When we talk about Canadian humour, you mostly hear light (Schitt's Creek) or way out there (Letterkenny). Sensitive Skin is not a comedy but there is plenty of dark humour.
The world of Sensitive Skin revolves around Davina Jackson (Kim Cattrall) as she tries to find something new after reaching a certain age. Davina and her husband Al (Don McKellar) move from the suburbs into a condo in a "sketchy" area of Toronto.
Davina's sister Veronica (Joanna Gleason) isn't happy that her sister is far away. Her husband Roger (Colm Feore) has his own issues.
Bob Martin is someone we don't speak much of and that is a shame. Martin co-created Slings and Arrows and appears briefly in that series. He co-created (with McKellar) Michael: Every Day | Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays and also starred in the show.
Martin and McKellar co-wrote the book for the musical The Drowsy Chaperone. They won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical and Martin was nominated for a Tony for Best Actor in a Musical.
Don McKellar directed all 12 episodes (2 seasons). Bob Martin wrote all 6 episodes of Season 1 and appears in the show. The Season 2 writers — Rosa Labordé, Lynn Coady, Susan Coyne — each wrote back-to-back episodes. Coyne co-created Slings and Arrows with Martin and Mark McKinney.
Cattrall as Davina is as insecure as Samantha Jones (Sex and the City) was secure. She captures the demeanor of a woman who goes with the flow, all while questioning her role and purpose in all of this.
McKellar plays his "usual" neurotic, socially awkward character. Feore is strong and vulnerable as his character juggles a lot. Gleason picks up the nuance of a bitter older sister. She has been an actress who has worked a lot on both sides of the border and delivers wonderful performances.
Clé Bennett (Private Eyes, Homeland, Rookie Blue) might seem out of place as a drug dealer. Theodore also has a real estate license. His character might remind you of Benson on Soap except Theodore was even cooler.
Nicolas Wright as Orlando, son of Davina and Al, inherited Al's neurosis and blames his parents for not having a sperm count.
Many outstanding Canadians also help out on screen: Marc-André Grondin (Les Affames | Ravenous; C.R.A.Z.Y.); Mary Walsh; Matt Watts, Jennifer Podemski, and Rick Roberts. Elliott Gould appears as the token American, er, Al's doctor.
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The show uses Toronto really well from the position of where they are to Lake Ontario to the streetcar to the suburban perception of the big city. Season 2 explores more of life on the Toronto Islands. The show even throws in a reference to the nude beach that actually exists on the island (at Hanlan's Point).
Season 1 of Sensitive Skin was nominated for 6 Canadian Screen Awards and won four, including Best Actor in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role and Best Direction in a Comedy Program or Series for Don McKellar.
Sensitive Skin is a remake of a British series with Joanna Lumley. The program ran on Movie Central/The Movie Network in Canada and is currently on Netflix in the United States.
photo credit: Sensitive Skin TV show
video credit: YouTube/Shock Entertainment
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