Family Law (Canadian TV series)

Family Law is a Canadian drama television series that premiered in Italy on Sky Investigation (local version of Sky Witness) on July 6, 2021 and on Global on September 16, 2021.[1][2]

This article is about the 2021 Canadian series. For the 1999 American series, see Family Law (American TV series). For the 2016 Australian series, see The Family Law.
Family Law
GenreLegal drama
Created bySusin Nielsen
Starring
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producers
  • Tom Cox and
  • Jordy Randall
  • Erin Haskett
Production companies
  • SEVEN24 Films
  • Lark Productions
  • Corus
DistributorEntertainment One Television
Release
Original network
  • Global (Canada)
  • Sky Investigation (Italy)
Picture format1080i (HDTV)
Original releaseSeptember 16, 2021 (2021-09-16) –
present (present)

Premise

Abigail Bianchi, a recovering alcoholic and lawyer goes to work with her estranged father and two half-siblings. She's never worked in family law before, and suddenly finds herself having to manage not just her clients' family dysfunction, but her own. She must learn to navigate working with her father and siblings she doesn't know as part of her probation, all while trying to maintain her sobriety.

Cast and characters

Main
  • Jewel Staite as Abigail (Abby) Bianchi,[3] a recovering alcoholic lawyer who hits rock bottom, after the video of her vomiting in court goes viral.[4]
  • Victor Garber as Harry Svensson, Abigail's estranged father and boss.
  • Zach Smadu as Daniel Svensson, Abigail's half-brother, lawyer and working for his father Harry Svensson.
  • Genelle Williams as Lucy Svensson, Abigail's half-sister, her mother died when she was eight. A married lesbian psychiatrist.

Recurring
  • Bobbi Charlton as Jerri Rifkin[5]
  • Luke Camilleri as Frank Bianchi,[5] Abigail's husband.
  • Lauren Holly as Joanne Kowalski,[5] Abigail's mother and Harry's first wife.
  • Eden Summer Gilmore as Sofia Bianchi,[5] Abigail's daughter.[6]
  • Brett Kelly as Cecil Patterson[5]
  • Brendan Sunderland as Nico Bianchi,[7] Abigail's son.[6]
  • Yvonne Chapman as Danielle Lim, Daniel’s fiancé [5]
  • Ali Liebert as Maggie Roth, Lucy’s spouse who is a police officer
  • Celia Reid as Asha, the woman who Lucy is having an affair with.
  • Kelli Ogmundson as Nina Beasley, the receptionist at Svensson Associates.

Episodes
No.Title [8]Directed byWritten byOriginal air date [8]Canadian viewers
1"Sins of the Fathers"Jordan CanningSusin NielsenSeptember 16, 2021 (2021-09-16)652,000[9]
Abigail, an alcoholic lawyer, shows up during a court proceeding hungover and throws up in on her client. The video of the event goes viral on the internet. Her life hits rock bottom as she loses her position at her firm and moves to her mother’s house separating from her husband Frank and her children. Her estranged father, Harry, offers her a menial position in his law firm during her probation where she meets her half-brother, Daniel who is lawyer working for their father and her half-sister, Lucy who is a lesbian psychologist. Initially Abigail doesn’t get along with her half siblings.
2"Parenthood"Jordan CanningSusin NielsenSeptember 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)N/A
Daniel’s girlfriend Danielle is helping the firm to revamp and modernise the firm’s online presence. Daniel and Abigail represents a pregnant Down Syndrome couple who are afraid that the Social Security will take away their baby as they find them incapable for parenting. Abigail is banned from her son Nico’s school after she confronts her son’s bullies. Harry asks Abigail not to be part of the group photo fro the firm’s website because of her infamy. Lucy panics at her spouse, Maggie’s, suggestion about them having a baby; she meets a woman, Asha, at the bar and the two make out.
3"Addicted to Love"David FrazeeSusin NielsenOctober 1, 2021 (2021-10-01)N/A
Daniel and Abigail defends a stay-at-home mother with an online gaming addiction after her husband sues her for custody of their children due to her negligent parenting and her gaming avatar having sex with another player’s avatar. Daniel arbitrates the custody of a divorced couples’s dog. Daniel and Danielle gets engaged while Abigail feeling melancholic after stalking Felicity on Instagram gets drunk at Harry’s office.
4"Mama Don't Preach"David FrazeeStory by : Corey Liu
Teleplay by : Sonja Bennett		October 8, 2021 (2021-10-08)N/A
Harry confronts Abigail about her drinking while she hydrates to avoid alcohol detection on her breath analyser. Daniel and Abigail represents a gay teenager, Aaron, who wants to be emancipated from his conservative parents because they are forcing him to attend a gay conversion camp. Abigail sends Cecil, the firm’s paralegal, undercover to the gay conversion camp who rescues Aaron from electrical aversion therapy at the camp following which Aaron’s father starts accepting his sexuality. Harry meets his grandchildren Sofia and Nico for the first time at his office. Jerri accompanies Abigail to her AA meeting.
5"Until Death Do Us Part"Alysse Leite-RogersDamon VignaleOctober 15, 2021 (2021-10-15)N/A
Harry’s girlfriend Clemence informs him that he gave her Chlamydia which he contacted from another woman he was seeing during the relationship. Abigail and Daniel represent Ira, Daniel’s onetime neighbor, who wants his wife Helen moved from a care home that he claims is worsening her Alzheimer's; because his daughter, Mariam, doesn't want Helen moved and holds power of attorney. Ira challenges her in court revealing that Helen is in a relationship at the care home. Clemence sues Harry and Harry asks Abigail to represent him against Clemence who has hired Abigail’s ex-boss. Maggie’s parents are visiting which annoys Lucy. Daniel is having second thoughts about marrying Danielle and Harry advices him to get a prenup. Abigail visits her old office with Harry and settles the case with Clemence with an apology from Harry. Daniel refuses to marry Danielle.
6"Baby Off Board"Alysse Leite-RogersSarah DoddOctober 22, 2021 (2021-10-22)N/A
Abigail starts seeing a psychiatrist. Abigail represents a couple during an adoption process but later the couple find that their adopted baby has a serious medical condition. The wife wants to keep the child, the husband doesn't. Daniel and Abigail represent the wife, but Harry is concerned that the husband is hiding something and he hires Abigail’s private investigator. Abigail and Frank goes out to dinner to meet Sofia’s boyfriend where Abigail sees Lucy making out with Asha. Daniel and Danielle’s breakup is out in the open.
7"Three's Company"Mathias HerndlKen CrawOctober 29, 2021 (2021-10-29)N/A
Abigail and Daniel represent a starving artist who was once the third member of a polyamorous relationship involving a famous conservative political commentator, Crystal Steele. Daniel proposes to be a partner in the firm to Harry which he rejects. Abigail confronts Lucy about her on going extra-marital affair with Asha. The Svensson Associates office gets attacked by the followers of Crystal Steele. After Abigails’s home address is doxed online and she gets abusive and threatening texts by Steele’s followers, Frank and the kids stay with her at her mother's place. Daniel regrets dumping Danielle. Harry beefs up the office security while they start losing clients. Frank and Abigail bonds and sleeps together at her mother’s house. Crystal hires Harry as her divorce attorney.
8"Truthiness"Mathias HerndlSonja Bennett & Ken CrawNovember 5, 2021 (2021-11-05)N/A
Harry and Abigail represent Crystal in her divorce settlement. Abigail agrees to defend a longtime friend who is anti-vaccine. Daniel is bitter over Harry's rejection of his partnership proposal. Nico gets suspended from school for forging parent’s signature for other students, forcing Abby and Frank to reconsider their parenting agreement. Lucy comes clean to Maggie about her affair and Maggie forgives her and they reconcile. Lucy runs into Asha and they make out.
9"Blame It on the Mother"Andy MikitaSarah DoddNovember 12, 2021 (2021-11-12)N/A
Abigail and Daniel represent two sisters who are being sued by their estranged mother for parental support. Harry’s speech at his alma mater becomes fodder for internet memes and trolling. Daniel considers leaving Svensson for a rival firm. Lucy is sad and angry as Harry fails to show up on their planned meeting on her deceased mother’s birthday. Daniel, Lucy, Abigail and Jerri get upset when they learn that Harry is dating Crystal and Daniel quits the firm. Lucy tells Maggie that she is ready to have a baby.
10"Legacy"Andy MikitaSusin NielsenNovember 19, 2021 (2021-11-19)N/A
Maggie undergoes insemination at a fertility clinic. After Nina, the receptionist at Svensson, discovers she is not her father's biological daughter, Abigail traces a history of malpractice at the fertility clinic where Nina was conceived. Abigail asks Harry to retain Daniel and Harry makes him a partner at the firm. She and Daniel files a class action law suit against Dr. Peterson with Nina and her father as plaintiff. Maggie runs into Asha who revels to her about her and Lucy’s last encounter. Maggie ends her relationship with Lucy informing her that she is pregnant. Abigail catches Frank meeting Felicity. Lucy goes to Abigail and breaks down.

Production

On December 20, 2019 Corus Entertainment announced that the series created by Susin Nielsen for SEVEN24 Films and Lark Productions, had been given 10-episode series order. Executive produced by Tom Cox, Jordy Randall and Erin Haskett, the show would be produced and set in Vancouver, British Columbia.[10]

In February 2020, it was reported that principal photography would begin on March 2, 2020. The primary cast members were announced as being all Canadian - Jewel Staite, Victor Garber, Zach Smadu and Genelle Williams.[11]

In advance of the series premiere, Global announced in May 2021 that it had already renewed for a second season.[12]

Release

In Canada the series is set to premiere on September 17, 2021.

International

The series premiered in Italy on Sky Investigation on July 6, 2021.[13] International distribution is being managed by eOne.[14]

Nine Network is carrying the series in Australia.[15]

In the United States, The CW picked up the series.[16]

Ratings
Season Timeslot
(ET)		 Episodes First aired Last aired TV season Viewership
rank		 Avg.
viewers
(millions)		 18-49
rank		 Avg.
18-49
rating
Date Viewers
(millions)		 Date Viewers
(millions)
1 Friday 9:00pm TBA September 16, 2021 (2021-09-16) 0.65[17] TBA TBA 2021-22 TBA 0.65 TBA TBA

Notes

    References
    1. "'Departure', 'The Equalizer' and 'neXt' All Coming to the Global TV Fall 2020 Lineup". ET Canada, June 23, 2020.
    2. Family Law - GlobalTV.com
    3. https://www.globaltv.com/shows/family-law/cast/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
    4. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12997514/?ref_=ttep_ep1. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
    5. Ley, Darryl (July 1, 2021). "Global Fall Preview – FAMILY LAW". Global North News. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
    6. Gee, Dana (2021-09-14). "Complicated family bound together by the law in new Vancouver-shot show". Vancouver SUn. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
    7. "Brenden Sunderland \ IMDb". IMDb.
    8. "Family Law – Listings". Zap2It. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
    9. "Top Programs - Total Canada (English)" (PDF). Numeris. September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
    10. David, Greg (December 20, 2019). "GLOBAL GREENLIGHTS NEW ORIGINAL LEGAL DRAMA FAMILY LAW". TV, Eh?. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
    11. Townsend, Kelly (February 28, 2020). "Family Law opens for business". Playback. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
    12. Yeo, Debra (May 27, 2021). "Legal drama Family Law hasn't aired yet, but it's already been renewed". Toronto Star.
    13. [https://www.antoniogenna.net/doppiaggio/telefilm/avvocatidifamiglia.htm%22'Avvocati di famiglia'"]. Antonio Genna, July 13, 2021.
    14. Croll, Ben (February 11, 2020). "eOne Takes International Rights to 'Family Law". Variety. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
    15. https://www.9now.com.au/family-law/season-1. Retrieved December 8, 2021. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
    16. "The CW Network Acquires Drama Series "Family Law" from Entertainment One, Adding to Its Growing Slate of Scripted Acquisitions" (Press release). The CW. March 31, 2022 – via The Futon Critic.
    17. "Top Programs - Total Canada (English)" (PDF). Numeris. September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.


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