he was at the head of the grad parade. Wasn't a guy there who wouldn't follow him anywhere. I spent a week on a mountain side with him. He told me about his family. Believe me. I figured man, if you can get through that, you can get through anything. 
Simon: So he turned out okay?
Sam: Yeah. Sure he did.

Flashpoint: Episode 1x06 - Attention Shoppers (2008)

Created by: Mark Ellis & Stephanie Morgenstern

Cast: Enrico Colantoni (1), Hugh Dillon (2), Amy Jo Johnson (3), Sergio Di Zio (4), David Paetkau (5), Michael Cram, Mark Taylor, and Sarah Gadon (6)

Did you know? - Sarah Gadon was nominated for a Gemini Award for her role as Tasha Redford in this episode.

Read about 'Who's George?', the fifth episode of Flashpoint.

Episode 6 - Attention Shoppers

What does it take to push someone to want to commit suicide? The SRU doesn't just stop people threatening to hurt others, they also stop people from trying to harm themselves. 

This episode let's us see a different side of Jules and also does a great job of  juxtaposing the difference between the noisy and lively guys locker room with Jules' quiet and lonely locker room. It also drops more hints about the blossoming relationship between Sam and Jules. 

I really like what Jules says to the subject Tasha. Compared to the world Tasha lives in, it makes me feel like my world really isn't all that bad at all. And it's touching and very inspiring, to someone fight against all odds to keep her life together and doing the best she can. It makes me grateful for what I have and the people who care about me and love me. 

What would make you want to go out on a ledge like this?
I hope you never ever get to a point where you want to kill yourself.

I'm afraid of heights and just looking at this scene makes me nervous for her.

Even if you're strapped in with a safety rope, would you go out on a ledge?

This is why I'll never have the guts to go bungee jumping.
And the fact that members of the SRU would jump to save someone
else makes me admire their commitment and what they do.

Greg: You up to intervention?
Jules: Copy.
Greg: Okay. You're talking to a victim of an attempted rape. She was brutalised in retaliation for going to the cops. She's got no home support, but from what Luria says she was holding on. She was doing everything she could to keep her life together. Alright. And I'm here if you need me.
Jules: Tasha. My name is Jules. Tasha, you don't have to talk to me, but I would really it if you would. I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to help. I'm going to step closer so you can hear me better. I'm stepping closer. Good. So, thanks for not jumping. Are you thinking you might? (Tasha nods her head) Well I'm sorry to hear that. You know I've never seen somebody who's ready to die put up such an awesome fight to stay alive. Can you tell me what happened today? With those girls?
Tasha: Why don't you ask them?
(Jules attaches a safety rope to the railing)
Jules: They gave you quite a haircut didn't they.
(Jules steps onto the ledge with Tasha)
Tasha: I thought they were gonna kill me.
Jules: I know, I know. You were really scared weren't you.
Tasha: They think I lied to the cops about Brianna's boyfriend, about what he did to me.
Jules: But you didn't did you? You didn't. 

Flashpoint: Episode 1x05 - Who's George? (2012)

Created by: Mark Ellis & Stephanie Morgenstern

Network: CTV

Cast: Enrico Colantoni (1), Hugh Dillon (2), Amy Jo Johnson (3), Sergio Di Zio (4), David Paetkau (5), Michael Cram, Mark Taylor, and Nicholas Campbell (6)

Did You Know? - Nicholas Campbell was nominated for a Gemini Award for the role of George Orston in this episode.

Read about 'Asking For Flowers', the fourth episode of Flashpoint.

Episode 5 - Who's George?

This job isn't easy. And this episode drives that message home hard. Sam is trying to excel at the negotiation part of the job but finds it hard. How do you connect with the bad guys? Yes, how do you indeed? 

After watching all 5 seasons of Flashpoint, I learned that the guy holding the gun is not always rotten to the core. Yes, some of them are. But sometimes, it's just a guy pushed by his circumstances that cause him to make really bad choices. There's always two sides to a coin. And there's always more to a story or situation than it seems. Because every word, every action, follows a reaction. Cause and effect. Episode 5's case of the week is one of those that makes me really emotional. 

This is a really funny scene. Ed and Lou make very convincing baddies though.

And Spike is hilarious!

Okay so obviously 'Samtastic' sucks at negotiating.

Whoa! Calm down Lou! Mark Taylor who plays Lou is a great actor methinks.

"Jackass? Did he say jackass?" Spike really is the comedian in this team.

Lou: Why now? What do I got to lose?

Sam: You sound very upset.

Lou: You damn straight I am.

Sam: Alright I hear what you're saying...

Wordy: Stay in control. This is your negotiation. 

Sam: What do we need to do so we can all go home?

Lou: You can give me what I want.

Sam: I'd like to try.

Lou: You know what I'd really like? I'd like some coke. How 'bout that? You give me an ounce, this is over. Hello...

Ed: I'm gonna do it. Hello...

Spike: A little help here. Hello!

Ed: Hello?

Spike: Hello!

Lou: You hear me but you not doin' nothin' about it.

Ed: He's a lying pig!

Sam: I'm not a liar.

Greg: Don't argue. Just get him back.

Sam: Okay look, you're obviously very upset.

Lou: Yes. Yes. You know what that means?

Jules: You know I really wish a cop would negotiate us to safety.

Greg: Come on Sam, just talk to them.

Lou: Dude! You know what I want!

Sam: I'm not giving you cocaine jackass!

Ed: Bang. Bang.

Spike: Jackass? Did he say jackass?

Greg: Okay Sam let's talk this through.

Sam: Just give me a minute Sarg. 

Greg: Long way from Kandahar huh?

Sam: I was doing everything right wasn't I? Mirroring, emotional labelling, eye messaging, everything in the book but I just...  

Greg: Need to listen. Look you can kick ass like nobody's business and you look great in the cool pants, but as long as you're out there and you're trying to talk to somebody you've got to be able to listen. You've got to be able to connect.

Sam: I know. Okay, it's just...

Greg: How do I connect to bad guys when I spend 4 years shooting them? 

Sam: I just need to finish this review.

Greg: No, you need time. Field training. A little patience. Okay. Remember you got the cool pants down.

Greg: Okay, okay, you figure out how to get into the impossible building and I'll go talk to the killer with nothing to lose.

Ed: If you put it that way.

Greg: Sam you're with Ed, Jules you're my second.

Sam: Let me be second Sarg.

Jules: Easy cowboy. You know you can't blow or shoot anything up in the truck right?

Sam: I could use the field training. So long as you're scared of blowing anything up.

Jules: No.

Greg: Alright, follow me.

Greg: Okay we've got just over 2 hours. What do we do when he demands his money?

Sam: Refer to high authority, get concessions, try to keep him on the line.

Greg: Good. So how do we make a connection with this guy? Can't talk anybody out of anything if he thinks you don't understand. So what do you understand?

Sam: I don't know, guy's a thief...

Greg: You take pride in your job, so does he. Connection. Right? But remember what the point is Sam. It's not you. It's not him. It's those hostages. It's Ruth Skellar. She's the point.

Flashpoint: Episode 1x04 - Asking For Flowers (2008)

Created by: Mark Ellis & Stephanie Morgenstern

Network: CTV

Cast: Enrico Colantoni (1), Hugh Dillon (2), Amy Jo Johnson (3), Sergio Di Zio (4), David Paetkau (5), Michael Cram, Mark Taylor, Chandra West (6), and Kenneth Mitchell (7)

Read about 'The Element Of Surprise', the third episode of Flashpoint.


Episode 4 - Asking For Flowers

A seemingly relaxing patrol night turns into a hot call. It's Wordy we get to know a little better in this episode. And I love that he's a family man who is so willing to watch a chick flick for his wife and his girls. 

The case of the week often times tell us more about the main characters in the series. And our characters' own personal experience often aids them in their job. Like in episode 2, when Greg connects with a man looking out for his daughter. 

In this episode, Wordy spots a battered wife even without her saying anything because he's seen it happen before, and he knows the signs. Spousal abuse. This week's story is about a cop who beats his wife and covers his tracks by telling lies to everyone else about his wife and his sister-in-law. 

But I like that this episode shows us that even cops are not above the law and that the SRU cops follow the law to the letter, even if the perpetrator is a fellow cop. They don't cut corners; a reoccurring theme of the series as you watch on. It's not a great case, but it's a great character piece about Wordy with a little peek into the lives and personalities of the other team members.

I love the puzzled look on Spike's face. LOL!

(Wordy is watching Lady In Waiting at the SRU gym while he's running on the treadmill.)
Spike: You do! You've awoken my soul.
Greg: Wordy, this is the SRU, you can't be watching Lady In Waiting.
Wordy: It's a good movie. It's historical.
Ed: Wow!
Wordy: I got 4 women in my house alright. Anything that helps me get closer to Shelly and my girls, I'm there. If this is what they're watching, I want to know about it. We got no secrets. 
Greg: I think you need to shoot something.
Wordy: Well after you Siskel, you're the one who recognised the quote. Oh yeah!
Spike: Oh snap!
Greg: Hey, you know what? It's on friggin' Pay-Per-View every hour on the hour, alright? 
Wordy: Well, maybe you and I should sit down, watch it together. Compare favourite scenes. I can braid your hair. 
Spike: That's tricky business.
Wordy: Oh, not really. Do it for Allie all the time. She's got less hair than either of these two. 
Greg: Ow! It's okay. Bring it. Come on! 

And I love the camaraderie between the team members.

Greg: We got no calls yet, but tonight there's gonna be a full moon so... 
Sam: So? 
Greg: So full moons, they make people crazy, proven fact so... I'm gonna call tonight patrol night. 
Wordy: Alright. 
Spike: Whoo! 
Ed: Yes! 
Greg: Alright, do a little Team One PR, let the city know we're here, keep the bad guys on their toes. Yeah Spike? 
Spike: Club district? Me and Lou? What? There's all kinds of troubles there, all the time. 
Greg: Fine patrol happy hour, all those very threatening young women in tube tops, but just uh, button up. 
Spike: Sorry. 

Greg: Be good, look good. Jules, still representing the force. Eddie? Mr Wordsworth?

Ed: East end. Roving gangs and the families. Runaway strollers and what naught.

Greg: Um hmm. It's all yours. Sam? Jules?

Jules: We'll take west. I'm thinking chicken Rhode at Island Foods. 

Spike: Hey, we'll take west.

Jules: Uh uh. 

Greg: You got tube tops. 

Jules: Yeah.

Greg: Let's go keep the peace.

Flashpoint: Episode 1x03 - The Element Of Surprise (2008)

Created by: Mark Ellis & Stephanie Morgenstern

Network: CTV
 Cast: Enrico Colantoni (1), Hugh Dillon (2), Amy Jo Johnson (3), Sergio Di Zio (4), David Paetkau (5), Michael Cram, Mark Taylor, and Erick Knudsen (6)

Read about 'First In Line', the second episode of Flashpoint.

Episode 3 - The Element Of Surprise

Second chances. This is what this episode is all about. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. When a routine drug bust goes south, an innocent bystander gets killed. The bystander was only 21 years old, and he was trying very hard to turn over a new leaf. And even though he could have walked away, he chose to stay and help the undercover cop who was shot. 

With regards to getting to know the team better, we find out more about Sam, his time in Afghanistan, and learn about the baggage he carries. We also find out more about the rules of the job, how the rules affect the team members, the prestige of being on the SRU, and what it means for the only female team member in entire SRU. We also learn the importance of team work and trust between the team members of the SRU. 

While this is not the best episode, it still has a powerful message about second chances and the importance of the choices we make every day. But, we also find out that serving warrants and making arrests are part of their job as well. On top of getting a hot call.

I love their flirtatious banter. 

Jules: Ready Sam?
Sam: I've cleared bad guys before.
Jules: It's serving a warrant for the search of the gentlemen's premises for the highly corroborated presence of narcotics.   
Sam: Speed, surprise, and aggressive action. Hey, so what about tonight?
Jules: Not gonna happen.
Sam: It's gonna be a long day, you're gonna get hungry. Dinner's a very important meal.
Jules: Sam. 
Sam: A burrito and a couple of beers. What's the big deal?
Jules: Alright, you know I'm not trying to flatter myself. I know you're just being nice. I don't want to read into this. I've just worked way too hard to be here to screw it up by getting personal. It's not worth it. There's like 500 cops waiting to get into the SRU. 500 guys waiting for me to do something that I shouldn't. So I'm sorry, but the team comes first.
Sam: Jules, it was just a burrito. See you at practice.

Flashpoint: Episode 1x02 - First In Line (2008)

Created by: Mark Ellis & Stephanie Morgenstern

Network: CTV

Cast: Enrico Colantoni (1), Hugh Dillon (2), Amy Jo Johnson (3), Sergio Di Zio (4), David Paetkau (5), Michael Cram, Mark Taylor, and Henry Czerny (6)

Did you know? - Henry Czerny won a Gemini Award for the role of Jack Swanson in this episode. 

Read about 'Scorpio', the pilot episode of Flashpoint. 

Episode 2 - First In Line

More often that not with a police procedural type series, I follow it diligently to get a glimpse of the story lines of the various cast characters on the show. However with Flashpoint, I find myself drawn into the case of the week as well. And more often than not, the case of the week is even more compelling than the characters stories themselves. 

In the all important second episode, Flashpoint not only delivers a great case, it also continues to show us how the main characters are affected and expand on their personalities. Sam's continued education about what the SRU is all about continues meaning that we also continue to get to know more about what their job entails. In episode 2, a father pushed by unfortunate circumstances pulls a gun on everyone and demands that his daughter is given the heart instead of another man on the list. Is he right? Of course not. But is what he's doing wrong? Well that's a gray area isn't it? You can't help but empathise with him and understand why he's doing what he's doing. 

Henry Czerny's compelling and heartbreaking turn as Jack Swanson
makes you think about what's right and wrong, and every thing in between.

Hospital Director: Mr Swanson I'm afraid we've had a bit of a miscommunication.
Jack: What's up?
Hospital Director: The transplant coordinator... The recipient list had been updated and she had not been made aware of that. I know this is distressing but the truth is another patient has had to be given priority.
Jack: I'm sorry what?
Hospital Director: I'm so sorry Mr Swanson, but the next heart will be Phoebe's. 
Jack: Urm maybe you don't know this but Phoebe has been on the waiting list for 14 months.
Hospital Director: I really have to apologise.
Jack: She's first in line, she's been first in line for months.
Hospital Director: This is not a deli counter Mr Swanson you know that.
Jack: Oh Heather can you please explain to him. Look she was here once last week already. She was prepped and everything but the heart was flawed. Do you know what that's like?
Hospital Director: Considering the travel time of this organ...
Jack: Yeah...
Hospital Director: ...the window of survivability is shorter.  
Jack: So then why are we standing here!
Hospital Director: In this situation, the computer selects the recipient closer to the hospital.
Jack: Closer to... Closer? The only reason we were at home was because you, because the hospital told us to go home to prepare ourselves to say goodbye. Did your computer tell you that?
Hospital Director: Mr Swanson.
Jack: And now you're telling me that if we had just stayed...
Hospital Director: I'm telling you that you should not have been paged to.
Jack: I don't care. This is my daughter, this is my daughter!

"Job's not about being a good shot. Job's about saving lives."

Ed: Let's set command post on site.
Greg: Copy that. Jules you'll be my secondary tech and required.
Jules: Got it.
Ed: Wordy, cover the boss. Spike, com links, explosives if we need them.
Spike: Copy copy. A bomb, make it a bomb. I never get a bomb. Explosive entry at least I would settle for.
Ed: Lou you're less lethal. It's a hospital so no gas.
Lou: Less lethal?!
Ed: Mr Braddock, you may observe from the command post.
Sam: Observe?
Greg: Job's not about being a good shot. Job's about saving lives.

Flashpoint: Episode 1x01 - Scorpio (2008)

Created by: Mark Ellis & Stephanie Morgenstern

Network: CTV

Cast: Enrico Colantoni (1), Hugh Dillon (2), Amy Jo Johnson (3), Sergio Di Zio (4), David Paetkau (5), Michael Cram, and Mark Taylor.

Did you know? - Majority of the cast members of Flashpoint are Canadians. Of the main cast, only Amy Jo Johnson is American.


Last year in September when the new season was about to begin for American television series, I was itching to get the season started and was eyeing new pilots to watch and looking forward to the returning series I enjoy. That was when I discovered Flashpoint. Unfortunately, before I can fully enjoy the hype of the show, I find out that 2012's Season 5 was to be their last season. 

I stumbled upon this series when I was checking out the filmography of Amy Jo Johnson who played the Pink Power Ranger in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, a television series that I really enjoyed during my childhood. I went to Wikipedia and checked out the synopsis of the series and it was a procedural cop show, which you might know by now is something I really enjoy. So yay! It's right up my alley! So I went and watched the pilot of the series. 

Now if you don't already know, I tend to give a series at least 5 episodes to hook and keep my attention, with Flashpoint. I was hooked from the get go. I love the premise of the show and I fell in love with the characters right from the start. Now all that's left is to see if they can continue, for at least 5 episodes, to keep me hooked on the series through its "case of the week" stories. 

Let's just say from episode 1 of Season 1, I was so taken by this series that I consumed all 4 Seasons' episodes even before Season 5 began, and in a span of just under a week. Now what's so great about Flashpoint you ask? Well, I've always been fascinated by psychology, and the 'why' not just the 'how'. I think that life is never just black or white, and I believe in cause and effect. 

Now before I go off course rattling on and on about why I like it, first let's look at the basics. Flashpoint is about an elite team of sharpshooters and negotiators who 'keep the peace' in the city. They get called in if someone is threatening to kill himself or herself or others by whatever means. It could be a bomb, a knife, a gun. They first try to talk the person down and if all else fails, should they not be able to apprehend the person or resolve the situation, they will shoot to kill to save the victim(s). 

Why I love Flashpoint? Because each episode makes you ask serious questions about what or who is right and wrong, and what could have been done differently so that it didn't have to get to the point where violence was "required". But as with any series that I really enjoy, I love Flashpoint because the series focus isn't just about the case of the week, it's about the men and women who have the very difficult job of shooting to kill, if necessary, and how do they handle that. I am drawn to each character in the team and I have a great interest in following their growth, both in their personal and professional lives on the show. In fact, even the case of the week characters make me care about whether they survive the ordeal. And that is why I am so in love with this series. 

So let's get right to it. Let me take you on the journey I took while watching the series starting first with Season 1. But before we proceed let's go through the list of characters for Season 1.

Gregory "Greg" Parker - Sergent aka boss (Leader & crisis negotiator of the SRU - Strategic Response Unit)
Edward "Ed" Tucker Lane - Team Leader (Tactical leader, secondary negotiator & sniper for SRU Team 1)
Julianna "Jules" Callaghan - Constable (Intel gatherer, secondary negiotiator & sniper for SRU Team 1)
Samuel "Sam" Braddock - Constable (Sniper & new kid on the block for SRU Team 1)
Michelangelo "Spike" Scarlatti - Constable (Demolitions and tech expert for SRU Team 1)
Kevin "Wordy" James Wordsworth - Constable (Entry Tactics, close quarters combat expert & less-leathal weapons specialist for SRU Team 1)
Lewis "Lou" Young - Constable (Less-leathal weapons specialist for SRU Team 1)