September 14, 2021 (2021-09-14) – September 3, 2023 (2023-09-03)
Moonshine is a Canadian drama television series, which premiered on September 14, 2021, on CBC Television.[2] The series stars Jennifer Finnigan as Lidia Bennett, daughter of Ken and Bea Finley-Cullen played by Peter MacNeill and Corrine Koslo, the owners of a ramshackle summer resort on the south shore of Nova Scotia who are keen to retire but whose adult children are battling for control.[3]
Cast and characters
Main
Jennifer Finnigan as Lidia Bennett: an architect and the eldest Finley-Cullen sibling who wants to redevelop and exploit the Moonshine
Anastasia Phillips as Rhian Finley-Cullen: Lidia's often-overlooked younger sister who sees The Moonshine as her own chance to shine
Emma Hunter as Nora Finley-Cullen: Lidia's sister and a host at the local radio station who knows all the family secrets
Tom Stevens as Ryan Finley-Cullen: Rhian’s twin, who is running his own marijuana business out of the resort
Alexander Nunez as Sammy Finley-Cullen: Lidia's musically gifted adopted brother who holds secrets of his own
Erin Darke as Crystal LeBlanc: Ryan's supportive girlfriend who has something to prove to herself
Farid Yazdani as Oscar Finley-Cullen: a police officer trying to shut down the Moonshine who goes undercover as a guest
James Gilbert as Terry Gallagher: Rhian's cop husband who is having an affair with her sister Nora
Allegra Fulton as Jill LeBlanc: an old family friend with some nefarious motives and secrets of her own
Corrine Koslo as Bea Finley-Cullen: Ken's wife and the matriarch of the Finley-Cullen family and co-owner of the Moonshine with secrets to hide
Peter MacNeill as Ken Finley-Cullen: Bea's husband and the patriarch of the Finley-Cullen family and co-owner of the Moonshine, trying to decide who should take over the Moonshine from him and Bea
Celia Owen as Eleanor Bennett (seasons 2–3; recurring season 1): Lidia's annoyed and environmentally-friendly daughter who dislikes staying at the Moonshine
Calem MacDonald as Finn Bennett (seasons 2–3; recurring season 1): Lidia's son who struggles with his sexual identity at the Moonshine
Leigh-Ann Rose as Aunjanue Arnold (seasons 2–3): Sammy's biological mother who worked at the Moonshine in her teen years
J.D. Martin as Weston Lonergan (season 3)
Recurring
Jonathan Silverman as Daniel Bennett: Lidia’s husband and a star architect, suffering through his own mid-life crisis
Stephen Lawrence as Bruce Barrington: a musician living in Foxton
T. Thomason as Michael Hurson (season 1): Finn and Eleanor's love interest
Loretta Yu as Moira Lancaster (season 1): a cop working with Oscar/Colin who worries when he begins to fail at his job
Allan Hawco as Gale Favreau (seasons 2–3; guest season 1): Lidia's biker love interest who ropes Lidia into his dangerous occupation
Shelley Thompson as Felicia Finley-Cullen (season 2): Lidia's late aunt who favors her and leaves 49 percent of the Moonshine to her when she passed
Lidia Bennett returns home from New York to her family's Moonshine resort in Nova Scotia for her aunt's funeral. Unfortunately, her marriage implodes, her kids turn on her, and a surprise inheritance kicks off a family feud with her sister, Rhian. Instead of giving up and leaving, Lidia doubles down. She's going to stay and she's going to make her new life work or die trying.
2
2
"Escape Goat"
James Genn
Sheri Elwood
September 21, 2021 (2021-09-21)
Lidia takes the reins on an annual Moonshine event called the Goat Roast, with motives insisting on glampy upgrades and a fancy new name, while Rhian declares war. Meanwhile, Crystal talks to Ryan about a possible future away from Moonshine and the mushroom crop.
3
3
"There is No I in Denial"
Scott Smith
Matt MacLennan
September 28, 2021 (2021-09-28)
In Lidia's attempt to transform Moonshine, Bea learns that Lidia has been going through Felicia's personal property, including information which Bea will go to extreme lengths to keep hidden. Meanwhile, Rhian has turned from being aggressive to scary and dangerous following the goat roast turned fiasco.
"How to Lose Friends and Shit-Can Your Reputation"
James Genn
Angelica Mendizabal
August 13, 2023 (2023-08-13)
22
6
"Hold Me Closer Tiny Cancer"
James Genn
Moira Stevenson
August 20, 2023 (2023-08-20)
23
7
"Get My Baby Back"
Sheri Elwood
Sheri Elwood & Alexander Nunez
August 27, 2023 (2023-08-27)
24
8
"High Season"
Sheri Elwood
Sheri Elwood and Kate Spurgeon
September 3, 2023 (2023-09-03)
Production
Created by Sheri Elwood for Six Eleven Media and Entertainment One,[3] the series was first announced in 2020 under the working title Feudal.[1]
Following the conclusion of the first season, the CBC announced that the series was renewed for a second season, which is slated to add Allan Hawco to the cast.,[5] with Leigh-Ann Rose in a primary recurring role. A third season adds J.D. Martin to the primary cast.
Release
International
The series was released on Amazon Freevee in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2023, with both seasons and all 16 episodes on the platform at launch. It premiered in the United States on The CW on July 7, 2023.[6]
Critical response
John Doyle of The Globe and Mail wrote that the series had some good and fun aspects, but "there is, literally, too much going on. It’s like there are several series packed into one, and some of those involved aren’t quite sure which one they’re starring in."[7]