Get excited Hopefuls! New episodes of “Saving Hope” are nearly here and now we have some juicy details on the gripping two-night premiere (airing Monday Sept. 22 and Thursday Sept. 25 at 9 p.m.), which kicks-off a special six-episode Fall Event Season. After a break, “Saving Hope” will return in early 2015 with 12 more episodes, rounding out an extended 18 episode season. In addition to longer season, fans will get another special treat.
The spirit of “Saving Hope” will be kept alive online with a new 12-episode digital companion series called “Saving Hope: Psychic Healing” (replacing Season One and Two’s tie-in web series, “Last Call.”) Here is CTV’s official description:
The 12-episode digital series shares insider revelations about the series’ lead characters, especially Alex Reid (Erica Durance), through flash-forwards and flashbacks triggered by readings from the series’ sometimes insightful and always entertaining psychic, The Great Randall (Peter Keleghan).
Yay! The Great Randall returns! This is a very fun way to gain more insight on our favorite characters. They may not be drunk, but these psychic readings will surely provide an entertaining way to explore and reveal different sides of Hope Zion’s colorful characters. Plus it will be fantastic to learn more about Alex’s past and possible future, given her unique circumstance in life.
Episodes of “Saving Hope: Psychic Healing” will be available on CTV.ca/SavingHope, CTV.ca/Extend, and the CTV GO app after the Season 3 premiere airs on Sept. 22. New webisodes will continue to be released throughout the season.
We also have a lot to look forward to in the Season 3 premiere. The season picks-up from where we left off (refresh your memory with a detailed recap: HERE.) Alex is fighting for her life. Her spirit lingers in limbo as she watches her friends and colleagues work tirelessly to save her. Will Alex come back to life or will she be stranded in limbo?
CTV released the following synopsis on Sept. 3:
In Part 1 of the special two-night Season 3 premiere event entitled “Heaven Can Wait” (Monday, Sept. 22 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV), after being stabbed in the heart in the Season 2 finale, Dr. Alex Reid (Erica Durance) has a profound experience in the liminal space, while a desperate Charlie Harris (Michael Shanks) and his ex – Dawn Bell (Michelle Nolden) race against the clock to save her life. Meanwhile, Dr. Joel Goran (Daniel Gillies) is pulled in to the ER to treat a suicidal patient that tests his duty as a doctor, and Maggie Lin (Julia Taylor Ross) makes a bold decision that changes her relationship with Gavin Murphy (Kristopher Turner).
In Part 2 of the Season 3 premiere event entitled “Kiss Me Goodbye”, airing Sept. 25 in the series’ regular Thursday at 9 p.m. ET/PT timeslot, with her body still in a coma, spirit form Alex shares an emotional journey with Charlie in the spirit world as he ‘ghost-doctors’ a brain-dead mother-to-be. Meanwhile, Joel forms a tight bond with a lively drug addict while trying to treat his necrotic leg. Hope Zion Hospital also welcomes its new OB/GYN, Dr. Sydney Katz, who throws Maggie off her game.
Sounds pretty intense, doesn’t it? So we know Alex ends up in a coma, which will give us a little bit of déjà vu from Season One. The most exciting part is that this will be the first time Alex witnesses Charlie’s gift and realizes that he truly is a “ghost doctor.” It certainly is a fascinating way to start “Saving Hope’s” third season and it opens up a lot of possibilities on how the series can evolve as a supernatural medical drama. This life-changing even may be exactly what the couple needs to salvage their relationship.
Speaking of relationships, Gavin and Maggie have hit a major rough patch. Suffering a miscarriage will have a huge impact on their relationship. Gavin has worked very hard to get Maggie to commit and truly open herself up to him. Unless Maggie’s “bold” decision is to marry Gavin, it sounds like Hope Zion’s young love birds may be splitting up. Perhaps Maggie will choose to focus on her career and put her social life on the back-burner until she’s ready to open herself up to romance again. Whether they stay together or not, Gavin and Maggie have an overwhelming amount of heartbreak to overcome and it is probably going to be painful to watch.
What do you think, Hopefuls? Will this paranormal experience bring Charlie and Alex closer together and make them a supernatural power couple? If Alex comes out of the coma with her memories of her life in limbo, will she be able to see ghosts like Charlie? Will she confide in Joel about her experience and possible new gift? Do you think there’s hope for Gavin and Maggie to stay together?
The episode summaries also mention a few newcomers who will be joining the cast this season. CTV reveals:
New cast members this season include Halifax native Danso Gordon (American History X) as Dr. Rian Larouche, a young resident seeking approval; Mac Fyfe (M.V.P.) as Dr. James Dey, an unconventional psychiatrist joining Gavin’s (Kristopher Turner) team; and the previously announced Stacey Farber (DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION), in the recurring role of Dr. Sydney Katz, OB/GYN – a take‐no‐prisoners medical prodigy and Orthodox Jewish Doogie Howser.
It will be interesting to see how these new doctors will shake things up in Hope Zion. After Dr. Kalfas’ pill-popping, ball-dropping, mal-practice law-suit worthy behavior, it is easy to understand why Hope Zion would hire a tough overachiever like Dr. Katz. Will Dr. Katz lock horns with Maggie? We can also understand why Gavin could use a little more help in his psych department and will be interesting to see Dr. Dey’s “unconventional methods.” Will Gavin get along with Dr. Dey? Will the eager to please Dr. Larouche find a mentor among “Saving Hope’s’” finest? We will just have to wait and see.
View the slideshow for images from “Heaven Can Wait” and “Kiss Me Goodbye.”
Bonus scoop: “Saving Hope” is coming to America!
In other great news, “Saving Hope” will be returning to the United States! Hazzah!!!! On Sept. 3, Variety reported:
Ion TV has picked up new episodes of Canadian medical drama “Saving Hope” in a production pact with Entertainment One.
The CTV series, now heading into its third season, previously aired on NBC in the summer of 2012. “Saving Hope” revolves around a doctor whose spirit moves about the halls of a busy hospital while he is comatose and others strive to bring him around. Michael Shanks, Erica Durance and Daniel Gillies star.
Ion’s deal with E One calls for the production of 18 new episodes and it gives Ion rights to the show’s first two seasons and future seasons.
Ion has been home to a number of Canadian drama imports in recent years, including “The Listener,” “Flashpoint” and E One’s “Rookie Blue.” The new “Saving Hope” episodes are expected to debut on Ion next year.
“Ion has had success through its unique approach to original program production, and ‘Saving Hope’ represents the next step in the company’s long-term strategy,” said Ion chairman-CEO Brandon Burgess.
Finally, U.S. Hopefuls can catch-up on what they have been missing. Thank you, ION!
“Saving Hope’s” Season 3 premiere airs Monday, Sept. 22 (Part 1) and Thursday, Sept. 25 (Part 2) at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and the CTV GO app.
This article was originally published on Examiner.com on September 11, 2014.
UPDATE (Summer 2016): ‘Saving Hope’ now airs on ION Television in the U.S. and still airs on CTV in Canada. Visit ‘Saving Hope’s’ ION TV homepage (HERE) or CTV Homepage (HERE) for details.
