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The dance sequence was filmed at Central Park Burnaby 3883 Imperial St, Burnaby V5S 3R2. We visited there unsuccessfully. This is a fairly large park and with no other information, it was not possible to work out exactly where in the park it was filmed. That sequence would have been filmed in 2019, so there is 6 years of growth in the trees and bushes.
So, on to the Burnaby Art Gallery. This was the location for the outside of Memorial Hall and some of the Beltane scenes.
This is what it looks like in real life.
The interior scenes for Memorial Hall were filmed at Gabriola Mansion 1523 Davie St Vancouver V6G 3A2. But that building is not open to the public, so we had to settle for the outside shots.
Burnaby Art Gallery is a free to all art centre, set in its own gardens. Some Beltane scenes were filmed in those gardens. I was able to get hold of some production notes for this location. This one shows where they filmed.
The wisteria covering the trellis was added specially for the filming.
The bush was a very identifiable location marker. It was possible to match up Anacostia and Berryessa Tansey talking about Beltane with the scene at the exact spot.
The trellis is also visible when Anacostia and Berryessa saw the fruit turn rotten and start to fall from the trees, when one of the Biddies was taken ill and Alder became ill too.
The Beltane lacrosse pitch was at a different location nearby.
When we got there, the field was obvious from the location of the roads and tent.
The single bench was where the bleachers for the soldiers were. The bleachers were brought in for the occasion. So were a lot of ‘greens’ giving a lot more tree and bush thickness, to hide the rest of the location buildings behind them.
Looking at the site now, without the production notes, there would be nothing to suggest that Motherland ever filmed here. But this is where Tally met Gerit Buttonwood and Raelle met Byron. I know which of those I found more entertaining!
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The Two Rivers Roadhouse is really the Sundance Pub and Inn at 6574 Ladner Trunk Road, Delta BC V4K 3N3 It is actually a pub attached to a shop and a motel.
This is one of the location sites for episode 3.03. It is where Abigail, Adil and Tally are finally reunited with Khalida and, surprisingly, Alder.
Some of the exterior shots were taken at night. This seems to be a common filming tactic so that the location detail is not visible, hidden under cover of darkness.
During the daylight, this is what it really looks like.
We were very fortunate to arrive just at opening time, so we had time to talk to the staff, who were really friendly and helpful. We talked to the manager, who had been the liaison with the filming company. She said that they were filming during covid, so the film crew had the place to themselves for the three days that they were filming there. Because of covid, the number of people on site was kept to an absolute minimum, so she didn’t see any actual filming nor met any of the cast.
This is a location that has been used by a number of Vancouver productions. The manager mentioned the documentary series Happy Face Killer. We found that had been filmed at a few of the locations we visited. The other series that had filmed at some of the same locations was Yellowjackets.
This is a filming notice for the production at that venue.
Inside the pub, was the bar where Alder sat to eat her plate of nachos. I will always think it a waste that she only ate two of them and left the plate full to go and watch Elayne. The pub does have a kitchen and a range of food, but they don’t do nachos.
At the pub, there were a number of televisions around the place, showing sports channels. These clearly weren’t in use during filming.
This is the counter by the entrance, where we see Abigail and the others come in. On screen, this is very busy, but at just after opening time, you get a good view of the entrance and the toilet doors. More of that later.
We had lunch and a drink at the same table where Abigail, Adil and Khalida had sat to talk. This is Table 4. We spent a while looking at images from the episode and working out where the cameras would have been.
In this case, the camera would have been against the wall, filming outwards. There would also have been one behind Khalida’s left shoulder, possibly held by a camera operator in the booth that was behind her.
This was a dual purpose space. It was used as the space where Elayne and the band performed. It was also used as a dance space, when that was needed.
When Alder and Tally leave the bar to ‘go and talk to Elayne’, they would actually go around to the back of the pub. This was another example of night filming meaning that many of the features of the back alleyway would be obscured. I am sure the rubbish was moved, but having the set be so dark added to the atmosphere. Filming in daylight would not have had the same effect.
Note the images on the doors behind Alder
The manager told us about the toilet doors. When the production company was filming there, they brought a lot of their own props and set dressing. Including these images which they stuck to the toilet doors. At the end of filming the production people told the manager that they didn’t need these any more and asked if they would like them removed or should they leave them? She decided that they should stay.
This seems to be fairly common practice, we certainly came across other examples where production companies made alterations to the building and the owners were happy for them to remain. We saw another specific Motherland example later in the week.
Finding these little remnants of Motherland around Vancouver is a good reason for visiting places in person.
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Plaza of Nations Updated
This site has changed since I first visited it. The blog of my first visit is at https://returntofortsalem.com/2023/09/22/vancouver-pilgrimage-plaza-of-nations/
The address is 750 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6B 5E7 which is a short walk south from the Vancouver Public Library
This was the site of much of the location filming for 2.04 Not Our Daughters. It had the army platform where General Alder gave her speech and the protest that Scylla and Anacostia got caught up in.
This is what that area looked like two years ago. The iconic yellow steps were there – looking exactly as they had looked during filming.
But, sadly, things have changed. The yellow steps are no more and there is considerably more street furniture than there used to be. This might be to the benefit of local residents, but it didn’t feel like Motherland any more.
This was also evident with the protest buses, near the Whitecaps stadium. This is a behind the scenes shot from filming the protest. Below that are two photos of the same location from two years ago.
Now the yellow steps have been painted in pastel colours and even the name board has been repainted.
If anyone is visiting the library, this is quite close so visiting it is possible. But a visit to the Orpheum Theatre would be a better use of limited time.
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Finding this beach and getting to walk along it was one of my big goals for this visit. Two years ago, I went looking for the Lighthouse and eventually decided that it was fake. That story can be read at https://returntofortsalem.com/2023/10/11/vancouver-pilgrimage-the-lighthouse/
But it was clear that I was in the right area. The geology was right, so was the type of vegetation. I suggested at the time, that it might be one of the bays north of Lighthouse Park, leading up to Horseshoe Bay. So, I did a lot more research, including checking satellite imagery for the coastline between Lighthouse Park and Horseshoe Bay.
This looked very promising. Whytecliff Beach, just south of Horseshoe Bay. Address Whytecliff Park, 7102 Marine Dr, West Vancouver, BC V7W 2T3
I was also fortunate to come across some production information, which had a scan of where they intended to film the beach scene from episode 1.06. It was a pretty good match. I was determined to get there on my second visit.
This is what it looks like in real life. There is even convenient car parking near the beach. The area is very popular with divers and we saw some divers there. It is an easy walk into the water for diving.
This is what the beach looked like during filming.
The beach itself is not very big, but big enough for Tally and Abigail to run along. And certainly big enough for families to picnic on and enjoy.
The Lighthouse was one of the defining images of Motherland. It was a very powerful surprise in episode 3.09 when Raelle and Scylla finally got to their Lighthouse. This is where the Lighthouse would have been if it had really existed. I would have preferred it is it had been actually there, but finding where it was supposed to be was the next best thing.
There are some behind the scenes photos of The Unit that help to identify the location too.
I even climbed up to where the Lighthouse would have been and took photos of the beach from up there.
This was one of my top 5 filming sites that I wanted to visit. The Lighthouse beach will always have a very special place in the hearts of Raylla fans. I was very glad to have finally made it to their Lighthouse.
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Previous page
Address: 350 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 6B1
This is one of the magical must-visit Motherland locations. If you are ever in downtown Vancouver and have half an hour to spare, you can pop to the library and visit this. The site of the first ever scene of Motherland. The Spree mall attack. It was also the location for filming the incredibly powerful scene from ep 2.02 when Scylla returns to the scene of the attack and we see the deep remorse she feels for all those lost lives.
This is what it looked like when the pilot episode was filmed. The army bunting and balloons decorating the mall.
When I visited it on 2023, it looked like this. No ballons, but the balcony banners were orange.
Now, two years later, the orange banners have disappeared.
Initially I thought this looked less striking and was slightly disappointed. But going back through images to write the blogs, I looked again at Scylla’s walk through in 2.02
The orange banners were not there. So, now, it actually looks MORE like it did when the episode was originally filmed.
Incidentally, the library has a shop. I had to visit and buy at least one souvenir. I bought Vancouver Public Library Pride Socks.
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The blog from my previous visit can be found at https://returntofortsalem.com/2023/09/22/vancouver-pilgrimage-orpheum-theatre/
On that occasion I was only able to access that the foyer and the parts that were visible from the street. This time I went on a full guided tour and saw all parts of the theatre and much of the behind the scenes parts as well.
Address: 601 Smithe St, Vancouver, BC V6B 3L4, Canada
The tour started where Scylla and Anacostia started, at the Granville Street entrance. The theatre is very cluttered, lots of stuff everywhere, including in the entrance here. The first set of steps are out to the side, by the wall mirrors, then the next set join in the middle.
Then at the top of the steps was the table with the masks. This was brought in for the occasion.
This is the view looking up the steps.
Shane walks across the landing and goes left, behind the clutter – no I don’t mean the tour guides. On screen, we see him start to go down the stairs.
This is the view from the other side. From this direction, Shane would enter from the right and Scylla and Anacostia follow him and stop at the top of the stairs.
This is where most of the action takes place. We meet Tiffany and the Exarch is going to sacrifice her, but Scylla and Anacostia need to find a way to stop this happening and save Tiffany. Anacostia walks through the curtain to find a way to kill the power so the dampeners won’t work.
This is what is really behind the curtain. A short landing, then a staircase to the right leading down to the entrance hall. Despite seeing a lot of the behind the scenes rooms, we didn’t see the one where the fight took place. I think that must have been filmed at the studio.
I finally got to walk down Scylla’s staircase. I stood at the bottom of it two years ago, but walking down that staircase was one of the things I really wanted to do on this trip. Another goal achieved.
The main action took place at the foot of the staircase, which Scylla just walked down. The brass railings were removed for filming and replaced. There was a lot of clutter which was removed for filming.
There are more curtains behind the musicians which were covering up the exit to Seymour St.
This shows the view from outside the theatre, through the windows of the exit on Seymour St. Even if it is not possible to get into the building, there are still things to see from the outside.
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I went on my second trip to Vancouver to visit Motherland Fort Salem filming sites. This time I was accompanied by Tammy, one of the American fans. And we had quite an adventure. I got to revisit some places that I had seen before and many new places.
We had guided tours, bought entrance tickets, asked permission from receptionists, managers and owners. We went to public parks, the library, went to the theatre and visited restaurants, pubs and cafes. And much more.
Some places were exactly the same as when I visited two years ago, but some had changed and I got to visit many new locations. I even got to complete the last of my top 5 locations.
I finally got to walk on the beach from episode 1.06 Up is Down. This was where Raelle had gone to find the lighthouse and Abigail, Tally and Bridie went to rescue her.
I also got to discover that a couple of bits of my research were wrong.
I will blog about that places we went and what we learned. Starting with the guided tour of the Orpheum Theatre. I found out what was behind the curtain and got to walk down those famous stairs.
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I missed the first question of the Taylor, Ashley and ‘Jess’ panel due to autographs. I had thought it was a good idea to get most of my photos done on the Saturday and do autographs on Sunday. But it made it a bit hectic. For once, I was doing what I was told – not my strong point. I was almost at the front of the queue for Lyne, when it was ‘last call for Taylor’, then I was directed into Arlen’s queue. But when I was in Olivia’s queue, I was directed to go to the room for Ashley as she ‘had nobody there’. That proved to be nobody except 6 people, all of whom wanted long talks with Ashley. So, I had a chat about the problems of Brexit with one of the staff and a lovely chat with Ashley’s mother. Then back to Olivia. I came in during a very long French translation.
Meaning I missed the very start of Ashley / Taylor / Jess. Jess had joined the panel via a laptop.
Finally, we ‘sort of’ got the Bellweather Unit on stage together.
Question. If the Unit was on a mission and you needed to ‘charge up’, who would you choose?
Jess hadn’t heard the question clearly, so Taylor had to translate. ‘Which one of us would you f*ck?’
Jess decided to go with a threesome and the others agreed.
Moving swiftly on…
Question. What would be one question you hope to be asked in an interview and what would be your reply?
Jess. What is the process to apply for a visa to travel as a South African? She could write a book.
Taylor. If you were Satan and you had to prevent someone from being their highest self, how would you do it? She pictures things like pyramid schemes, promoting arguments about politics, tearing other people apart. A villain taking advantage of other people, like a bank robber or getting people to take part in a pyramid scheme.
Ashley. Would you rather die by drowning or by being burned alive? The short version of her answer was that she didn’t know. But she had been advised that burning was quicker.
Taylor added that she almost found out. She almost drowned by jumping into a swimming pool with the cover on and then she couldn’t get out of the water.
Question. Pick a song that makes you think of the show or your friends.
Taylor chose the song from the Bellweather wedding montage in 1.05. She couldn’t immediately remember the title, but with a bit of help from the audience, she got there. Urchin by Labyrinth.
Jess had a Spotify playlist for every season. She listened to a lot of music at the time.
Ashley had a playlist called Abigail Bellweather. But it wasn’t on Spotify. Ashley called it up on her phone and showed it to Jess on the laptop.
After the convention, everyone wanted to know more about the playlists but couldn’t find them online, so Ashley and Jess put the links on Twitter.
Ashley
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/abigail-bellweather/pl.u-r2yBBDPTP5Jp5D
Abigail Bellweather by ANW – Apple Music
Jess
Here you go Switches all three #MotherlandFortSalem playlists from Spotify …god I miss the show!!!
Season 3: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0W4d4LcosiFhnjiDw64RIw?si=70o8IMd8RkmXLbK00bav1w&pi=u-ISLRzbvCTGWu
Here you go Switches all three #MotherlandFortSalem playlists from Spotify 💝…god I miss the show!!!
Season 1:
Season2 :
Season 3:
For me, the next thing was the Raylla fan meet. Taylor started by telling Amalia that she had used most of her solo fan meet telling us about her trip to Scotland and Danny getting drunk. I joked that perhaps Amalia should tell us about her trip to Berlin. We had all been very entertained by her Instagram posts about taking the overnight sleeper train from Stockholm to Berlin.
Amalia asked me if that was a serious question? I was ‘why not? Yes.’ So she told us.
She had been visiting a relative who lives in Berlin to help improve her German. This relative talks a lot, so she had been getting plenty of practice. She had spoken to an acting coach / director who had said that her German was good enough to work in Germany. But she has an accent, so she couldn’t play a German, she would have to be someone Baltic, such as Estonian or Lithuanian. Which means that she wants to work to get rid of the accent, but that will be a long term goal.
[As an aside, I had been told previously by German fans who spoke to her in German, that she is fluent. Nobody had mentioned an accent.]
And finally we got to the closing ceremony. Amalia had had to leave early so she was not there, but she had recorded a short video for us saying how much she had enjoyed the weekend and thanking the organisers and everyone for coming.
The cast said their farewells. Then we got to the bit we had all been waiting for. When one of the organisers said the words we all wanted to hear. ‘See you next year.’ A lot of very happy Switches.
So see you next year in Paris on September 20 – 21st 2025.
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So, after lunch we got to the games session between Alder’s Angels (Olivia, Arlen, Lyne and Amalia) against Team Shiny (Ashley, Taylor, Cat and ‘Jess’). We were not allowed to take photos or videos of this session, much to my disappointment.
In some ways this was the reverse of yesterday. Here there was a single guesser and the rest of the team had to give them clues to Motherland specific words / phrases. But after Lyne got stuck on ‘The Spree’ and Ashley had no clue about ‘Morrigan’s Whisper’, the organisers did point out that the person doing the guessing did not have to be a cast member. Once fans took on that role, things worked much better. The fans clearly have a more detailed knowledge of the show that the cast. In the second round Alder’s Angels took a decisive lead. The organisers did want to give Team Shiny a chance to make up on some of that lead, but some of the Alder’s Angels were getting competitive and so there was discussion and Team Shiny got another go, but still didn’t manage to make up the deficit. Alder’s Angels scored a decisive victory.
After that there was the Amalia / Olivia / Arlen panel. They started with how they were feeling at that point in the con.
Olivia. Hot
Arlen. Very full. She then went on to clarify that she was very full of food.
Amalia was warm from energy brought about by victory – body heat. She was happy and filled with adrenaline.
Question. In Season 3 we see indigenous people. Could you tell us about 2 spirit people.
Olivia explained that not all tribes have that as an identity. A person has the spirit of masculine and feminine in one body. It has become part of the LGBTQ2S. In college she did a seminar on love, sex and [I didn’t catch the third thing]. Before that, she didn’t know about it. Some 2 spirit people won’t be with other 2 spirit people – they consider them like siblings.
Question. What is your favourite food to make and your favourite food to eat?
Amalia. ‘This is such an Arlen question. So, let’s hear it from Arlen.’
Arlen. Making Tiramisu / cakes. I would ask about flavours and textures and then build it. Eating, I love eating pasta.
Amalia. I make Norwegian reindeer stew, with brown cheese and loganberries. It is a fall dish. For eating, when she has nailed the reindeer stew, that is her favourite.
Olivia doesn’t enjoy cooking. She enjoys eating Mediterranean. She likes baking Bannock, extra fluffy and adding blueberries. Water, lard and flour were the only ingredients given to indigenous people and they made it work. At indigenous meetings you eat Bannock.
Question. In S1, the Cession seemed to be like an American state, but in S3 it seemed to be more of a large area of land that was separate. What were you told about what the Cession is and with indigenous people how did it change?
Amalia said that she had been given information, but because she had no context for it, it didn’t make sense. She only saw the size of it when she saw the introduction for the first time. In S3 there was a bunch of information from the writers’ room.
Arlen had had a conversation with Eliot. She understood from him that it was land given back to indigenous people but it was not military control.
Olivia. She understood it like a sovereign country, self governed. There was no idea of battles fought over it.
Arlen had heard that Biddie magic was given to Alder by the Marshall in exchange for the land.
Amalia said that Alder got us this, it was liberated from the US. But that came from a conversation. A lot was not written down.
Olivia. They brought in indigenous writers to the writers’ room. Tom, who is an indigenous writer, wrote Bearkiller. Cherry wrote the Cession characters. They added the cultural specifics.
Arlen. Tony met with a vocal coach and an elder to get the pronunciation correct. At the time information was coming out about residential school children. We were filming on indigenous land.
Olivia worked with a vocal coach to get the Cherokee pronunciation right. She is not Cherokee.
Question. In season 3, all of your characters meet each other. Nicte didn’t meet Thelma. What would they say if they met?
Amalia. We met. With Scylla and Nicte, she felt there were scenes missing.
Arlen. ’imagine the conversations’.
Amalia ‘What have you done and how do you live with it?’
Arlen. ‘When she was about to be executed, she saw what Scylla saw.’
Olivia. ‘You blew up a factory, so they get sent out.’
Arlen. Hiding in the Cession. Scylla and Nicte had a moment in the forest.
Amalia. Olivia, would you have more tension with Abigail?
Scylla is afraid of Thelma Bearkiller. Abigail thinks of something different.
Olivia. ‘I would lock you [Scylla] up.’
Arlen. Meet people through bars. Done that!
Question. Was there any change between the auditions and the start of the show?
Amalia. We had to do a selfie, a screen test and chemistry reads, then when they got to the pilot there was a character description.
Arlen thanked the translators – who did a great job.
She did a self tape, with 2 scenes from Liberia. She had a note from Eliot, that her secret power was that she could make people commit suicide. She was first hired to play ‘young Nicte’ for 2 episodes, showing flashbacks. Then she got the call, that she was going to play all of it. She didn’t know it was connected to the Spree.
Amalia explained that she and Arlen were chatting in the car and she was telling Arlen about it and how to approach it. She was explaining the Spree.
Arlen. Scylla, without demonising her, helped her approach.
Olivia auditioned 3 times. S2 was for a small part. She auditioned for S3 Nicte, then for Thelma. She saw the breakdown and it was a perfect fit, like a dream. Everything was put in – indigenous, her age, military badass. Give it to God. 2 days later she was shortlisted. The day after, she booked it. When she saw the email she was crying. She went on set for a fitting and it took 4 hours.
Amalia said she had 3 days of fittings.
Olivia went to Brian [Stiller] to say thank you for writing her. Sherry wrote her as afro-indigenous as her kids are afro–indigenous.
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At the opening ceremony, we were joined by Arlen and Olivia, who had not been with us on Saturday. We started by watching a video created especially for the occasion.
Lyne, said, after seeing the video, that she had ended the day crying. She just teared up, what an incredible bunch of people. Yesterday was absolutely beyond.
Amalia thanked everyone for a wonderful day yesterday. [I can’t read my notes]. ‘Just don’t give me a microphone in the morning’.
Arlen was happy to be here, nervous, but pumped.
Olivia said that she recognised some faces from social media.
Taylor welcomed Olivia and Arlen. They all missed Jess, but she appreciated all the messages from yesterday. Taylor thanked everyone for a wonderful day yesterday and for the wonderful video. It made her feel nostalgic. She really missed the show.
Ashley said she was ‘Missing Cat. Missing my mom’.
Then the place went wild as Cat arrived at the back of the hall!!!!!! Clapping and cheering as she made her way to the front and on to the stage.
Cat ‘Thanks for having me back’.
The organisers explained that Cat doesn’t go back till Tuesday, so they asked her ‘why don’t you some back?’ and she jumped at the chance.
At the time we had no idea anything was happening. However, looking at the photos afterwards, did suggest that the cast knew and were incapable of keeping a secret.
Then we got to questions. These are my recollections; others may recollect differently.
Question Like the Bellweather Unit. If you created your own unit from people in other shows which 2 other women would you choose.
Amalia. Professor McGonagall and the original Sabrina from Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Ashley. Tia and Tamara.
Taylor. Hermione Grainger and Nicole Kidman from Practical Magic.
Lyne. Sandra Bullock.
Arlen felt she had been sheltered from things like this as a child. So she would go for someone from Hocus Pocus and Samantha from Bewitched.
Olivia said she was not allowed to watch witches because her mother was a devout catholic. But she has been bringing her around. So she chose Hermione Grainger and Yennefer from The Witcher. She also mentioned Barry’s ancestor from The Vampire Diaries.
Cat chose to have Hilda and Zelda (from Sabrina the Teenage Witch) in her presidential cabinet. She thought they brought humour and style.
Lyne added Angelica Huston.
Question. In light of the #MeToo movement, what changes did you notice and what more should be done?
Lyne. Diversity is here. There has been huge change. She felt that at 25 she didn’t have a voice. She was told to go back to Belgium. In comparison to today ‘I feel I have a voice and can set boundaries and can set an example to younger generations’. Set your boundaries. Put your foot down. It starts with you.
Cat. Adding to what Lyne says. With a perspective of time. MeToo came out based on scarcity and power imbalance. But space has been created. The proof is stories by women for women and a change of lens. These steps create abundance. By [fans / audience] showing up for stories, makes it safer for us. It creates a safer space.
Olivia. Believing in mentorship. Being younger, there are conversations. But it is frustrating to realise that we are empowered by women who have been fighting and speaking out, but we do need men to speak out alongside us. One day she was upset on set [by /at] a male friend who was like a brother. A man like him will create more men like him. We women should not be carrying the whole load.
Question. What is your favourite movie?
Arlen. [She gave a French titled film that I didn’t recognise. It sounded like La Maiqure Duvent. She said it was 6 hours long].
Olivia. Bambi.
Lyne. Batteries not included
Taylor. Pride and Prejudice. The Twilight series.
Ashley. Crazy, Stupid, Love. Taylor objected to this. Ashley told her that ‘It’s my choice and my favourite movie’.
Amalia. Objected to being only allowed one favourite movie. Taylor suggested Lion King to her. But Amalia wasn’t having any of it.
Because we now had an extra guest for the day, the schedule got rearranged. So, now the next panel was a second panel with The Generals. I was very pleased.
Lyne started the panel by saying that ‘I would feel lonely if I didn’t have this one [indicating Cat] next to me.
Question. If your season 3 character could have a talk with your season 1 character, what would they say?
Cat. ‘Girl, do you think I don’t know what you are doing?’
Lyne [clarifying], season 3 to season 1 of your own character? When we meet Alder in season 1, she is the all knowing General, she was always prepared and was telling herself that she knows all. In season 3, out of the Mycelium, she is a servant of the Mother. She is a different person. A servant, but she holds all the knowledge of the Mycelium, so she guides the youngsters. There is always more to learn. You remain a student. Never stop learning. Acknowledge those around you. Continue to be a student, as a teacher of Life.
Cat. There is a lot to reflect on. Most valuable for Petra, was to focus on being the mother that Abigail needed, not the mother that Petra had. You can’t jump to the end. She needed to be more present, and get the grace to deal with her own mother. She needed to listen more to Abigail. So, ‘be present for your own daughter, release yourself from your own mother’.
Question. The Imperatrix. What more can you tell us about the character?
She held all the bloodlines of the witches. Alder was never able to have her own biological daughters. This created friction between them. Alder was confronted by her own inadequacy in that respect. She wished that the Imperatrix could have had a bit more time and value.
Cat. I just realised that, and I may be corrected here, that there were only two women with sisters – Alder and Petra. That creates friction because that generation didn’t have more children. The implication of that would be a sense of urgency as the number of witches is reducing. It is a generational thing. [Someone in the audience pointed out that Tally’s mother also had sisters.] Cat felt, that supports the point, because she is the same generation, but only had one child.
Question. What past tv show would you have liked to be a part of?
Cat. Gilmore Girls. She has 2 step daughters. She and the younger one bonded over watching that. And The Office, because that brings joy. As a patriotic Canadian, Schitt’s Creek. That shows so much evolution of how interactions are seen.
Lyne. Take you back in time, North and South. She is a sucker for corsets and period pieces. She watched it over and over. Golden Girls. [Cat agreed.] She wants to play around at that age. Such a great comedy. She keeps asking her agent to get her more comedy.
Cat. The age of the Golden Girls on the show is the age of the cast of Sex and the City now. Attitudes have changed.
Question. Referring back to an earlier question, what would your season 1 character say to your season 3 character?
Lyne. You never know what is coming. S1 Alder would have been baffled to see S3 Alder and would have a lot of questions. Alder would feel in awe and feel smaller compared to the Mother and the Mycelium. She would feel respect and humbled.
Cat. If S1 Petra met S3 Petra she would have had a head full of interrogation persona. Why choose Alder over your own mother? Should she let Scylla be free? What if Abigail does not follow the path? She would be in full on interrogation mode, but S1 Petra wouldn’t have learned anything from the answers. She would have been caught up in analysis paralysis.
Question. How did the characters feel when Alder was away from the army and Petra stepped into the army to take her place?
At the start, Alder saw Petra as someone who was coming for her place, taking on some of that character. When Petra did take her office, it would have been so easy to play that resentment. But the two women came together in respect – the S3 arm clinch. They could acknowledge and respect each other. Alder understood that Petra was the perfect general to take over from her. She was ready to leave that legacy.
Cat. She was a witness to the story. Alder started with a sense of responsibility, she was maternal to the military. Petra grew up in the military to compete. But she developed to collaborate. People have that lens and it changes and intensifies. Alder became a better mother. Petra became a better leader. From S1, she could flourish as she developed.
Then we had a break for lunch.
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