Tribal is a Canadian television crime drama series, which premiered February 20, 2020 on APTN.[1] The series stars Jessica Matten as Sam Woodburn, the newly appointed chief of an indigenous police force in the Nêhiyawak First Nation in Alberta, and Brian Markinson as Chuck “Buke” Bukansky, a racist and sexist white cop from Calgary whom she is paired with to solve crimes.[2]

Tribal
GenreDrama
Written byRon E. Scott
Adam Frost
Adriana Capozzi
Tamara Moulin
Christina Ray
Directed byRon E. Scott
Asaf Benny
StarringJessica Matten
Brian Markinson
Adam MacDonald
ComposerMike Shields
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes18
Production
Executive producers
  • Ron E. Scott
  • Janet Hamley
  • Adam Frost
ProducersScott Lepp
Nancy Laing
Production locationsCalgary, Alberta
CinematographyAsaf Benny
Production companyPrairie Dog Film + Television
Original release
NetworkAPTN
ReleaseFebruary 20, 2020 (2020-02-20) –
present

The cast also includes Adam MacDonald, Ryan Northcott, Julian Black Antelope, Garry Chalk, Justin Rain, Michelle Thrush, Glen Gould, John Cassini, Joel Oulette, Marika Sila, and Georgina Lightning.

The first season consists of eight episodes directed by Ron E. Scott. In advance of the series premiere, APTN announced that the show will have a second season.[2] The second season of ten episodes premiered on October 21, 2021 and was directed by Ron E. Scott and Asaf Benny.

The series was filmed in Calgary, Alberta.

Premise

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Following her predecessor's suspension due to allegations of corruption, Officer Sam Woodburn is appointed as the new interim Chief of the Justice Department's newly integrated Tribal Police Force. She is forced to partner up with Detective Chuck 'Buke' Bukansky who has a reputation for racism. Despite their conflicting views together they investigate crimes that involve or have direct links to the First Nations.

Cast

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Episodes

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Series overview

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
18February 20, 2020 (2020-02-20)April 9, 2020 (2020-04-09)
210October 21, 2021 (2021-10-21)December 23, 2021 (2021-12-23)

Season 1 (2020)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"I'll Show You Chief"Ron E. ScottRon E. ScottFebruary 20, 2020 (2020-02-20)
22"Two Out of Fifteen"Ron E. ScottStory by : Adam Frost & Ron E. Scott
Teleplay by : Ron E. Scott
February 27, 2020 (2020-02-27)
33"Indian Giver"Ron E. ScottStory by : Adam Frost & Ron E. Scott
Teleplay by : Adam Frost
March 5, 2020 (2020-03-05)
44"Runs with a Gun"Ron E. ScottStory by : Adam Frost & Ron E. Scott
Teleplay by : Christina Ray
March 12, 2020 (2020-03-12)
55"The Road to Hell Is Paved"Ron E. ScottStory by : Adam Frost & Ron E. Scott
Teleplay by : Adam Frost
March 19, 2020 (2020-03-19)
66"Where There's Smoke"Ron E. ScottStory by : Adam Frost & Ron E. Scott
Teleplay by : Tamara Moulin
March 26, 2020 (2020-03-26)
77"The Natives Are Restless"Ron E. ScottStory by : Adam Frost & Ron E. Scott
Teleplay by : Adam Frost
April 2, 2020 (2020-04-02)
88"Ten Little Indians"Ron E. ScottAdam Frost & Ron E. ScottApril 9, 2020 (2020-04-09)

Season 2 (2021)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date [3]
91"The Tomb"Ron E. ScottAdam Frost & Ron E. ScottOctober 21, 2021 (2021-10-21)
102"It's All In Your Headdress"Ron E. ScottAdam Frost & Ron E. ScottOctober 28, 2021 (2021-10-28)
113"Look He's Protestin'"Ron E. ScottAdam Frost & Ron E. ScottNovember 4, 2021 (2021-11-04)
124"The Kid Had a Gun"Ron E. ScottAdam Frost & Ron E. ScottNovember 11, 2021 (2021-11-11)
135"Shouldn't Have Come Here"Ron E. ScottAdriana Capozzi, Adam Frost & Ron E. ScottNovember 18, 2021 (2021-11-18)
146"Justice For All"Ron E. ScottAdriana Capozzi, Adam Frost & Ron E. ScottNovember 25, 2021 (2021-11-25)
157"Starlight, Starbright"Asaf BennyJason Filiatrault, Adam Frost & Ron E. ScottDecember 2, 2021 (2021-12-02)
168"Tribal vs Metro"Asaf BennyAdam Frost & Ron E. ScottDecember 9, 2021 (2021-12-09)
179"Red Face"Asaf BennyJason Filiatrault, Adam Frost & Ron E. ScottDecember 16, 2021 (2021-12-16)
1810"Scalped"Asaf BennyAdam Frost & Ron E. ScottDecember 23, 2021 (2021-12-23)

Reception

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In his year-end review of television in 2020, critic John Doyle of The Globe and Mail singled out both Markinson and Matten as having given two of the year's best performances in Canadian television.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "First Nations crime series Tribal comes to APTN". The Globe and Mail, February 20, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Sabrina Furminger, "Vancouver actor tackles ugly role in APTN police procedural Tribal". Vancouver Courier, February 12, 2020.
  3. ^ "Tribal – Listings". Next Episode. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  4. ^ John Doyle, "Great Canadian TV performances of 2020". The Globe and Mail, December 15, 2020.
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