This was quite the emotional episode tonight as we see Dana struggle with her battle with breast cancer, Cassie trying to take a chance on love again and the beginning of something something between Dawn and Zach.

Dawn and Zach

Benjamin Ayers as Zach Miller and Michelle Nolden as Dawn Bell

Zach has come to Dawn’s office to find her re-decorating it. Zach pretends to want to talk inventory for his ER but really wants to know how things went with her court case with Lane, her rapist. Dawn pretends everything is fine but eventually opens up that it went as well as it could. As Zach leaves, Dawn receives a phone call from her college roommate Reba who is out hiking but fretting over a spider bite. Zach overhears and wants to know what type of spider. Eventually it is determined that it is a Black Widow spider, which is poisonous but there is a small percent chance that Reba could be affected by its toxins. Reba starts to panic so Dawn and Zach stay with her as she makes her way to her car to drive to Hope-Zion. To keep her mind of the spider bite, Zach gets Reba to tell embarrassing stories about Dawn. Zach likes hearing about this side of Dawn. When Reba falls down and starts to exhibit symptoms of being poisoned by the spider, Zach realizes she is going into shock and instructs her to follow some steps so she won’t. Dawn then decides to read a passage from Pride and Prejudice to keep Reba’s mind off everything while waiting for the paramedics. The passage they read is where Mr. Darcy professes his love for Elizabeth against his will and Elizabeth rebuff. Dawn reads Mr. Darcy part while Zach is reading Elizabeth. It is while Zach is reading to Reba that we see Dawn look at Zach in a different way, almost like she has fallen for him. However, the two lose contact with Reba and Dawn cannot get a hold of her again. Dawn becomes distraught as she can’t lose her oldest friend that has known her before she became the Chief of Surgery. Zach offers her some comfort, which Dawn gladly takes.

Fortunately, the paramedics arrived in time and Reba has responded well to the anti-venom. Reba is happy to meet Zach and thinks he and Dawn make a great couple. And I think so too. Dawn thanks Zach for his help and there is a flirty air between them. Dawn tries to quell it but stating she is his boss but he says she isn’t. You see Dawn is the Chief of Surgery and Zach is no surgeon.

We later see Dawn and Reba looking over old photos of themselves during their university days.

Cassie and Jeremy

Kim Shaw as Cassie Williams and Peter Mooney as Jeremy Bishop

Just before a patient gets rushed into the ER, Jeremy asks Cassie to join him for an after work drink. Cassie declines as she has decided to avoid having men in her life. Later on in the surgery for Charlie’s patient, Jeremy learns more about Cassie early life as a farm girl.

Charlie

Before heading into work, Alex ambushes Charlie about getting his tumor removed. Alex does a mock debate offering reasons why he doesn’t want to like not wanting to lose the ability to see ghosts. Alex suggests that Charlie try and go a day without using his ability to see who he wants to be with it or without it.

Charlie’s patient is Russ, a superstitious farmer, who has come in after being crushed by his tractor trailer. According to his wife, Tracy, Russ was farming at night to get a head of an unforecasted storm. Apparently, Russ’ behaviour has become erratic over the past year.

During one of Russ’ surgeries, he visits Charlie to ask him to call his brother Ed but he decides to ignore Russ and focus on the medicine. Charlie manages to complete the surgery despite Russ spooking him into dropping a surgical screw.

When Russ is awake, Tracy, Charlie and Cassie check up on him. Russ’ asks his wife if he called Ed but when he said it, he looked right at Charlie which makes him think that he remembers his time in the spirit world. Russ starts to panic about the farm and when Tracy tries to reassure him, he realizes that he can’t feel his legs. Russ’ stats start to spike and Cassie notes his spleen is filling with blood.

Jeremy and Cassie fix his spleen and the two tells Tracy that while the surgery was a success he is stll paralyzed. Tracy starts to worry that Russ will continue his erratic behavior if he recovers and she is near the end of her rope. Jeremy asks if Tracy is going to leave Russ and she says no. Jeremy realizes he crossed a line and apologizes to Tracy and she surmises that someone left him.

Russ’ spirit visits Charlie again. This time Charlie doesn’t ignore him but decides not to ask him anything to see if they can solve his paralysis. So Charlie, Jeremy and Cassie look over Russ’ x-rays and determine a piece from an old clavicle surgery has broken off and hit his spine. Charlie is pleased that he used medicine to help find out what was wrong with Russ.

Jeremy and Charlie tell Tracy that they found out why Russ can’t feel his legs and fixed the issue and he will be okay. Jeremy also shows Tracy a brain scan that shows Russ is suffering from early on-set Alzheimer’s, which is a possible reason for his erratic behavior. As Russ is recovering, we see Tracy with him on his bed offering him comfort.

Alex and Dana

Alex is asking Dana’s doctor, Dr. Stroman, if she is a possible candidate for a breast cancer trial. Unfortunately, the size of Dana’s tumor does not make her a candidate. Alex goes to visit Dana in her room and sees that she is going stir crazy. Dana wants to go to Muskoka cabin and partake in the Muskoka Cottage Festival. The festival holds special meaning to her as she gave birth to Molly during that time. Speaking of Molly, Alex learns that she and Dana got into a fight and haven’t spoken since.

Of course, Dr. Stroman kiboshes any road trip up north but Alex decides to ignore Stroman’s order and breaks Dana free. During their drive, Dana talks about how seeing Dumb and Dumber with Molly is on her bucket list; talks about Buddhism and how we should wake up everyday and think if this is the day we die, are we the people we want to be (I may not have gotten this right); and reveals the real reason behind her fight with Molly. Dana gets Alex to promise not to let Molly drop out of university if she should die from her illness. Alex promises to be there for Molly

Dana starts to feel chest pains and tells Alex that they should turn around as they aren’t going to make it to the cottage. Alex said they never were going to the cottage but instead takes her to Molly as she is the reason why Dana wants to go in the first place. This scene with Alex and Dana in the car just makes me love their friendship. I also loved the performance from Wendy Crewson and especially Erica Durance in this scene too.

Dana is back in her room. Molly speaks to Alex to say that her mom has given up and it is hard for her to watch. Molly doesn’t want to give up, Alex shouldn’t give up and her mom shouldn’t give up either; she just needs something positive.

Alex visits Stroman to get him to offer Dana some hope but he replies that isn’t his job and shows the results of Dana’s latest PET scan.

Hope-Zion Cottage Festival

Erica Durance as Alex Reid and Wendy Crewson as Dana Kinney

The results of the PET scan is actually a cause of celebration as Dana’s tumor has shrunk, which now makes her a candidate for that clinical breast cancer trial in another hospital.

Alex and Molly has set up the lobby of Hope-Zion like her Muskoka cabin to celebrate the news.

As everyone settles in, Charlie tells Alex that he tried her suggestion and while it had its hiccups had its desired effect and booked the surgery with Shahir.

Meanwhile, Zach asks how Dawn is doing. Dawn replies that she doesn’t want Zach to feel sorry or pity for her. Zach states that is the furthest thing he feels for her. Zach then tells Dawn that he would have fallen hard for the college days version of her.

Cassie has changed her mind about getting a drink with Jeremy but to stop whatever could go on with them, he states that he is married but is going through a contentious divorce. Cassie says they should still go out for a drink but Jeremy think she deserves better and walks away.

The episode ends with everyone watching a fireworks show outside of Hope-Zion, just like the fireworks in Muskoka just before Molly was born. Alex looks on with happiness at scene of mother-daughter reunited.

Only two more episodes left until the season finale and I have no clue how this season will end.

Saving Hope’s 16th episode features the directorial debut of the one and only Erica Durance. I am so happy for Erica that she is getting the opportunity to direct hopefully the first of many episodes of either Saving Hope or any other show. Another thing I am happy to see in these photos is Zach and Dawn hopefully getting together!

Here is the episode synopsis for “Torn and Frayed”:

A stretched-thin Dr. Alex Reid (Erica Durance) teams up with Dr. Cassie Williams (Kim Shaw) when a young woman is admitted with abdominal bruising. When it becomes clear that her injuries might have been the result of domestic abuse, Alex and Cassie must overcome not only an increasingly domineering spouse, but an increasingly reluctant victim, to get their patient the help she needs. In the OR, a run-away pacemaker puts the life of a patient on the line and forces him to reconsider the new lease on life he’s adopted, while Dr. Dawn Bell (Michelle Nolden) also struggles to move on as she tries to get passed her broken relationship with Lane Berkley (Shaun Benson, DEFIANCE: THE LOST ONES) by painting her office. In the E.R., after a night to remember for all the wrong reasons, Nurse Jackson Wade (Joseph Pierre) seeks medical attention from Dr. Maggie Lin (Julia Taylor Ross) for a neurological symptom.

“Torn and Frayed” airs on CTV Thursday February 4, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT.

Check out the images.

Erica Durance Directing

Tonight’s Saving Hope is the penultimate episode and I didn’t even realize it. It also marked the directorial debut of Erica Durance and she did a great job at getting all of the emotional beats throughout all the storylines like Charlie’s and Dawn and Zach with the humor of Maggie and Jackson’s story.

Bishop had his toe throughout most of the storylines this week mostly telling people like Charlie, Dawn and Cassie about his impending divorce and the sale of his LA home that he shared with his ex.

Maggie and Jackson

Jackson has come to Maggie as he fears he might have an aneurysm. Jackson relates that he took his girlfriend, Maria, home for the first time and during sex he suffered a really painful headache. Jackson fears that this has ruined his relationship with Maria and also fears that he can no longer have sex before. An MRI revealed that Jackson had an orgasmic thunder clap. Maggie gives Jackson some reading material to help him prevent something like that from happening to him again but he doesn’t see the point as he thinks he and Maria are kaput. However, Maggie points out that isn’t the case as Maria has paid Jackson a visit as she was worried about him.

Charlie

Bishop is over for dinner and talk turn to Charlie’s upcoming surgery. Charlie and Alex try and not be worried about it and believe everything will be okay because Shahir is performing the surgery. Charlie goes to see Shahir who doesn’t quite ease Charlie’s mind on the surgery.

Charlie’s patient is Max Morrison, a man how had a stroke and now is in a long-term care facility. Max has  come in to Hope Zion because he fell and hurt his shoulder. Dev tells Charlie that he has locked in syndrome i.e. Max can hear and see the world around him but cannot speak. The only thing Max can do now is answer yes or no questions with a blink of his eyes.

Michael Shanks as Charlie Harris

As Charlie is checking his shoulder, Max spirit appears to him. Charlie takes him to an office but Max is unable to verbalize what he feels. Then Max’s nurse from the home, Yvonne, has come to visit him for one last time as she is moving out west for a job opportunity. Spirit Max hears this and is heart broken. Spirit Max finally talks and Charlie deduces that he is in love with Yvonne. Yvonne has been his nurse fro the past 12 years and before her, he just wanted to die but she was the one to figure out that he was still in there. Yvonne is the reason why Max wants to live but he doesn’t want to stand in her way for a chance of happiness and asks Charlie to find a way for him to let her go.

Yvonne tells Charlie that her sister wants her to meet someone and feels she can’t do that if she says here. Charlie mentions having a conversation with Max and brings her to  his bed side. Charlie tells Yvonne that Max wants her to be happy in her life. Yvonne and Max share a teary goodbye. But Yvonne comes back and pretty much tells him that she is staying and for him to get better and come back to the home.

Alex and Cassie

Kim Shaw as Cassie Williams and Erica Durance as Alex Reid

Their patient is a young woman named Georgia brought in by her husband, Chase, after falling while slack lining. The ladies observer some suspicious bruising that Chase and Georgia blame on drinking and an old bike accident. While during the examination, Georgia subtly shows Alex and Cassie a black dot on her palm. Cassie tells Alex that it is a sign of domestic abuse. However, the cops can’t be called as they have no proof of domestic abuse. The only thing they can do is separate the couple to learn the truth. However, Chase insists on coming with Georgia for imaging.

Eventually, the two are separated. Chase tells Alex that Georgia has a drinking problem and a liar and should see a psychiatrist. With Cassie, Georgia admits she is being abused but justifies Chase’s actions. Cassie shares how her sister’s abusive relationship resulted in her having her jaw wired shut and wearing a colostomy bag.

Kim Shaw as Cassie Williams and Peter Mooney as Jeremy Bishop

Chase and Georgia are about leave but Alex and Cassie manage to get Chase to leave the room so they can discuss Georgia’s results. The ladies tell Georgia they called a women’s shelter and someone is coming to take her there. Cassie tells Georgia they will call her sister to get her things and offers to take her cat. The lady from the women’s shelter and takes Georgia away and we see Chase get pissed off at an ATM.

After having a tough day, Cassie asks Bishop out for drinks and he happily obliges.

Zach and Dawn

Zach finds Dawn working in the cafe as her office is still under renovations. Dawn can’t choose a paint color so Zach keeps on suggesting some which she dismisses. Both get a page to see a patient in the ER. Simon has come in with a faulty pace maker and in the OR Dawn is removing it. Zach drops by to tell Dawn that Simon’s partner has arrived. Dawn tells Zach that he could have just texted that information and didn’t have to see her to tell her. Zach said he was in the neighborhood. The doctors and nurses in the ER definitely see something between the two.

During the surgery, when Dawn removes the lead from the pace maker, Simon’s chest cavity starts to bleed out and she works hard at repairing it so he can go on by-pass and then his new pace maker can go in. However, just before she is about to crack open his chest, a nurse comes in to tell Dawn that a board member is quite insistent on talking to her. Dawn tells the nurse she isn’t leaving her surgery and to hang up on the person.

Michelle Nolden as Dawn Bell

Back in her office, Dawn isn’t too happy at being pulled from her surgery and tells the board person that and also isn’t pleased at being told what to do. It seems that Dawn is being pressured to drop her suit against Lane.

Dawn is back in the OR to put in Simon’s new pace maker. After a couple of attempts, the new pace maker is successfully in. After the surgery, Bishop notes to Dawn how Zach is a great guy.

In Simon’s room, Dawn checks up on him and meets his partner Diego. After Dawn gets Simon to follow-up, Diego mentions that Zach told him about he struggles finding a paint color and offered suggestions as he is a designer. Diego tells Dawn that Zach has a surprise for her in her office and also says that Zach is a great guy.

Benjamin Ayers as Zach Miller and Michelle Nolden as Dawn Bell

At her office, Dawn sees that Zach has given her three color options. Zach goes through each of them and we see Dawn look at Zach like she is falling for him. When Zach gets to the last color, Dawn gives him and kiss which he reciprocates. Dawn tells Zach that people kept on telling her that he is a great guy. Zach says it took some time but he finally is that guy again. Dawn doesn’t know what this means but knows she wants to take this slow. Zach says they’ve been friends for 7 years, he thinks he can do that. Dawn then grabs a paint roller and starts to paint her walls with Zach helping. Dawn then starts to break down in tears but Zach is there to comfort her.

Michelle Nolden as Dawn Bell and Benjamin Ayers as Zach Miller

This episode really was about these two and it was nice to see their friendship over the last few episodes blossom into something great. I really look forward to see what the show will do with these two going forward.

And the two-hour season finale is on Valentine’s Day of all days. Hopefully, we get romance and love instead of tears and heartbreak but looking at the preview it looks like the latter.

Valentine’s Day is the two-hour season finale of Saving Hope’s fourth season. So far, CTV has only released the synopsis for episode 17 entitled “Anybody Seen My Baby”. [UPDATED]: We now have a brief synopsis of the second half (called “Let Me Go”, which I am adding to the description below.

Dr. Charlie Harris (Michael Shanks) is shocked to find out that nurse Kristine Fields (Nicole Underhay, MURDOCH MYSTERIES) has had a stroke. After Dr. Alex Reid (Erica Durance) discovers the nurse’s past may not be as remembered, she and Charlie must team up to find a way to bring peace to the already troubled spirit. In the ward, Dr. Maggie Lin (Julia Taylor Ross), Dr. Jeremy Bishop (Peter Mooney), and Dr. Cassie Williams (Kim Shaw) treat a transplant-list patient for acute liver failure when it’s revealed her symptoms masked a pronounced pregnancy. As complications mount, the doctors must fight an uphill battle to save the life of their patient and her miracle baby. Meanwhile, as the Fellowship Award pitches get underway, Dr. Zach Miller’s (Benjamin Ayres) growing relationship with Dawn (Michelle Nolden) is put on the rocks after Maggie delivers some surprising news to Zach. Meanwhile, Alex’s attempt at “normal” during Charlie’s surgery is shattered when her worst fears become reality. Struggling against protocol and mounting complications, Alex dives in to save the man she loves. But does she have enough time? And will he be the same man if he wakes up? In the spirit world, Charlie wanders the halls of Hope Zion Hospital in an attempt to find meaning in his life. It’s only when his life is placed on the line, however, that he realizes that everything is for naught without the love of Alex.

However, the images released from CTV, look like it is from both episode 17 and 18 since we see Alex bid Charlie farewell before he heads into surgery for his tumor, which according to the previews isn’t benign. But this could be at episode’s end. Also, I am a bit miffed that Zach and Dawn’s nascent romance is already hitting a rough patch. I really hope that the news Maggie delivers isn’t a deal breaker for the two.

The season 4 finale of Saving Hope airs on CTV at 8pm ET/PT.

Check out the images.

It is the penultimate episode of Saving Hope’s fourth season and we don’t have to wait another week for the season finalebut just 60 minutes.

Dawn, Zach and Maggie

It seems that Dawn and Zach had a successful first date and are trying to kiss in the elevator but can’t when Dr. Sharpe then Shahir get on.

Meanwhile, Maggie is practicing her fellowship pitch on treating cancer in pregnant women to Dev, Asha and Cassie. Maggie notices Dev sleeping and Cassie eye humping Jeremy.

Julia Taylor Ross as Maggie Lin and Benjamin Ayers as Zach Miller

Later in the ER, Maggie is stressed over her presentation and asks Zach our for drinks and karaoke but he can’t as he plans with Dawn but covers to say it with a buddy of his.

Before Maggie can ask any further questions, a young woman named River arrives in the ER with a swollen belly and also has liver disease. Maggie and Zach notices markings on her neck and River starts to vomit blood. Jeremy is called in and we learn the blood in coming from her esophagus and this is due to her liver disease. River starts to have breathing difficulties and Maggie and Jeremy decide to drain her belly. When they go ahead and do it, they see that River is pregnant much to the surprise to her and her husband Billy. Billy shares a really sweet story of how they’ve been best friends since kids and that they “married” each other at the age of 5 but then decided to get married if they were still single at 30. Luckly, River fell madly in love with best friend. When Maggie hears this story, we see her look at Zach with romantic interest.

Maggie and Jeremy tells River and Billy they can’t drain the fluid in River’s stomach as it can cause premature labour but can go through the procedure to fix the bleeding in her throat. Jeremy and Maggie also tell the young couple they can’t do a transplant on her while she is pregnant as River might not survive. Maggie reveals they are having a little girl and also get the parents to be to realize the reality of caring for a potentially very premature baby. River agrees to the procedure for her throat. Maggie believes the two kids will be okay and Jeremy says it is the benefit of marrying their best friend. As soon as Jeremy says this Zach approaches to get Maggie to sign something.

In surgery, Maggie asks Cassie to assist as she in on baby duty. As the surgery to fix the esophagus goes on, Cassie asks if Jeremy wants kids and clarifies not with her or this moment but then River starts having contractions. Unfortunately, the contractions continue and Maggie has to deliver the baby. In the waiting room, Maggie tells Billy that River is fine but the baby, whom the couple planned on naming Mireille, didn’t make it. Even though they lost their baby, things are still looking up for River and Billy as their transplant pager goes off and River is getting a new liver.

In the doctor’s lounge, Maggie is upset over losing the baby and texts Zach for comfort. Maggie tells Zach that is is too short and proposes the two get together citing her patients love story. Since they love each other and she kisses him but Zach pulls away. Maggie knows they don’t love each other that way but they can. Zach says he is Seeing dawn and Maggie understands. Unfortunately, Dawn saw the lip lock after looking for Maggie who was running late for her pitch. Maggie does her pitch but is too emotional to finish.

Michelle Nolden as Dawn Bell and Benjamin Ayers as Zach Miller

Zach meets Dawn in the lobby after getting off the phone with his ex, who tells him he is moving to Vancouver and taking his sons with her. Dawn tells Zach how Maggie tanked her pitch and he goes to comfort her. Before he does so, Dawn tells Zach they should forget whatever they had going and doesn’t elaborate why, leaving Zach confused.

Elsewhere, Cassie comforts Jeremy over losing the baby and the two hookup in the on call room, a culmination of all their sexual tension since he came to Hope Zion.

Alex and Charlie

We begin the episode with a voice over of Shahir going through a pre-op checklist as we see Charlie and Alex go through it. We are then in Shahir’s office and we see him give Charlie a whole bunch of consent forms to sign.

We then see Charlie passing his cases to Asha before his surgery that afternoon and gets Dawn to be sure  his heart is healthy enough for the surgery; it is. Dawn tells Alex that she can postpone her fellowship pitch because of Charlie surgery but she welcomes the distraction.

Meanwhile, Alex gets pages by Cassie to check on Kristine who is still in coma and all of a sudden starts crashing. Her spirit then appears to Charlie at his office and asks him to bring her to her baby.

Unfortunately, Kristine doesn’t make it and is now brain dead. Kristine asks Charlie to help find the thing that will get her to cross over. Charlie postpones his surgery to the evening by bumping Asha’s to his slot and he takes hers. Asha is pumped while Dev warns her not to eat expire yogurt as they might hinder her performance. Alex hears of this surgery switch and is not happy nor is Shahir at being bumped.

Alex wonders why he bumped his surgery and Charlie says it is to help Kristine cross over as he feels responsible to what happened to her. Alex agrees to help Charlie as she believes if she goes off life support she can move on. But since Kristine has no next of kin, the decision to unplug her is unclear. Kristine mentions a great aunt in Flint but she has Alzheimer’s. Alex goes to Dawn to see what the board can do and suggests Charlie become Kristine’s guardian but that can take a week. Alex finds an old HR beneficiary listed in form of Kristine’s. It is her ex-husband Arlo and Alex and Charlie are surprised that Kristine’s daughter, Maddie, whom she had always said died in a drunk driving is alive and well.

Arlo tells Charlie and Alex that Kristine was the drunk driver that caused the accident and it wasn’t first time she has driven drunk so he left her and took Maddie for her own safety. Arlo explained he tried reaching out to Kristine to invite her to birthday party, recitals, etc… but never got a response and lost track after two years.

Charlie is angry at Kristine for playing him and the fact he is a dad but Kristine is confused and wants to know why he  is saying Maddie is still alive. Kristine spirit disappears and Alex arrives and he tells her he knows why she still here.

Alex tells Charlie to get Kristine upstairs and Charlie’s gains her trust again after saying that he can no longer help her after his surgery as he may not see her.

We then go to ICU where Alex gives Arlo the consent form to sign to take Kristine off of life support. Arlo tells Kristine about her past in foster care led to her to drink but Maddie was light of her life and was a great mom and person when sober. Arlo doesn’t know how to tell Maddie, who was only 4 when they left, about her mom. Alex says tell truth and relates how she wished she knew her father as terminal when he took his own life. Kristine arrives to hear Arlo tell great things about her when Maddie comes in to say goodbye to her mom. Kristine sees her daughter with tears of happiness on her face and she thanks Charlie’s and has crossed over. We then see Kirstine get taken off life support.

We then see Charlie prepare for his surgery and then being wheeled in where Alex gives him a goodbye kiss. Dawn, Maggie and Zach have joined Alex to see if Charlie is going to be okay. As Charlie starts to go under, he sees his spirit in the tux saying “Here we go again.”

I thought that CTV made a huge mistake when it released images from the season 4 finale that revealed that Charlie would be alright following his surgery. But really, Charlie’s fate was not the cliffhanger of the season. More on that later.

Cassie and Jeremy

After hooking up in the last episode, Cassie meets Jeremy’s ex during a healthy heart fair in the lobby of Hope Zion. Natasha senses that Cassie is sleeping with Jeremy and calls him on it when she sneaks into his bowel resection surgery with Dev. Despite leaving him, Natasha says she made a mistake, that she still loves him and will fight to get him back.

After the surgery, Dev tells Jeremy not to hurt Cassie as he knows guys like him. Jeremy responds to Dev that he doesn’t know anything about his situation.

So what happens to Cassie and Jeremy? Since Peter Mooney isn’t listed as a season 5 cast member, you can probably guess not good news. More on that towards the end of this recap.

Maggie, Zach and Dawn

When Maggie kissed Zach and Dawn saw it, I assumed that the show was going to start another love triangle but I am glad that wasn’t the case. But at the beginning of the episode, Dawn and Zach are not together and Zach has no clue what he has done wrong after she rejected his gift of a teddy bear. Zach tells Dawn that he is probably going to move to Vancouver as his ex wants to move there with his sons. Zach is heading to Vancouver for the weekend for private school interviews and he has lined up a job interview at a local hospital.

Dawn and Maggie treat a teen singer/songwriter/YouTube sensation DeShawn, who has come to Toronto for a songwriter showcase from Halifax. DeShawn’s mother has no clue he is in TO or the Six as Drake calls Toronto. DeShawn has breathing difficulties and Dawn determines that he has a hole in his heart that requires surgery. DeShawn was hoping he could still go to the showcase but alas Dawn says fixing his heart is more important.

Maggie wonders if they can give DeShawn some medication instead so he can still make the showcase. Dawn coldly rejects that idea.

The operation to fix DeShawn heart is a success and he tells Dawn the reason why his mom is against his singing. His dad was a trumpet player and died of an overdose and she fears the same fate for DeShawn. DeShawn seeks some advice on how to tell his mom and Dawn suggests using music to do so. DeShawn starts to sing about a secret heart and this gets Dawn to realize that she shouldn’t be afraid to let her guard down and be vulnerable. Later, we see DeShawn performs the song for his adoring fans in his room when his mom arrives to hear her talented son and seems to accept his choice to become a musician.

As Dawn leaves DeShawn room, Maggie approaches her to see what she might have done wrong as she sensed a negative vibe between them. Dawn admits she was seeing Zach and she saw them kissing. Maggie admits that she did kiss Zach and that he told her about Dawn. Dawn seemed surprised at that and that Zach rejected Maggie. Maggie promises there is nothing between her and Zach except for friendship.

Dawn then rushes down to the ER in hopes to find Zach only to be told by Jackson that he left for Vancouver already. Dawn finds the teddy bear Zach was going to give her and returns to her office to find Zach there. Dawn apologizes for being an idiot, to which Zach agrees. Dawn then tells Zach that Maggie told her about their kiss. Zach says it meant nothing and Dawn knows that. Dawn wants Zach to stay at Hope Zion and that she will travel back and forth as many times to Vancouver so Zach can be with his sons. The two then share a sweet kiss and are back together. Man, I really love those two craze kids together.

Charlie and Alex

Charlie is in his tux looking at Shahir performing his surgery while spouting factoids about Beethoven.

Charlie is narrating his thoughts as the surgery is on going and talks about the sense of Deja Vu. We then see Alex give a successful fellowship pitch. Alex knows that everyone at Hope Zion about Charlie when Dawn pulled her aside to asking her something but really it was just concern over Charlie.

Alex is in the hospital chapel and Charlie is there. His voice over tells us that he will make it back to Alex.

Michael Shanks as Charlie Harris and Erica Durance as Alex Reid

During the surgery, Shahir notices that the tumor is more aggressive than first thought and it is malignant. Shahir tells Alex of the cancerous tumor and there are two choices. Stop the surgery, use radiation to reduce the tumor and Charlie will only have a year to live. Or perform the surgery to remove the tumor but the way it it could result in Charlie dying on the operating table. Shahir gives Alex 20 minutes to decide. Alex is doing research to see what people did on similar cases but can’t find anything. Alex then asks Jeremy what Charlie would do as normally he would be the person she would go to for advice. Jeremy suggests that Alex talk to Charlie. So back in the chapel, Alex asks Charlie what she should do. Charlie tells her he wants to grow old with her and to fight for him. Alex asks for a sign and a petal from a flower fell. Alex is 10 minutes later from Shahir’s deadline and tells him to take the tumor out.

Throughout, Charlie is going through the halls of Hope Zion talking about all the spirits he has helped and doesn’t want to find out what is on the other side just yet. We also see glimpses of Charlie at the beach and always talking about the feeling of warmth.

Huse Madhavji as Shahir Hamza and Erica Durance as Alex Reid

Shahir lets Alex in the surgery despite his better judgement. Alex knows things are good because she can still feel Charlie’s presence. Shahir removes the tumor but his brain starts to bleed and Alex acts as second hands to stop the bleeding. Charlie senses something is wrong with his surgery and tries to get back to the OR to see what is going on but finds himself running in circles around Hope Zion. Charlie ends up in the morgue and sees the ME about to perform an autopsy on him and he tells that he isn’t dead yet. Charlie is now in the OR and sees that Shahir and Alex stopped the bleeding but he disappears while we see his spirit going into the ocean as talks about feeling cold. Alex can no longer feel Charlie’s presence and thinks something is wrong and begs Shahir to double check but he instead kicks her out of his OR.

Wendy Crewson as Dana Kinney and Erica Durance as Alex Reid

Dana arrives to offer some comfort to Alex. Dana seems to be in remission from her cancer and is itching to get back to Earth. Dana gives some word of encourage to Alex but then we hear a cold blue in Charlie’s ICU room. Alex rushes in and starts performing CPR on him and Shahir comes with the paddles top shock his heart. At first it doesn’t look good to Alex goes into an empty room and prays to God for Him to make sure Charlie is okay. Alex believes she is cursed and vows to stay away from him, if God make sure he is okay.

A nurse comes in to tell Alex that Charlie has gotten a pulse.

3 months later

After 3 months of rehab, Charlie is doing fine and his ghost free. Charlie and Alex are getting ready to go to the fellowship awards dinner. Alex is a bundle of nerves but our favourite couple are doing a okay.

Meanwhile, at Hope Zion, we see that Tom Crenshaw has returned, whether he escaped from prison or got released, we will find out next season. Crenshaw is asking of Charlie or Alex is on shift. A nurse tells him but they are probably at the fellowship awards dinner along with half of the hospital. I was thinkin the nurse really shouldn’t be telling him that information at all. As Crenshaw was making his way to the nurses station, we see that Crenshaw clearly remembers his time in the spirit world and Charlie no loner helping him.

At the Royal York, we learn the awards dinner is being held on Valentine’s Day (the day this episode aired). And the doctor’s cheering over their single status. Maggie doesn’t want to get too drunk to make her acceptance speech and we learn that she and Alex combined their pitches and won the fellowship.

Michelle Nolden as Dawn Bell and Benjamin Ayers as Zach Miller

Dawn and Zach have just flown in from Vancouver just in time for the dinner. Alex notices Dawn wearing sneakers and that is because Zach’s son, Jacob, threw up on her Minolo’s as he was excited to see them off. So glad that these two are still going very strong and after her shoes have dried off, takes her for a spin on the dance floor.

Kim Shaw as Cassie Williams and Peter Mooney as Jeremy Bishop

As for Cassie and Jeremy, well he got back together with Natasha as he didn’t realize how much he still loved her. We learn that Jeremy and Natasha are moving back to LA in the morning and he apologizes to Cassie for what happened. Cassie doesn’t really want to hear it and leaves the dinner.

Dawn introduces Dana who gives a nice speech about Maggie and Alex. Throughout the speech, we see Crenshaw arrive and watching the speech. When Alex and Maggie go up to make their speech, Charlie gives Alex a hug but then he sees a spirit telling he shouldn’t be here. Charlie turns around and see Crenshaw pointing a gun at him saying he broke his promise and he is now going to pay and we see him pull the trigger. And this is the end of season 4!!!

Not quite as explosive as last season with Joel being blown to pits but we won’t know the fate of our Hope Zion doctors until next season. Who got shot? Charlie? Alex? Maggie? The whole ballroom? I really don’t know how much tragedy can one take.

CTV has announced that production the fifth season of its hit medical drama Saving Hope has begun production in and around the Greater Toronto Area and will continue on till November 2016. Another 18-episodes will be produced bringing its total episode count to 85.

In the season 4 finale, was quite the cliffhanger where Tom Crenshaw (Travis Milne) crashed the Hope-Zion Fellowship Awards out for revenge against Charlie (Michael Shanks). But who was shot or not will presumably be answered in the premiere.

As season 5 picks up, CTV describes it as “the Hope Zion staff are thrust into turmoil. Following her promise to stay away from Charlie if he survived his surgery, Alex (Erica Durance) faces a big decision while her fellow doctors deal with new challenges as changes come to Hope Zion that will not only affect the livelihood of the hospital, but also its doctors and everything they hold dear.”

Joining the cast for Season 5 in a recurring role is Calgary-born actor Jarod Joseph (“The 100,” “Mistresses”). CTV describes Joseph’s character as “The young, charming, and philosophical radiologist Dr. Emanuel Palmer brings a laissez-faire attitude to Hope Zion, as well as a propensity for challenging his medical colleagues with his unique insights.”

Aside from Durance and Shanks, other returning cast members include Wendy Crewson, Michelle Nolden, Benjamin Ayres, Julia Taylor Ross, Huse Madhavji, Kim Shaw, and Dejan Loyola will also return.

Durance will be directing an episode this season as well as Shanks.

Saving Hope fifth season is set to air as part of CTV’s 2016/17 broadcast season. Stay tuned to this site for a premiere date.

Production on Saving Hope’s fifth season is wrapping up and with that news comes the announcement that the fifth season will also be the show’s last. Series star, Erica Durance, made that announcement on the show’s official Twitter account:

Special message about #SavingHope from our leading lady @ED_DURANCE! pic.twitter.com/c7hmJ0jxaI

— Saving Hope Official (@SavingHopeTV) October 26, 2016

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

“The production of 85, hour-long episodes is a huge undertaking and accomplishment – a testament to wonderful collaborations of writers, performers, production, and our generous support from CTV,” said Executive Producer Ilana Frank, in a statement. “We proved that hard work can be fun, and we thank our Canadian viewers for their enthusiastic loyalty. We can’t wait to share what we have in store for our final season.”

The fifth season will comprise of 18 episodes and will air as part of CTV’s 2016/17 midseason lineup so we can expect it to air sometime in January.

The press release goes on to detail what is in store for the final season:

Picking up in the aftermath of the heart-stopping Season 4 finale, in which a vengeful Tom Crenshaw (Travis Milne) appeared at the Hope Zion Hospital Fellowship Awards and fired a shot at Alex (Erica Durance) and Charlie (Michael Shanks), Season 5 of SAVING HOPE sees the Hope Zion staff thrust into turmoil. As Alex faces a big decision, her fellow doctors deal with new challenges as changes come to Hope Zion that will not only affect the livelihood of the hospital, but also its doctors and everything they hold dear.

Saving Hope stars Erica Durance as Dr. Alex Reid, Michael Shanks as Dr. Charlie Harris, Wendy Crewson as Dr. Dana Kinney; Benjamin Ayres as Dr. Zach Miller; Canadian Screen Award nominee Julia Taylor Ross  as Dr. Maggie Lin; Canadian Screen Award-winner Michelle Nolden as Dr. Dawn Bell; Huse Madhavji as Dr. Shahir Hamza; Kim Shaw (THE GOOD WIFE) as Dr. Cassie Williams, Dejan Loyola as Dr. Dev Sekara, and Jarod Joseph as Dr. Emanuel Palmer.

We here at Pop Goes the World is a bit bummed at this news but at the same time not surprised as Canadian shows tend to now have a huge lifespan and 85 episodes is quite a lot for a Canadian show. What really hurts is that we no longer get to see this talented cast on screen when the show ends. We are huge fans of Erica Durance and it was great seeing her on screen again after Smallville ended. We grew to become fans of Julia Taylor Ross, Michelle Nolden and Benjamin Ayers. Our love for Wendy Crewson just grew and we will miss the chemistry between Durance and Michael Shanks.

Since it is the last season, what do you hope to see? Do you want a resolution to Luke’s paternity? Do you want to see Daniel Gillies return for an episode or two as a spirit? Sound off in the comments for your wish list.

Saving Hope Seaon 5 Cast PhotosWith the fifth and final season of Saving Hope premiering on Sunday March 12, 2017, CTV has released a handful of cast photos that includes newest cast member Jarod Joseph as Dr. Emanuel Palmer.

Check out the cast photos in our gallery then tune into the season 5 premiere on March 12, 2017 at 10pm ET/9pm CT on CTV.

The fifth and final (sob!) season of Saving Hope begins on Sunday March 12, 2017 and CTV has released the synopsis for the first two episodes of the season as well as several stills from the episodes.

First up is “Doctor Dustiny”

After the gunshot at the end of last season’s finale, Dr. Alex Reid (Erica Durance) searches for an injured Dr. Charlie Harris (Michael Shanks) in the following chaos, but instead comes across a caterer named Grace (Masa Lizdek, LOST GIRL) who was unknowingly also caught in the crossfire. At Hope Zion, Grace’s mother asks Alex for a priest, but the only person Alex can find is the pious interventional radiologist Dr. Manny Palmer (Jarod Joseph, ONCE UPON A TIME). Together, the two work quickly to try to save Grace’s life. As news of the shooting spreads, Dr. Dana Kinney (Wendy Crewson) arrives at the hospital to lend a hand but ends up consulting on a case with Dr. Cassie Williams (Kim Shaw) involving a male stripper instead.

Here are the photos (glad to see that Zach and Dawn are still going strong):

Episode two is “Midlife Crisis” and CTV kind of ruins what happens in episode 1

Since Dr. Alex Reid (Erica Durance) turned down Dr. Charlie Harris’s (Michael Shanks) marriage proposal, neither knows where their relationship stands. Focusing on work, Alex clashes with Dr. Maggie Lin (Julia Taylor Ross) over whether or not to include a car crash survivor in their cancer study. Meanwhile, Dr. Dana Kinney’s (Wendy Crewson) resolve to re-certify in Trauma is tested when Dr. Dawn Bell (Michelle Nolden) pushes her to treat an injured motorcyclist, and Charlie is called in to help with the surgery despite the fact he’s still recovering from the injury to his arm. Dr. Zach Miller (Benjamin Ayres) pesters Maggie to start dating.

Check out the photos from episode 2:

Let’s hope season 5 ends with Alex and Charlie together, Zach and Dawn stay strong, Maggie finds happiness and Dana is happy and healthy. Let us know what’s your wish for season 5 in the comments. Can’t wait for March 12!

Saving Hope’s fifth and final season begins tonight immediately after where season 4 left off. So who got shot by a vengeful Tom Crenshaw? Who survived? Let’s get to it.

Alex and Charlie

Ambulances have surrounded the Fairmont Royal York. Alex is being checked out but she is worried about Charlie and leaves in search of him. Zach points Alex in the right direction and she finds Charlie and he is okay. Bullet went through his arm and Crenshaw is dead. Charlie mentions how he planned a real romantic evening at a suite at the Royal York. Charlie pulls out a ring slips it on Alex’s finger but no proposal is really said and nor did she say yes.

Michael Shanks as Charlie Harris, Erica Durance as Alex Reid andMasa Lizdek as Grace

Their moment is interrupted by Grace, a caterer at their event, who collapses. Grace has a bullet wound lower abdomen and Alex plugs the wound with her finger until she brought to Hope Zion.

Once at Hope-Zion, Maggie sees that the bullet is near Grace’s aorta. To keep Grace calm, Maggie asks her about a tattoo near the bullet wound. Grace mentions that it was in honour of surviving a previous gunshot. The first time Grace was shot was Feb 7, 2014, which was the same gun shooting incident that Alex was involved in back in season 2.

Grace’s mom, Ruth, arrives and is frantic and wants to see a priest. Alex finds one in failed seminary student turned vascular doctor Manny Palmer (Jared Joseph) in the hospital chapel when she can’t find the chaplain.

Ruth wants Manny to give last rights to Grace as she thinks she will die because she is cursed. Alex says she will save Grace. But as always on Saving Hope the operation doesn’t go as planned and even though she stops the bleeding, Grace is still in danger of bleeding out.

Alex learns from Ruth that Grace was born Hep C positive because of her drug use. Ruth gave Grace up for adoption but reconnected shortly before her first time being shot. Ruth thinks she is bad luck for her daughter but Alex doesn’t believe in luck and Grace will be okay.

Ruth is about to leave Hope-Zion thinking that Grace will be better off without her. Alex convinces her to stay but Ruth says something that gives Alex something to think about like no matter how much two people love each other sometimes they just don’t fit.

Meanwhile, Dawn checks out Charlie and is fine. When Dawn goes to answer his phone, she finds the ring box wants to know Alex answer but Charlie doesn’t know. Dawn thinks Charlie is afraid Alex will say no but when he mentions that he can’t feel his hand, he is rushed to surgery. Dr. Palmer is operating on Charlie’s arm and during it Charlie sees Grace who says she is seeing lights and wants to go towards it. Charlie tries to prevent Ruth from doing so but his surgery hits a snag too and has to go to the OR. In the OR, it is bad and his arm bleeds pretty bad. In the spirit world, Grace and Charlie talk about Alex and their relationship. When Grace asks to see the ring, he goes to pull out the ring box but just gets sand.

Alex learns of Charlie and goes to the OR. Dawn says the arm has been bleeding for a while and hints at amputation. Alex doesn’t want that to happen and Dawn manages to get profusion back however Charlie still might not be able to operate. Alex leaves the OR and looks at ring at wonders how many times can the two go through the things they’ve been through. Spirit Charlie hears this. While recovering, Charlie sees Grace’s spirit and tells Alex to go to her. she does and sees Grace has died with Ruth by her side and is grief-striken and blames herself for killing her daughter.

Dana and Cassie

Dawn arrives at Hope-Zion ready to help out but there is nothing to do until she does a plastic consult on a male stripper called Doctor Dustiny or Dustin who fell and hit butt implanted flipped over. Dan can’t operate until swelling goes down and wants him discharged. Meanwhile, Cassie is objectifying him and Shahir keeps on walking by to get a glimpse. As Dustin is about to be discharge but Cassie notices clear liquid from his nose and his awkward gait. Cassie realizes that Dustin has a skull fracture. Shahir confirms the injury but refuses to do the surgery as he frequented the strip club that Dustin worked at and he was his favourite. Dana and Cassie convinces Shahir to perform the surgery as long as Dana promises to save Dustin’s ass. Dustin is fine and we see him give Shahir an “examination” as he recovers

Dana is lost after recovering from her breast cancer treatment. Dana wants Cassie to tell her what she should do.

Michelle Nolden as Dawn Bell and Wendy Crewson as Dana Kinney

Dana interrupts Zach and Dawn’s alone time to speak to her about what she wants to do next. Dana is grateful to Dawn for all she has done for her as she was going through her treatments. Now that she is on the other side of things, Dana wants to something meaningful with the time she has left. Dana wants to re-certify as a trauma surgeon. Dawn asks if Dana can cut it being a resident again and she assures her that she can. The two ladies then place a friendly bet.

Elsewhere, Maggie too is feeling a bit lost after the shooting and also admits to still being in love with Zach. Jackson tries to cheer her up about the award she and Alex won but it doesn’t quite seem to work.

Cassie is on a high after saving Dustin and proceeds to make-out with Dev.

Michael Shanks as Charlie Harris and Erica Durance as Alex Reid

At episode’s end, Charlie and Alex have the talk. Alex wonders how many times can they go through this, this meaning Charlie’s life or her life constantly being in danger. Charlie wonders if Alex thinks they are cursed and think that she is crazy for thinking so. Alex says Charlie is one to talk considering he talks to ghosts. Charlie reassures them of their love. Alex tells Charlie that while she loves him more than anyone she has ever loved but she can’t do this anymore and gives him back his ring and walks away.

I’ve read that season 5 is about people finding their destiny’s. So are Charlie and Alex destined to be together or apart? Is Dana’s destiny to be a trauma surgeon? Will Maggie find professional and personal happiness? Will Zach and Dawn continue to be happy? Let’s hear your season 5 prediction and wishes.

We had these images and synopsis clumped in with episode 1 synopsis and images but we are separating it out in its own post so it doesn’t get lost.

Here is the synopsis for “Midlife Crisis”:

Since Dr. Alex Reid (Erica Durance) turned down Dr. Charlie Harris’s (Michael Shanks) marriage proposal, neither knows where their relationship stands. Focusing on work, Alex clashes with Dr. Maggie Lin (Julia Taylor Ross) over whether or not to include a car crash survivor in their cancer study. Meanwhile, Dr. Dana Kinney’s (Wendy Crewson) resolve to re-certify in Trauma is tested when Dr. Dawn Bell (Michelle Nolden) pushes her to treat an injured motorcyclist, and Charlie is called in to help with the surgery despite the fact he’s still recovering from the injury to his arm. Dr. Zach Miller (Benjamin Ayres) pesters Maggie to start dating.

“Midlife Crisis” airs on CTV March 19, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT.

Check out the photos from episode 2.

Alex is all contemplative in the bath reflecting on the status of her relationship with Charlie and mostly where things starting to go down hill such as the moment of the accident that put him in a coma. Shahir and Maggie drop in to make sure that Alex is okay. We see that Alex isn’t okay as she did something a bit drastic by cutting a part of her hair that Zach can’t help but notice later and offer some styling tips (more on that later).

We have two distinct medical cases intermixed with the romantic entanglements. Let’s get through the medical cases first before we tackle what went down with some of our favourite Hope-Zion residents.

The Cancer Study

Maggie and Alex are presenting their cancer study to Dawn and Zach. Dawn is happy at what she hears and congratulates the two on the work they’ve done so far.

Later, Maggie and Alex help victims of a car crash, a young engaged lesbian couple, Bree and Violet. Bree and Violet were on their way back from cake tasting when they got T-boned by a tow truck. Violet is okay only some minor cuts on her face. Bree however isn’t doing so great as all of a sudden she can’t breathe and has pain in her chest. Dr. Palmer examines her and discovers she has cancer in her breast that has spread to her lungs. When Violet hears the news, she is overwhelmed and leaves. In fact, Violet tells Maggie and Alex that she intended to leave Bree before any of this happened.

There is some good news for Bree and that she is a candidate for Alex and Maggie’s cancer study. Alex wants her in but Maggie doesn’t as she isn’t quite convinced of Bree’s suitability for the study and the two have their first professional spat.

When Alex goes to tell Bree that she is a candidate for her cancer study, Bree doesn’t want to make any decisions until she discusses it with Violet. Alex suggests to Bree that perhaps she should move ahead with the study regardless of Violet. Bree wonders what is up and Alex tells her that Violet has left her but at the very same moment Violet walks in bearing gifts from the gift shop. Bree tells Alex that she doesn’t want her to be her doctor nor does she want to be part of her study.

Jarod Joseph as Manny Palmer and Erica Durance as Alex Reid

In the break room, Alex spills some coffee and as she is cleaning it up, Dr. Palmer comes by and helps. The two discuss how Alex put her foot in it with Bree and discuss what she should do.

Later Violet tells Alex that she wanted to end her engagement with Bree because they keep on arguing and even the move to the city didn’t help. Violet needs to figure out who she is without Bree. However, Violet vows to stay with Bree as she battles cancer no matter how long that battle is as she saw Bree’s mom whittle away to 90 pounds. Violet doesn’t want Bree to suffer alone. Violet also promises Alex that she will convince Bree to be part of her study.

We later see Bree asleep in Violet’s arms, who looks unsure of her decision to stay.

The Trauma Team

We see Charlie practice doing orthopedic surgery on the dead body of a hockey coach who not only encourages him on but gives him relationship advice about Alex.

Meanwhile, Dana goes through her first trauma, a young man, Fernando, who is involved in a pretty bad motorcycle accident. Charlie is called in because Fernando’s leg is messed up. It is one of the most disgusting things I’ve seen on Saving Hope in terms of the leg all visibly broken in half.

In the OR, Dana is trying to stop Fernando from not losing so much liquid from his body. Meanwhile, Charlie is trying to work on the leg but encounters an issue where a plastic surgeon is necessary. Dawn wants Dana to be that plastic surgeon but she wants to remain doing trauma. Dawn overrules Dana and Dev takes over.

As Fernando keeps on losing liquid, Cassie is trying to figure out what they can do but Dana overrules her suggestions. Cassie gets a bit rattled at Dana’s assertiveness in the OR.

Meanwhile, Fernando’s spirit appears to Charlie. Fernando wants Charlie to ensure his dad gets called. You see Fernando took up motorbiking so he could have something in common with the father that abandoned him. The plan was for them to ride Route 66 together. When there is a possibility of Fernando’s leg getting amputated, he begs Charlie to save it. When Dana can’t detect a pulse in Fernando’s leg, she is ready to suggest amputation but Charlie does find out what the problem in and his leg is saved.

As Fernando is in recovery, his spirit tells Charlie that his father no longer matters to him and that he will find is own way. As is spirit goes back to his body, Fernando tells Charlie that the ones that love you the most fight for you in a nod to his mom.

As Charlie is doing his charts, Dana promises to keep the secret that his arm isn’t fully healed and gets him to promise not to operate until he is fully healed. Dana also tells Charlie to go to Alex to learn the truth as to why she turned down his proposal.

Wendy Crewson as Dana Kinney and MIchelle Nolden as Dawn Bell

At the hospital lounge, Dana is exhausted from the day. Dawn sits with her and tells her that she was a plastic surgeon star. Dana says that while she is tired, she never felt so alive. Dawn is happy to hear this and tells her she will be on trauma every fourth day.

Relationships of Hope Zion

Shahir: He wonders if Alex and Charlie can’t work then what hope does he and Jonathan have. However, Maggie gives him some encouragement and we see Shahir call Jonathan to ask about this day.

Cassie and Deve: The two are sleeping together again.

Maggie: Zach is determined to get Maggie a date and tries to get her to choose from numerous people that expressed interest in her online dating pile. They range from a variety of men and women. At the beginning of the episode, Maggie looked lustfully at Dr. Palmer but I don’ think that will happen.

Julia Taylor Ross as Maggie Lin

When Zach presses Maggie to choose someone, she says she did but he rejected her and he is now feeling guilty.

Later Zach says that Maggie was right and that he is feeling guilty. Zach just wants Maggie to find someone to love her like he loves her but without the sex involved. Maggie doesn’t quite accept his apology unless he uses the skills he gained while putting himself through medical school.

Erica Durance as Alex Reid and Benjamin Ayers a Zach Miller

Alex and Charlie:

Alex is in her office again being contemplative. Maggie brings Zach in. We learn that Zach’s worked at Super Cuts to put himself through med school and he was good. And Zach does give Alex a great hair cut that Dr. Palmer looks on admiringly. I really hope that the show does not put Alex together with Dr. Palmer.

Charlie goes to Alex’s and the two finally have the talk. Alex tells Charlie that she turned down his proposal because she made a promise to God or whatever that she will stay away from him if he survived his flat line after his surgery. Charlie thinks Alex is crazy but she counters so says the guy that talks to ghosts. Charlie thought Alex was okay and supportive of his gifts. Alex counters that she has always been supportive of him and that he couldn’t have found a more supportive but she doesn’t finish that sentence. Charlie believes Alex wa going to say wife but she isn’t his wife. Charlie wants to know how he can fix things with them. Alex does think they are cursed on how they have moments of happiness but then disaster strikes. Charlie realizes that Alex thinks that their situation is like her situation with her mom. Charlie tells Alex that he isn’t going to pay for her mom’s mistakes and tells her if she doesn’t believe she deserves to be happy then she is right. Charlie then walks out but looks like he wants to go back in but doesn’t. Alex is left in her apartment in tears.

So will the show put Alex together with Dr. Palmer before eventually putting her back together with Charlie? Will the show write in Erica Durance’s second pregnancy? If so, will we get another whose the daddy thing again if they put Alex and Dr. Palmer (next recap I will call him Manny) together. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

From the photos that CTV released for the next new Saving Hope, Alex is thrown a birthday party where Maggie meets someone new. Also, we get some pretty NSFW medical photos (but not quite as gross as the medical case in “Midlife Crisis”.

Here is the synopsis for “Birthday Blues” which airs Sunday March 26, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT on CTV:

It’s Dr. Alex Reid’s (Erica Durance) birthday, but with everything going on in her life having a happy birthday isn’t a priority. Birthdays have never been easy for Alex, and this one proves to be no different. After making a promise to a young girl whose own birthday gets derailed by her father’s breakout of a sickle cell crisis, Alex has to pull out all the stops to make the young girl’s wish come true. Hoping to cheer her friend up, Dr. Maggie Lin (Julia Taylor Ross) decides to organize a surprise party for Alex. Meanwhile, Dr. Charlie Harris (Michael Shanks) has a paranormal skeptic for a patient, and Dr. Cassie Williams (Kim Shaw) is forced to confront her inner fear of infectious diseases when she treats two people who are infested with every parasite and tropical disease possible.

Check out the plethora of photos that also includes a cute shot of Zach and Dawn:

In tonight’s Saving Hope, we have birthday celebrations for Alex and a patient, Maggie going on a dating merry-go-around, Charlie dealing with a paranormal de-bunker being hunted by a ghost and Cassie facing her parasite fears.

Let’s get to it.

Alex

It’s Alex’s birthday but she isn’t in a celebratory mood. Not even Maggie’s birthday waffles or lovely flowers from Dana will make Alex embrace her birthday which has been marred with bad memories thanks to her mom.

Maggie conspires with Dana to take back Alex’s birthday and make it a positive thing for her by throwing a surprise birthday bash.

Alex’s patient is Deon who has sickle cell anemia and collapsed with chest pain while setting up for his daughter’s Aisha’s birthday party. Aisha is a surly and sassy girl wanting Alex to ensure her dad will be okay especially after hearing that he needs surgery. Alex can only promise that she will do her best with her dad.

Deon tells Alex that he is the only family that Aisha has. Aisha was a result of a one-night stand while her mom was in Florida and met Deon. 6 years later she calls to says she is dying of cancer and he has a daughter. Deon falls in love with his daughter at first sight and moves up to Toronto to become a full-time dad.

During surgery, there is more complications that involve not just Deon’s lungs but heart, Dawn is called in. Dawn learns that Alex’s father died on her birthday. Alex tells Dawn that she doesn’t want Deon to die on Aisha’s birthday.

Aisha gets upset at Alex when she tells him that her dad won’t be coming home for her birthday party.

Alex goes to see Shahir and wonders why her dad choose her birthday to kill herself. Shahir tells Alex about a time when he he thought about killing himself and that those with suicidal thoughts think that they are doing their family members a favour. Alex does understand this. Alex knows what it is like to grow up with out a father and with the situation with her and Charlie worries that this will happen to Luke Shahir assures Alex this won’t happen.

One of the nurses comes in with a birthday cake for her and the two decide to get the cake to say Aisha.

While Deon is in recovery, Alex tells him that he needs to take it easy so he can see Aisha grow up. Aisha comes in to apologize to Alex. Alex suggests to Aisha that she throw her birthday party at the hospital and we see a very happy birthday girl as Deon looks on from his hospital bed.

Maggie

Maggie had decided to give online dating a try and decided to meet her dates at the Hope-Zion cafe. The first guy, Roland, is much into his dating app than Maggie. Maggie cuts the date short by noting Roland should get the mole on his face checked out. Maggie’s next date wants to be attentive to her but she constantly gets distracted by her phone.

Next date is Spencer. At first Maggie thinks he is a no show and as she goes to leave, Spencer shows that he has been at the cafe this whole time. Spencer and Maggie share dating horror stories and when it looks like it is another bust, Spencer would like a second chance.

Maggie does give Spencer a second chance and agrees to let him help plan Alex’s surprise party since he is an event planner.

At Alex’s surprise party, it looks like Maggie and Spencer are hitting it off and she asks him out to dinner as a thank you.

Dawn and Zach

Since Zach stays over at Dawn’s all the time, she suggests the two move in together. This shocks Zach at first and Dawn is abotu take it back but he agrees but look on face says otherwise.

Zach asks Maggie’s advice on whether or not he can take back the yes when he was thinking no. Maggie doesn’t get to fully give her advice when Dawn arrives.

Dawn knows something is up but Zach says that he is fine with everything. Later at Alex’s surprise party, Dawn rescinds her offer of co-habitation. Zach admits he was spooked at first because he has been alone for a long time, he didn’t know what to do. But Zach doesn’t want to be alone anymore. Dawn then suggests that the two find a place together that would be theirs. Zach agrees and things are good with them again.

Charlie and Dana

Their patient is Garth, a man that got impaled with a piece of wood in his stomach while in an abandon building to investigate ghosts. He is a paranormal blogger and he says no such thing as ghosts and Charlie sees a young black boy with a cut on his head.

Charlie and Dana need to work on Garth fast to prevent paralysis but can’t because of the piece of lumbar impaled in his abdomen as it could lead to further complications if they pull it out. During the surgery, they do pull out the lumber and are working to save Garth’s life.

Charlie goes to see the young boy and his name is Miles, a ghost that has been following Garth around. Garth’s spirit sees Miles and admits to killing him.

The story is Garth and Miles were best friends who would got to abandon buildings. One day, Garth took an axe at one home and kept on chopping at a column that knocked the house down. Miles is killed and Garth is injured and requires a new kidney, which ended up being Miles’. Miles tells Charlie that he has been haunting Garth for the past 20 years to try and get him to not blame himself anymore for his death.

Back in the OR, Dana is thriving on saving Garth. Meanwhile, Charlie visits Garth’s spirit and convinces him to see Miles so the young ghost can move on. As Garth recovers, we see Miles visit him, touch his shoulder and Garth sees him and acceptance crosses his face. Miles is then able to move on.

Cassie

Cassie begs Zach to let her out of a lice patient because of her parasite phobia. Zach agrees as long as Cassie promises to deal with the next emergency to come on. Unfortunately for Cassie, it is a brother-sister duo who has a host of tropical disease. Leo and Anna are diagnosed with tropical diseases like malaria and dysentery as well as bugs burrowed in Anna’s leg.

Cassie learns that Leo and Anna are trust fund kids who wanted to do some good in the world and decided to go to Malawi to do some relief work. Unfortunately, Anna tells Cassie that those they came to save ended up having to save them.

When Cassie has to remove maggots out of Anna legs, she hesitates because of her parasite phobia but pushes forward. Unfortunately, after the first cut, Cassie passes out. When she comes through, Jackson gives Cassie Leo’s brain scan and she notices that a parasitic bug is in his brain.

Shahir tells Leo that he probably got that locally and not in Malawi due to eating under cooked pork. Leo ends up being okay and while Leo recovers, Anna shows him another way the two can do good.

Birthday Surprise

Alex arrives home and finds Charlie outside her door. Charlie just wants to grab a few of his things and kiss Luke goodnight. When the two enter her home, Alex is shocked at her surprise birthday party. Alex gives a speech and tells people to enjoy the party. Charlie decides not stay and Dana pulls Alex aside in her room. Dana thinks that the party was a mistake and wonders if she interrupted something with her and Charlie. Alex assures Dana that she has not and that she is fine with the party.

When the party is over. Maggie apologizes to Alex for surprising her with the party but again Alex was fine with it. Alex then asks about Spencer and Maggie doesn’t know where he ended up. As the two go and start cleaning up, they find Spencer and Alex’s nanny in the next room naked and very cozy. The two women laugh off the situation.

Next week, it looks like Alex is having a mid-life crisis and doing dangerous things with Manny. Not sure if I like this guy that is a wrench in Charlie and Alex’s eventually happiness. Here is what I am not hoping happens and that is Alex sleeps with Manny and gets pregnant and again we don’t know who is the baby daddy since it could also be Charlie’s. We don’t need a repeat of that. I just hope the show just hides Erica Durance’s second pregnancy and not do this whole “Whose your Daddy?” story line again.

From the images released by CTV of Saving Hope’s fourth episode, it makes me think the show is trying to make Dr. Manny Palmer the new Joel Goren, a doctor who likes to do things his own way and be rebellious about it.

Also, we get photos of Alex and Charlie still working together but not being together. I really do hope the show doesn’t drag Charlie and Alex apart on the show. Enough already of jerking the audience around. Let’s have Alex and Charlie be happy as we head towards the end of Saving Hope.

Here is the synopsis for “A Stranger Come to Town” that includes Dev getting a storyline!:

Trying to move on from his breakup with Dr. Alex Reid (Erica Durance), Dr. Charlie Harris (Michael Shanks) is focused on work. Faced with a patient who was thrown off a horse while re-enacting the War of 1812, Charlie channels all his energy into saving the man’s arm. Meanwhile, Alex discovers Dr. Manny Palmer (Jarod Joseph, ONCE UPON A TIME) is going offsite to help a teenage runaway and makes the impulsive decision to join him. After bringing the girl back to the hospital and operating on her in secret, Alex faces an interrogation from Dr. Dawn Bell (Michelle Nolden). Tempers flare when an old nemesis of Dr. Dev Sekera’s (Dejan Loyola) from medical school arrives at Hope Zion. After Dev makes an uneasy truce with Dr. Billy Scott (Greg Calderone, HEROES REBORN), the pair struggle to revive a patient who has been frozen solid.

“A Stranger Come to Town” airs Sunday April 2, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT on CTV.

Check out the photos:

The title of this episode could refer to the new CEO of Hope-Zion, Thomas Leferin (Arrow’s Joe Dinicol), who has come to town to observe the hospital.

Michelle Nolden as Dawn Bell

Dawn, who is sporting bunny ears and bunny scrubs because of a lost bet to Dana, calls a meeting to all Hope-Zion staff to let people know of the new CEO arriving and that everyone should be on their best behaviour.

Dev

Dejan Loyola as Dev Sekera and Greg Calderone as Dr. Billy Scott

At this meeting, Dawn also introduces the newest intern, Dr. Billy Scott (Greg Calderone), who happens to be an old medical school friend of Dev and Cassie.

Billy is an arrogant SOB and Dev definitely can’t stand the guy which of course Zach tells him to show him around.

Their case is a frozen John Doe who has arrived in the ER. John Doe was found in a walk-in freezer. Dev, Cassie, Zach and Billy are working on warming John Doe up. When there is a cardiac event, Zach calls in Dawn.

While Zach is away, the John Doe is slowly warming up but still shows no vitals. Billy calls a time of death but Dev wants to wait for Zach to come back. Dawn arrives with Thomas to hear Billy proclaim a time of death while Dev is still working on saving John Doe’s life.

Joe Dinicol as Thomas Leferin

Dawn continues to work on John Doe and eventually brings him back to life. Dawn defends and praises the actions of her doctors to Thomas who wonders if her doctors like to freely proclaim time of deaths.

We learn the John Doe is Chad a York University student who drank too much and must have wandered into a freezer.

We also learn of Dev’s resentment towards Billy and that he cheated off him during a med school exam and was and still in unapologetic about it.

Charlie

Michael Shanks as Charlie Harris

Charlie’s patient is Todd, a War of 1812 re-enactor who has come in to Hope-Zion because of a broken arm and abdominal pain after falling off his horse. At first Alex was assigned to the case but she passes Todd off to Maggie to deal with another medical case.

While in surgery, Maggie pretty much lets it slip that Alex didn’t want to be on the same case as Charlie. Nothing seems to go wrong with Todd’s surgery but Charlie sees his spirit in his War of 1812 character of Icarus Baltimore. Charlie tries to talk to him as Todd but he only responds as Icarus. Maggie tells Charlie about how Icarus died in the War of 1812 and how much Todd looks like him.

When Charlie meets Todd’s spirit again still in character, he notices he is limping. Finally, Charlie manages to get Todd back who tells him of a childhood injury due to a tuk tuk accident. Todd blames his leg injury for being anti-social and how he joined the re-enactment society to help.

Maggie and Charlie take a closer look at his injured leg and see that something is wrong and fix it. While Todd recovers, a friend of his from his re-enactment society comes for a visit and the two end up playing a game of Risk.

Charlie and Maggie note how glad that Todd has found someone he has connected with. Maggie asks if Charlie has plans later and he says that he does.

We see Charlie and Zach at a bar over drinks watching a boxing match. Earlier in the episode, Dawn asks Zach to ask Charlie out for a guy’s night out.

Alex and Manny

Jarod Joseph as Manny Palmer and Erica Durance as Alex Reid

Alex sees Manny on his day off with a field kit and wonders what he is up to. Manny confesses that he is going to treat Mia, a 16-year old runaway, who is part of his youth group. Mia texted Manny to say she is in trouble and needs his help.

So the two hop on Alex’s newly acquired bike (don’t worry she only rides it once a week) to an abandoned warehouse where they mind Mia in the basement with a stab wound. Alex has to bring Mia to Hope-Zion but she worries this means her mom will be called. Alex tells Mia her mom won’t be called but she needs to go in.

Once in Hope-Zion, Mia gets worse that requires surgery. Dawn sees Alex wandering the halls of Hope-Zion and is surprised to see her after Maggie told her she was taking a mental day off. Dawn confronts Alex for her lies especially when she was seen earlier that day. Also, Dawn is mad at Alex for making it look like she doesn’t know where her staff is in front of the CEO.

When Alex asks for an OR for Mia, Dawn shuts her down and pulls her surgical privileges. Alex doesn’t agree with the decision but Dawn stands firm and tells her that she made her own rules and now she has to follow it.

Alex does follow her rules and goes through the surgery and asks Manny to distract Dawn. Manny does so just before Dawn can show Thomas the OR by faking a panic attack. Eventually, Dawn sees through Manny’s performance and demands to know what is going on.

Dawn then spies on Alex’s surgery from the gallery and she sees her save Mia’s life. Afterwards, Dawn is mad at Alex and did warns her that she would fire her for defying her. Dawn doesn’t because Alex did save Mia’s life. Dawn also wonders what is going with Alex as she doesn’t seem herself. Alex is sorry that Dawn doesn’t think she is herself but assures her that she is fine.

We later see Alex at the Hope-Zion parkade trying to take a selfie of her with her motorcycle. Manny comes along and takes the picture for her. Alex then asks why Manny left the seminary who tells her that he left because he couldn’t save his brother. There is talk about taking new journeys together and Manny asks if he can take it with Alex. The two then ride out of the parkade on Alex’s motorcycle.

I am not on board with Alex and Manny and hope the show doesn’t go there. It is clear that Manny likes Alex but we only have a finite amount of episode left for the show to bring her and Charlie together.

CTV has released a synopsis and images for Saving Hope’s season 5’s fifth episode entitled “Tested and Tried”:

With a patient in desperate need of a liver transplant and no other options, Dr. Alex Reid (Erica Durance) is forced to track down the boy’s father Danny (Greg Bryk, BITTEN) who is in witness protection. As the new CEO, Thomas Leffering (Joe Dinicol, BLINDSPOT), sets out to make his mark on Hope Zion Hospital, he puts a moratorium on expensive transplant surgeries which puts him at odds with a defiant Dr. Dawn Bell (Michelle Nolden). As the cuts from Thomas continue, Dr. Zach Miller (Benjamin Ayres) sets out to have a perfect day in the E.R. only to be faced with trials of biblical proportions.

“Tested and Tried” airs Sunday April 9, 2017 on CTV at 10pm ET/PT.

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We have a formation of another Saving Hope love triangle and I am very much annoyed. We have to thank the emotional storyline at the heart of the episode to thank for its beginnings.

I will deal with that later but let’s start with Maggie

Maggie

Remember Bree? She was the young woman who got into a car accident with her fiancee Violet when they discovered that Bree had cancer. Violet couldn’t really deal and was going to leave her but ended up staying. However, in tonight’s episode, we learn from Bree that she kicked Violet out. Also, Bree isn’t doing too well with her chemotherapy treatments and has been getting sick to the point of vomiting in an Uber. After one treatment, Bree is about to go home alone but Maggie has found her a bed to stay in until she feels better (the on call room) and the two form a friendship.

Zach, Dawn and Thomas

The new CEO, Thomas, has called in Dawn to let her know about all of the cuts he has planned for Hope Zion that includes budget cuts to Zach’s ER, eliminating cardiac transplant surgeries and then trauma surgeries. Thomas orders Dawn to start prepping her cardiac patients for transfer to other hospitals.

Meanwhile, down in the ER, Zach tells his staff to be on their best to showcase how invaluable they are in hopes of getting some financing back. Unfortunately, Thomas happens to witness a man get his e-cigarette blow up in his face and a pack of dogs invade the ER.

Back to Dawn, she lets her patient, Sally and fellow War and Peace book club member that she is being transferred. Sally isn’t happy with the news as Dawn has been her surgeon for six years and thought they would see things to the end. Dawn apologizes and says her hands are tied.

However, when Dawn learns of Zach’s DOA construction worker that happens to be a match for Sally, she defies Thomas’ orders and performs the transplant surgery. Thomas is livid at Dawn and tells her that he expects her to resign the next day.

Dev and Cassie assist Dawn with the surgery and after some touch and go moments, Sally’s transplant is a success. Cassie then bursts into Thomas’ makeshift office to defend Dawn while he defends his position in trying to make Hope Zion sustainable.

We later see Dawn read War and Peace to a sleeping Sally as she recovers. As for Dawn’s job, we don’t know if it is safe or not.

Charlie, Alex and Manny

Michael Shanks as Charlie Harris and Erica Durance as Alex Reid

Summer, Luke’s nanny brings the toddler to Charlie. Charlie wants to put Luke in the hospital’s day care so he has a chance to see him as he misses seeing his son. Unfortunately, Charlie didn’t tell Alex and when she finds out, she is mad at him and calls back Summer to take Luke back. The two get into an argument about Luke and Charlie’s inability to see his son because Alex keeps him at the condo, which he no longer lives at.

Alex can’t give this much thought as her patient, Colin Killbraith, a young boy in liver failure, needs a transplant as his body is rejection the current one. Alex asks if there is another relative who can donate part of their liver, Joan, Colin’s mother, reluctantly mentions his father, Danny. Unfortunately, Danny is in witness protection as he is about to be the star witness against a biker gang that he was a member of.

Greg Bryk as Danny

Word does get out to Danny about his son and he arrive at Hope Zion and grabs Alex in a storage closet. Danny tells Alex he wants to help but it has to remain anonymous and in fact believes he is in danger as someone probably tracked Joan’s calls to his police handler about Colin. Alex says she will help Danny but first needs to make sure he is a match. Alex eventually recruits Manny, who is on Colin’s surgical team and the two let Danny know that he is a match. However, Danny doesn’t want to do the surgery in an OR so Alex does a make shift one in the skills lab. Alex then lets Joan know about the anonymous donor but she knows that it is Danny. Joan agrees to it under one condition and that is Danny has to see Colin before the surgery. Father and son meet for the first time in years and it is touching. Colin gets Danny to promise to see him when he wakes up.

Greg Bryk as Danny and Michael Shanks as Charlie Harris

The surgery happens in the skills lab and Danny’s spirit visits Charlie. Danny notices a familiar guy roaming the halls of Hope Zion and gets Charlie to follow him. Danny sees it is a fellow bike gang member and knows he is in danger. Charlie visits Alex during her surgery to let her know that Danny is in danger and arranges for him to be moved to gerontology.

Greg Bryk as Danny

When Danny is recovering, Joan visits him and thanks him for saving their son. Danny hopes they can be a family again. After Joan leaves, Danny lets Manny know that he thinks that he still in danger. We see that it is true and Danny is rushed out of his room and we learn that he was poisoned by someone pretending to be a doctor changing his IV. Danny’s spirit tells Charlie that he is tired of running and his only regret that he won’t see Colin again.

Jarod Joseph as Manny Palmer and Erica Durance as Alex Reid

During Colin’s transplant surgery, Charlie lets Alex know that Danny has died. Danny’s spirit arrives and says goodbye to his son. Colin’s spirit appears and we get a tear-filled good bye between father and son. Both Danny’s and Colin’s spirit disappear. We then see Joan, all tear-filled over Danny’s death as she waits with her son as he recovers.

Outside at the hospital bay, Manny asks Alex how Charlie knew that Danny was in danger. Alex doesn’t want to talk about it and the way that Alex was looking at Manny we knew the inevitable was going to happen and she kisses him several times and he kisses her back. Blech! I don’t need this. Just put Charlie and Alex back together. I don’t need to see them fight. But on that note, Erica Durance can have chemistry with anybody but of course my favourite leading man of hers will always be Tom Welling.

Erica Durance as Alex Reid and Jarod Joseph as Manny Palmer

Later on, Alex visits Charlie and agrees to put Luke in the hospital daycare so Charlie can see him more. We then see that Charlie was on the paternity.com website to either find information on how to get custody or finally put to rest who is Luke’s father.

From the images just released by CTV, Charlie and Alex shippers won’t be happy as we see what looks like Alex and Manny on a date. Also, it looks like Charlie is getting cozy with guest star Kristin Lehman at a bar.

The episode is called “Doctor Robot” (and probably not a follow up episode to “Doctor Dustiny”) and CTV describes it thusly:

When Dr. Alex Reid (Erica Durance) gets a call that her alarm is going off, she arrives home to an unexpected surprise. Then, with one of the participants in her cancer trial with Dr. Maggie Lin (Julia Taylor Ross) not responding to medication, Alex and Maggie are forced to turn to Dr. Charlie Harris (Michael Shanks), the newly-appointed Chief of Surgery, for his opinion when they can’t agree on a method of treatment. Meanwhile, Dr. Zach Miller (Benjamin Ayres) is reluctantly transitioning the E.R. to an Urgent Care facility, until a patient who challenges societal conventions persuades Zach not to settle for second best.

“Doctor Robot” airs Sunday April 16, 2017 on CTV at 10pm ET/PT.

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