Pure (Canadian TV series) explained

Genre:	Crime Drama
Creator:	Michael Amo
Director:	Ken Girotti
Country:	Canada
Num Seasons:	2
Num Episodes:	12
Network:	CBC Television (Season 1) Super Channel (Season 2) WGN America (United States)

Pure is a Canadian television drama series that first aired on CBC Television in January and February 2017,^[1] and subsequently on Super Channel. The show stars Ryan Robbins as Noah Funk, a Mennonite pastor working undercover within an organized crime network in order to clean up a drug trafficking problem in his community.^[2] The show also stars A. J. Buckley, Peter Outerbridge, Alex Paxton-Beesley, and Rosie Perez.^[3]

Pure is produced by Two East Productions and Cineflix Media^[4] and is directed by Ken Girotti.^[5]

Showrunner Michael Amo stated that he pitched the show to television networks in the 2000s but "didn't get any takers". It is inspired by the operations of a Mennonite organized crime ring that smuggled cocaine and marijuana from Mexico to Canada and the United States.^[6]

The series premiere was watched by 858,000 Canadian viewers.^[7] On April 12, 2017, the show was picked up by Hulu in the United States.^[8] WGN America acquired the US television rights to the series in August 2017.^[9]

Initially, Pure was not renewed for a second season;^{[10] [11]} however, in April 2018 the show was picked up by Super Channel, CBC, Hulu, and WGN America for a season two with six episodes, set to premiere in 2019.^{[12] [13]} The series is scheduled to debut on WGN America on May 28, 2019.^[14]

In June 2018, Super Channel announced that actors Alyson Hannigan, Christopher Heyerdahl, Zoie Palmer, and Victor Gomez were joining the production for Season 2.^{[15] [16]}

Cast

The cast includes:

• Ryan Robbins as Noah Funk, a pastor
• Alex Paxton-Beesley as Anna Funk, his wife
• Gord Rand as Abel Funk, his brother
• Dylan Everett as Isaac Funk, his son
• Jessica Clement as Tina Funk, his daughter
• A. J. Buckley as Bronco Novak, a police detective
• Peter Outerbridge as Eli Voss, a gang leader
• Rosie Perez as Phoebe O'Reilly, a DEA agent
• Alyson Hannigan as Esther Dunkel
• Christopher Heyerdahl as Augustus Nickel
• Zoie Palmer as Valerie Krochack
• Alex Crowther as Johan Fehr

Episodes

Season 2 (2019)

Setting

Though filmed in Nova Scotia, Pure is set in a fictional town called Antioch in southern Ontario, and during the first season, it also included the U.S. state of Texas and the Mexican state of Chihuahua.^[17]

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result	Ref
2017		Outstanding Male Actor in a Supporting Role	Gary Levert		^[18]
		Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series	Ken Girotti (episode: "Ordination")		^[19]
2018	Canadian Screen Awards	Best Dramatic Series	Pure		^[20]
		Best Direction, Drama Series	Ken Girotti (episode: "Ordination")
		Best Original Music, Fiction	Jonathan Goldsmith (episode: "Ordination")
	Screen Nova Scotia Awards	Best TV Series	Pure		^[21]

Further reading

• Mennonite Mob . . CBC Television. 17. March 10, 1992 .

Notes and References

1. Web site: CBC Unveils Winter Schedule . Broadcaster . November 14, 2016 . November 18, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161115133003/http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/acquisition/cbc-announces-winter-schedule/1004124380/ . November 15, 2016 . dead .
2. Web site: CBC adds daytime series, Mennonite mob drama in new TV lineup . . May 26, 2016.
3. Web site: Production underway on CBC's Pure . . October 6, 2016.
4. News: CBC does Breaking Bad – with Mennonites. Wong. Tony. Toronto Star. January 7, 2017. January 8, 2017.
5. News: Rosie Perez joins cast of CBC's new Mennonite mob drama Pure. The Canadian Press. CBC News. October 6, 2016. January 8, 2017.
6. News: CBC's 'Pure' a drug smuggling tale in Mennonite country. Brioux. Bill. The Canadian Press. The Chronicle-Herald. January 5, 2017. January 8, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170108161056/http://thechronicleherald.ca/artslife/1429564-cbcs-pure-a-drug-smuggling-tale-in-mennonite-country. January 8, 2017. dead.
7. Bill Brioux. BillBriouxTV. 818934646280884224. January 10, 2017. MON o'nites CBC: solid start for #Pure 858k; #MurdochMysteries 1138k. April 5, 2018.
8. Web site: Hulu Acquires CBC Crime Drama 'Pure'. April 12, 2017. April 17, 2017. Nancy. Tartaglione. Deadline Hollywood.
9. Web site: WGN America Picks Up Swedish Drama '100 Code', Canadian Series 'Pure' & 'Shoot The Messenger' For 'Prime Crime' Slate. Nellie. Andreeva. August 8, 2017. April 5, 2018. Deadline Hollywood.
10. Web site: CBC sets 2017-18 primetime schedule; plus new, returning and cancelled series. Greg. David. May 24, 2017. May 24, 2017.
11. A. J. Buckley . A. J. Buckley . AjohnBuckley. 856322158053564416. April 23, 2017. CBC dropped the ball 4 sure. This cast was GOLD!. April 5, 2018.
12. Web site: Super Channel announces casting for second season of PURE. Super Channel. June 27, 2018. 4 January 2019.
13. Web site: Dino-Ray. Ramos. WGN America Crime Drama 'Pure' Gets Second Season Ahead of Series' 2019 Premiere. April 5, 2018. April 5, 2018. Deadline Hollywood.
14. Web site: WGN America Releases Key Art, First Trailer And Sets Premiere Date Of Its Anticipated Religious Crime Drama Series "Pure" For Wednesday, January 23. PR Newswire. November 12, 2018. 4 January 2019.
15. Web site: Liszewski. Bridget. Pure: Season 2 Casting Announcements. The TV Junkies. June 27, 2018. 4 January 2019.
16. Web site: Petski. Denise. 'Pure': Alyson Hannigan Set To Recur in Season 2 of WGN America Crime Drama. Deadline Hollywood. June 27, 2018. June 27, 2018.
17. News: CBC's Pure is about more than Mennonites – it's about morals. Doyle. John. The Globe and Mail. January 6, 2017. January 8, 2017.
18. Web site: Screen Nova Scotia - ACTRA Maritimes announces 2017 award nominations!. mailchi.mp. June 30, 2017.
19. Web site: 2017 DIRECTORS GUILD OF CANADA AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED Directors Guild of Canada. www.dgc.ca. June 30, 2017.
20. Web site: 2018 TV Nominees - Academy.ca. academy.ca. January 16, 2018.
21. Web site: Your 2018 Screen Nova Scotia Award winners. thecoast.ca. May 17, 2018.