I work in regional cancer planning for Ontario, a media and cultural studies graduate from the University of Western Ontario, and freelance artist and writer. In all my years of critiquing media, consuming the art of consumption, the tactics behind entertainment, and the embedded cultural dissent that lies in modern mini series such as your show, Terminal City is by far the most compelling drama I have watched ever.

Your cast is phenomenal and I do urge you to continue the show after episode ten, whether focusing solely on Ari and the kids as they cope with the loss of their mother, or Saul and his continued battle with aging in a world that no longer pays attention to the horrors of past, or even an afterlife dream like motif for Katie, intertwined in the happenings of the continued reality of the other characters.

Congratulations on making the best show on TV a representation of Canada's artistic talent.

Cheers to you all.

Jason Eano
Chief Consultant, Atypical Industries

It’s a show that doesn’t mask realities with a false sense of hope or happy endings. I feel that the cast of characters is well put together as well and that all the actors do a wonderful job at portraying the complex relationships and emotions that run rampant through the show. I’m actually hoping that a season DVD will be put out so I can watch it all the time!

I just wish the show wasn't over!

Sincerely,
Joanna Kelsey

I am sure you get a lot of email but I wanted to add my own two cents. My Mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 16 and died two weeks before my 21st birthday. The thing that hit home in this show is that I could see my own reactions in each of the children. That was truly an eye opener for me and helped me to realize just how normal my reactions were. My mother died in 1991 and I thought I had healed and gone on with life until your show came along. Sharing their pain and joy helped me to heal. I spent last night watching the final show and was finally able to feel good about it all. I felt good about the possibility that my Mom was truly by my side through my trials and tribulations even if I couldn’t see her.

I just wish the show wasn't over!

Sincerely,
Valerie Zuidema
Timmins Ontario

This is the best ending to a series since Six Feet Under. Kudos to the writers, producers and any one who had anything to do with this wonderful show. You and the actors are the best! Sensitive and warm. The characters in this show were all so real and believable. I loved them all. Maybe, just maybe, there will be subsequent episodes; the audience for this show would surely love to know what becomes of the Sampsons without Katie!

Barb from Mississauga

With Terminal City's wonderfully real characters and beautiful humour, it has brought humanity and reality into our homes.

Thank you,
Jessica

I'm so glad I found your website.

TERMINAL CITY, is certainly a long awaited, brave approach to TV. Cancer that hush, hush word.

My Mother, was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma in April 2004. As her caregiver, I watched my mother's fear, humour, pain and everything else that came along. My dear Mother, past away on Jan. 7, 2005, after her courageous battle. As the Cancer spread to her blood, bones, spine, brain, abdomen, liver and lungs. I was frightened to see this all happening to her. My strength from my mother's strong desire to fight that darn Cancer. So I got mad and fought it with her. I learned a lot in those 8 months from my Mother's will to fight. The doctors gave Mom 6 months to live. She proved them wrong :) They didn't know the "Will" Mom had going on inside her to survive. I had "2 extra" months with my Mother. Katie's character reminds me of that "Will" to survive.

I would like to share this. I don't understand why hospitals have those small kidney shaped spit containers. Basically that's all they are good for, is spitting in them When a person is bed ridden, they can't make it to the toilet to get sick. When my Mother was in my home, I used a bucket. Not one of those silly, kidney shaped thing. One evening when my Mother was in the hospital she got violently sick. So to save her dignity, I closed the door and held that kidney shaped thing in-front of her. So much came out, lucky there was a spare one in the room. I reached over to get that one as the first one was already full. Second one, was quickly filled. Poor Mom, she got sick all over herself, me and filled two kidney containers. As this was going on, a nurse opened the door. She asked if everything was alright. I turned my head and said "I think we need a bigger bowl". The nurse quickly ran to get something else for us. When the nurse came back. She couldn't even come into the room, as the smell was terrible. Amazing what one can do when you love that person. I sponge-bathed my Mother, changed the pads on the bed, and she was all freshened up, once more.

I stand and applaud you all for this excellent show. You get a five star rating from me. Every actor in TERMINAL CITY brings real life to their characters. Even though, sometimes I cry when I watch your show. I still can't wait for the next episode.

Thank You

-Shirley

Not only is it dramatic and funny, it is REAL, somewhat of a biography in the eyes of many families who are dealing with cancer. The Director does an AMAZING job and the cast is none other than "SUPERB". Thank-you for such a creative show, too bad there are only 10 episodes...
LB

You have produced one of the best new shows of the season. My other favorite is Over There which is unfortunately being dropped. As a Canadian I am very proud of the show and as the husband of a survivor I can relate to Ari as well as Kate. The photography, casting, and writing are first rate. Please keep it going.
Ian

I have to tell you TERMINAL CITY has to be the best Canadian Program I've watched in a long time. The acting is fantastic... each character is phenominal... I love the dialogue... congratulations ...and thank you
Dorothy

I just want to say that although I found the show moving, it seems dark and troubled, and I wonder if the writer is getting any help?
 
I just think we should reach out to those in need....
 
Other than that, congratulations to all of you who have created this fantastic show.
a fan in Paris

Each character offers so much --yet only 10 episodes.
With having the On Demand, I have viewed each episode many times. I have found that with each time I view it, I am able to draw from each character.
Writing is excellent as is the directing of this Series.
I love Katie and her zest for life.  Do we not all know a Katie in our lives?
She is fun, witty, attractive, willing to take a risk. I think we will lose her.
Be sure to hug our own *Katies.
Each supporting character has a story to tell.
Keep up great work.
I APPLAUD this SHOW.
Lorraine, St. Catherines, Ontario

I was wondering what I was going to do after Six Feet Under ended, but TERMINAL CITY has really filled the void. It Is dark, sensitive, wonderfully acted and best of all Canadian. The actors are superb. I'm sure Katie is going to help a lot of newly diagnosed cancer patients with her believable portrayal.

Last night's episode [Episode 6] was really heavy and thought provoking. The characters' true feelings and emotions are coming through. I was so sad to see Saul acting on his hatred and resentment. And to see Katie at the end of the episode was so heartbreaking. Some scenes in movies and shows stay with you and make you think, this is certainly one of them. I have a feeling we're in for a lot more and there will be no happy ending. But again, every episode does get better and better. Thank you for a first class series. I have told everyone about it and they are tuning in. This show is genius!!!

Barb

I am an avid fan of the (recently departed) HBO series' Sex and the City and Six Feet Under. I want to congratulate you on finally bringing such hard hitting, WELL ACTED and written drama to Canadian audiences from homegrown talent!

I'm proud to see that we're capable of such great work. Keep it up!

Terence Go
Teacher and Writer, Toronto

However, all of the characters are wonderful! Character "Ari" (husband) is sexy, caring and unforgettable. They are so good together. It will be sad to see this show go off the air. I hope there is a happy ending ....(but I suspect not) Character Katie is going to have a huge fan base. She is the best character on TV since "Carrie Bradshaw" of Sex in the City.

In a nanosecond I went from being recognized as a vibrant, outgoing new retiree to that person with cancer. Immediately everything becomes surreal, life around me went into slow motion. Once I had processed the information and wallowed in that ‘why me?’ place for at least fifteen minutes, I then went into action.

Taking advantage of the internet as the valuable resource that it is, my husband and I immediately scoured all available sources to determine what and where is the best place in North America to go. Much to our delight we discovered that the BC Cancer Agency and in fact the Ovarian Cancer treatment centre was arguably the best place, with the highest success ratio. We were in the sweet spot!!

I soon determined that to get through the next 6 months of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, I had to turn this experience into something meaningful. I decided to educate my friends, family and colleagues about Ovarian Cancer and try to do it in the most positive and, when possible, humourous way possible. I thought I would share with you a personal experience during my recent chemotherapy treatment.

In anticipation of hair loss, it is recommended that you do your “wig” shopping prior to losing your hair. This is done so that you can carefully compare your hair color to that of the wig and it seems that some people find the hair loss a totally demoralizing experience. NOT I – she bravely said! My beloved husband packed me in the car and away we went to a recommended “wig” salon for try-ons! Well, as it turns out, the only grey haired wigs are those made for 85-year-old ladies with perms and nowhere in sight are the sleek, sophisticated silver bobs I might hope for. Okay well - lets be Farrah Fawcett, YUK, okay how about that sexy blonde spiky thing – no, the red one, no, the black one, brown, HELP, I was thrown into fear and loathing for this dreadful person reflected back to me in the mirror. This person who I didn’t know, who was sick and feeling crummy and looking like something from a bad movie. One last try – a real hair wig - that wasn’t going to do it, having someone else’s hair on my head. Okay we are out of here! It was at that moment the stark reality of my circumstances hit home and I sobbed my little heart out, the first time since this adventure started. Over the weekend I rationalized the whole exercise and bravely went forward with my dear friend Katie on that Monday and went to a different “wig” salon and basked in the reflected beauty of both “Eva Gabor” and “Raquel Welch”. It seems only aging beauties such as these two have the nerve to have wigs made in their names. I breezily selected two, one in my usual color, white with a slightly metallic synthetic sheen and red for those days I am feeling particularly perky! In addition we bought 10 hats and scarves to cover all manners of evil that might be lurking on my yet unexposed pate.

The actual hair loss came as expected, the first day a few wispy strands in your brush, the second day, noticeable clumps in the shower drain, third day, horror as you reach to scratch your ever-so-itchy scalp and return with a handful of hair. It was at this point I headed for the nearest hairdresser, who, within five minutes, had rendered me bald.

So is “bald beautiful?” My husband and I had simultaneously stepped out of the shower the other day. Facing the mirror, we saw two slightly rotund Buddha’s. We had to laugh – it is often said that married couples start to look like each other after years of marriage but this is taking things too far!!!

I thought that it was appropriate to look now at the advantages and disadvantages of baldness.

Why this preoccupation with hair you might ask. I have thought about this a lot and determined that this is the one obvious and visible sign that you are ill. I am reminded every time I look in a mirror or see my reflection in a window or catch someone staring.

I continue to look at this as part of the healing process and that it will soon be over. This six-month hiatus in my busy life gives me an opportunity to reflect, write, and spend time with my family.