Mar 13, 20203 min read

FORTUNATE SON ON CBC

Starring Kari Matchett, Rick Roberts, Kacey Rohl, Stephen Moyer and Darren Mann

Ruby (Kari Matchett) and Ted (Rick Roberts) arrive at the rail yard. Courtesy of CBC.

A one-hour drama about changing the world: draft dodgers, civil rights, rock and roll, free love and the other impossible dreams of 1968. It’s about war, spies, cops, abusive power and the dark side of unchecked idealism.

Fortunate Son is a Canadian espionage drama television series, which premiered January 8, 2020 on CBC Television. The show is loosely based on the experiences of Mary Cox, the mother of co-executive producer Tom Cox, who helped American draft dodgers cross the border into Canada during the Vietnam War.

The show takes its name from the 1969 Creedence Clearwater Revival protest song "Fortunate Son".

Travis (Darren Mann) watches the Quinn and Russian exchange. Courtesy of CBC.

Set in 1968, the show centres on Ruby Howard, an American expatriate living in British Columbia with her family involved in antiwar activism who is asked to help troubled American Travis Hunter cross the border into Canada in order to dodge the Vietnam War draft. Meanwhile CIA handler Vern Lang is setting up a complex operation in order to infiltrate the peace movements on both the American and Canadian sides of the border in an effort to stop draft evasion.

Episode 107: Lang (Stephen Moyer) slips a piece of paper in the door. Courtesy of CBC.

Written by Andrew Wreggitt and Jennica Harper

Episode 107: Ellen (Kacey Rohl) recognizes Destiny (Zoe de Grand'Maison) at the bank. Courtesy of CBC.

Directed by Stefan Schwartz and Ken Girotti

Episode 107: Detective William Sullivan (Patrick Gallagher) interviews Ellen Howard (Kacey Rohl) at the bank. Courtesy of CBC.

Executive Producers Andrew Wreggitt, Stefan Schwartz, Tom Cox, Jordy Randall and Erin Haskett

Episode 107: Destiny (Zoe de Grand'Maison) robs the bank. Ellen (Kacey Rohl) knows it is her. Courtesy of CBC.

Producers Brian Dennis and Jessalyn Dennis

Episode 107: Ted Howard (Rick Roberts) looks on as Ruby walks towards Calvin to meet him at the rail yard. Courtesy of CBC.

Production company(s) Lark Productions and Seven24 Films and Distributor NBCUniversal

Episode 107: Ruby (Kari Matchett) meets Calvin (Milton Barnes) at the rail yard. They have history. Courtesy of CBC.

Inspired by a true story and created by showrunner Andrew Wreggitt (Pure, Borealis), FORTUNATE SON is a drama set in the social and political chaos of the late 1960s.

War, riots, assassinations, political corruption, racial tension. Like today, 1968 was a time of global political and social upheaval. Tensions between generations, races and genders were all reaching critical levels. Violence was spilling out onto the streets and families were increasingly divided over social and political issues. But 1968 was also a time of hope, of new ideas and change. FORTUNATE SON tells the story of a family divided by a mother’s deeply held commitment to activism, and the personal cost it exacts on those she loves.

FORTUNATE SON focuses on the Howard family as they struggle to escape their past and deal with the increasingly tumultuous world around them. Ruby Howard, played by Kari Matchett (Covert Affairs, 2 Hearts), is an American activist pursued into Canada by the FBI who refuses to give up the antiwar cause she so deeply believes in. Set in the chaotic summer of 1968, Ruby helps smuggle American draft dodgers and war deserters across the Canadian border to safety. One deserter Ruby helps is Travis Hunter, played by Darren Mann (Giant Little Ones, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), who brings his own troubled past with him and ends up leading the U.S. Intelligence services to Ruby’s door. Stephen Moyer (True Blood, The Gifted) stars as Vern Lang, a CIA agent.

A CBC original series, FORTUNATE SON is produced by SEVEN24 Films and Lark Productions in association with CBC and NBCUniversal International Studios. Executive Producers are Andrew Wreggitt, Tom Cox, Jordy Randall and Erin Haskett.

MANY LOCAL ACTORS WERE SEEN IN THE SERIES FROM CALGARY AND DRUMHELLER

JASON ANTHONY GRIFFITH

Jordan Gooden seen as a Server in two episodes on CBC'S Fortunate Son.

Joey Pringle, Marty Lawrence, Patrick Saulnier; Neil Enock, Shawna Pliva, Melissa Cambridge, Marli Braun, Jeff Oesh and more were seen on CBC'S Fortunate Son.

The series is produced by Brian Dennis. Stefan Schwartz is Co-Executive Producer, while Jessalyn Dennis and Ken Girotti are Consulting Producers. Stefan Schwartz (The Americans, Dexter) and Ken Girotti (Vikings, Orphan Black) are also the show's directors. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Programming; Trish Williams is Executive Director, Scripted Content; Helen Asimakis is Senior Director, Scripted Content; and Deborah Nathan is Executive in Charge of Production. NBCUniversal has international distribution rights. FORTUNATE SON was filmed in Calgary, AB and Ladner, BC.

Season 1 Finale - Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) on CBC and CBC Gem. Episode 108: Lang (Stephen Moyer) and Ruby (Kari Matchett) meet. Lang offers Ruby a deal. Courtesy of CBC.

A STELLAR CAST