History a hard sell on TV
The show: Canada: The Story of Us, Season 1, Episode 2 The moment: The sea otter summit It’s 1789. European fur traders have reached Nootka Sound, where they’ve discovered furry gold: sea otter pelts. Running the trade is a 22-year-old chief, Maquinna. But after Spain declares itself Maquinna’s sole trading partner, Britain is ticked.
“Maquinna knows the feud threatens business,” the female narrator says. “He summons the Europeans.” Cut to a young man in a woven hat, nodding at two other men: Spain’s captain, Juan Francisco de la Bodega, and Britain’s George Vancouver. “To strengthen his position, Maquinna taught himself Spanish and English,” the narrator says.
Cut to the men around a fire in a dim lodge. “Welcome,” Maquinna says. Vancouver stands, then sits. “Bienvenitos!” Maquinna says. De la Bodega stands, then sits. Much nodding and passing of pelts. Cut to Maquinna standing on a hillside, grinning, as ships sail away to make him rich.
This series’ contention, that Canada was built on commerce first, ideology second, is an interesting one. The narration and talking heads are informative. It’s the stuff intended to sex it up that doesn’t work. The high-speed, lowelevation pans over computer renderings of Canadian wilderness! The soundtrack of pounding drums and sawing strings that feels lifted from the climax of Taken 3!
And the recreations: Oy. The only good thing about them is how many Canadian extras can now add Slow-Mo Walking, Squint-Eyed Pointing and Solemn Staring to their CVs.
History is a hard sell, I know. But after Ken Burns proved that documentary can captivate us with only drawings and still photos, all recreations look like outtakes from Rescue 911. Canada: The Story of Us airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on CBC and is available on demand. Johanna Schneller is a media connoisseur who zeroes in on pop-culture moments. She usually appears Monday through Thursday.