The Lake (TV series): Difference between revisions

{{Distinguish|The Lakes (TV series){{!}}''The Lakes'' (TV series)}}

| num_seasons = 2

| num_episodes = 16

| location = [[North Bay, Ontario]]

| last_aired = present

'''''The Lake''''' is a Canadian [[comedy]] television series created by Julian Doucet for [[Amazon Prime Video]]. The series is Amazon's first scripted Canadian [[List of Amazon Prime Video original programming|Amazon Original]] series, and premiered on June 17, 2022. In advance of the official series premiere, the first two episodes received a preview screening at the 2022 [[Inside Out Film and Video Festival]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Complex |first=Valerie |date=May 6, 2022 |title=Inside Out 2S LGBTQ+ Film Festival To Return In-Person And Announces Full Line Up For 32nd Year; 'Mars One' To Open Festival |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/inside-out-2slgbtq-film-festival-to-return-1235016752/ |access-date=May 30, 2022 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> In July 2022, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on June 9, 2023.

After returning from abroad following a breakup with his long-term partner, Justin plans to connect with his teenage daughter he gave up for adoption. His plans to make new memories with her at the family cottage go awry when he discovers his parents left it to his picture-perfect stepsister, Maisy-May.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=August 5, 2021|title=Amazon Orders 'The Lake' Starring Jordan Gavaris, Julia Stiles & Madison Shamoun As First Scripted Canadian Series|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/amazon-orders-the-lake-starring-jordan-gavaris-julia-stiles-madison-shamoun-as-first-scripted-canadian-series-1234809508/|access-date=September 19, 2021|website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]}}</ref>

* [[Jordan Gavaris]] as Justin, a gay man returning from abroad to reconnect with his birth daughter, Billie. In an effort to bond with her, Justin brings her to the lake where he spent most of his childhood summers.<ref>[https://www.insauga.com/brampton-talent-on-display-in-new-june-streaming-picks/ "Brampton talent on display in new June streaming picks"]. [[Canadian Press]], June 2, 2022.</ref>

* [[Julia Stiles]] as Maisy-May, Justin's picture-perfect stepsister. Conniving and ambitious, she inherited the family's lake cabin from her stepfather, to Justin's surprise and dismay.<ref name=":0" />

* Madison Shamoun as Billie, Justin's city-loving teenage birth daughter whom he gave up for adoption. Billie is mixed-race: her mother is a Black woman and her father white.

* Jared Scott as Killian (season 1), Maisy's and Victor's eldest son and Billie's love interest. Like Billie, Killian is mixed-race and has some understanding of what it feels like to be an outsider.

* [[Terry Chen]] as Victor Lin, a Chinese-Canadian ex-pro hockey player, married to Maisy-May. Like his wife, Victor is ambitious and shows no hesitation to manipulate those around him to ensure his family succeeds.

* [[Travis Nelson (actor)|Travis Nelson]] as Riley, a local artist, handyman, and store operator who is Justin's love interest.

* [[Natalie Lisinska]] as Jayne, friend and sometime minion of Maisy, whom Maisy has passively bullied since their teen years.

* [[Jon Dore]] as Wayne, Jayne's often clueless husband. Wayne is immature and a man-child but has genuine affection for his wife and daughters.

* Carolyn Scott as Ulrika, a cabin owner of Swedish descent who grows cannabis that she shares with some community members.

* Declan Whaley as Opal Lin, Maisy's and Victor's younger child who is [[genderqueer]] and identifies with Justin.

* Emily Roman as Jeri Moore, Jayne's and Wayne's daughter who is the middle child of triplets and most like Jayne.

{{Series overview

| released = y

| allreleased = y

| color1 = #7AB3CF

| link1 = #Season 1 (2022)

| episodes1 = 8

| start1 = {{Start date|2022|6|17}}

| color2 = #799F77

| link2 = #Season 2 (2023)

| episodes2 = 8

| start2 = {{Start date|2023|6|9}}

}}

===Season 1 (2022)===

{{Episode table |background=#7AB3CF |overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |released=y |episodes=

|EpisodeNumber2 = 1

|EpisodeNumber2 = 2

|EpisodeNumber2 = 3

|EpisodeNumber2 = 4

|EpisodeNumber2 = 5

|EpisodeNumber2 = 6

|EpisodeNumber2 = 7

|EpisodeNumber2 = 8

}}

}}

===Season 2 (2023)===

{{Episode table |background=#799F77 |overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |released=y |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 9

|EpisodeNumber2 = 1

|Title = Two Become Run

|DirectedBy = Paul Fox

|WrittenBy = Julian Doucet

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|6|9}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 799F77

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 10

|EpisodeNumber2 = 2

|Title = A Berry Special Episode

|DirectedBy = Paul Fox

|WrittenBy = Andrew De Angelis

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|6|9}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 799F77

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 11

|EpisodeNumber2 = 3

|Title = Crazy-May

|DirectedBy = Melanie Orr

|WrittenBy = Gorrman Lee

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|6|9}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 799F77

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 12

|EpisodeNumber2 = 4

|Title = Wet Cup American Summer

|DirectedBy = Melanie Orr

|WrittenBy = Kaveh Mohebbi

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|6|9}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 799F77

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 13

|EpisodeNumber2 = 5

|Title = Angel Tits and Dirty Bananas

|DirectedBy = Paul Fox

|WrittenBy = [[Lisa Codrington]]

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|6|9}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 799F77

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 14

|EpisodeNumber2 = 6

|Title = Dying to Know

|DirectedBy = [[RT!|R. T. Thorne]]

|WrittenBy = Winter Tekenos-Levy

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|6|9}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 799F77

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 15

|EpisodeNumber2 = 7

|Title = Tour De Force

|DirectedBy = R. T. Thorne

|WrittenBy = Andrew De Angelis & Billie Fishleigh

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|6|9}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 799F77

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 16

|EpisodeNumber2 = 8

|Title = Death on Denial

|DirectedBy = Paul Fox

|WrittenBy = Julian Doucet & Lori-Ann Russell

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|6|9}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 799F77

In early August 2021, Amazon ordered its first scripted Canadian [[List of Amazon Prime Video original programming|Amazon Original]] series, ''The Lake''. Julian Doucet serves as writer and executive producer, with [[Michael Souther]] and [[Teza Lawrence]] also executive producing under their production company Amaze Film + Television.<ref name=":0" /> In May 2022, [[Jordan Canning]] and Paul Fox were revealed as directors.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sternberg |first1=Sabrina |title='The Lake': Julia Stiles Stars as Wicked Stepsister in First Trailer of Prime Video Series |url=https://collider.com/the-lake-series-trailer-julia-stiles-prime-video/ |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |access-date=June 8, 2022 |date=June 2, 2022}}</ref> On July 13, 2022, Amazon renewed the series for a second season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tapp |first=Tom |date=2022-07-13 |title=Prime Video Jumps Back Into 'The Lake' With Season 2 Order As Production Begins In Canada |url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/amazon-prime-video-the-lake-season-2-order-1235060171/ |access-date=2022-08-02 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

With the series announcement, [[Jordan Gavaris]], [[Julia Stiles]], and Madison Shamoun were cast as the leads. [[Jon Dore]], Carolyn Scott, [[Natalie Lisinska]], Travis Nelson, Declan Whaley, and [[Terry Chen]] were also cast.<ref name=":0" /> [[Lauren Holly]] as Mimsy, Max Amani, and Jhaleil Swaby have joined the second season.<ref name="moviesr.net">[https://moviesr.net/p-the-lake-season-2-officially-wraps-up-filming-at-prime-video 'The Lake' Season 2 Officially Wraps Up Filming at Prime Video]</ref>

Filming began on August 5, 2021 in [[North Bay, Ontario|North Bay]], [[Ontario]], Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Atad|first=Corey|date=August 5, 2021|title=New Canadian Comedy Series 'The Lake' Starring Jordan Gavaris, Julia Stiles & Madison Shamoun Begins Production In Northern Ontario|url=https://etcanada.com/news/807177/new-canadian-comedy-series-the-lake-starring-jordan-gavaris-julia-stiles-madison-shamoun-begins-production-in-norther-ontario/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805124534/https://etcanada.com/news/807177/new-canadian-comedy-series-the-lake-starring-jordan-gavaris-julia-stiles-madison-shamoun-begins-production-in-norther-ontario/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 5, 2021|access-date=September 19, 2021|website=[[Entertainment Tonight Canada]]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Canada|first=Amazon|date=August 5, 2021|title=Amazon Prime Video Begins Production on The Lake, the First Scripted Canadian Amazon Original Comedy Series|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/amazon-prime-video-begins-production-on-the-lake-the-first-scripted-canadian-amazon-original-comedy-series-834858733.html|access-date=September 19, 2021|website=[[CNW Group]]}}</ref> Filming wrapped on September 1, 2021.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=July 19, 2021|title=The Lake - Production List|url=https://productionlist.com/production/the-lake/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218172713/https://productionlist.com/production/the-lake/|archive-date=December 18, 2021|access-date=December 18, 2021|website=Production List}}</ref> The second season began production on August 15, 2022 and wrapped on September 29, 2022 in North Bay, Ontario.<ref name="moviesr.net"/>

== Reception ==

For the first season, the [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reported a 63% approval score with an average rating of 5.3/10 based on 8 reviews.<!-- The website's critics consensus reads, --><ref>{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes|id=the_lake|title=The Lake|type=tv|season=1|access-date=June 10, 2023|publisher_hide=y}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The first season of ''The Lake'' premiered on Amazon Prime Video on June 17, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cordero |first=Rosy |date=April 13, 2022 |title=Prime Video Sets 'The Kids In The Hall' Premiere & Reveals New Canadian Originals Programming Slate |url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/prime-video-the-kids-in-the-hall-premiere-canadian-originals-1235001702/ |access-date=April 14, 2022 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> The second season premiered on June 9, 2023.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Sparks Fly This Summer, as Prime Video's "The Lake" Returns with a Whirlwind of Heart and Humor Starting June 9 |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2023/05/16/sparks-fly-this-summer-as-prime-videos-the-lake-returns-with-a-whirlwind-of-heart-and-humor-starting-june-9-478510/20230516amazon03/ |publisher=Amazon |via=The Futon Critic |date=May 16, 2023 |access-date=June 2, 2023}}</ref>

[[Category:Canadian English-language television shows]]

[[Category:Television series about adoption]]

[[Category:Television series about vacationing]]