The Never-Shy BIG SKY Expands its Horizons in Season 2, Mixing The Enduring Mystery With a New Case

By BILL HARRIS Special to The Lede The bold BIG SKY philosophy has become as clear as a sunny day with rumbling thunder in the distance, according to executive producer and writer Elwood Reid. “Season 2 is going to pick up right where Season 1 left off, and I think it comes back to the mandate from David (creator David E. Kelley) and the network last year, which is to be brave in the storytelling, and just burn through story,” Reid said during a panel interview. “As a writer, it has been quite a fun ride and a challenge to take all these amazing actors and characters, kill them, have them sleep with each other, have them … ” “Wait … what?” new cast member Janina Gavankar said. “Yeah, it’s coming, it’s coming,” Reid promised. Season 2 of the never-shy BIG SKY debuts Thursday, Sept. 30 at 10 p.m. ET on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app. It’s a big-tent, cop-crime-and-P.I. drama with lots of action and lots of characters, but the main two – Jenny Hoyt, played by Katheryn Winnick, and Cassie Dewell, played by Kylie Bunbury – are back on the case. Or, more accurately, cases. “This season we’re going to sort of tackle one big mystery, and that mystery is going to pull in all of our characters, who find themselves in the wake of last season,” Reid said. “So in the midst of (the continuation of last season’s) storyline, a new story jumps off. It’s about some kids that happen to stumble upon a very violent and bloody accident in which drugs and money are taken from the crime scene. That brings the attention of our new baddie this year – a character named Ren, played by Janina Gavankar – who’s going to bring in some more baddies. Ren is going to come and try to mess things up, as you do in BIG SKY.” Season 1 of BIG SKY ended with a bang, both literally and figuratively, so this is a SPOILER ALERT for those who aren’t completely caught up. The last time viewers saw Jenny, she had been shot, and Cassie subsequently was speeding off in a car in pursuit of the just-escaped Ronald, played by Brian Geraghty. Since Winnick is back on the show for Season 2, it’s obvious that Jenny survives, but the incident causes the character to change her thinking in terms of what she does for a living, and the manner in which she wants to try and neutralize violent criminals. “We (Jenny and Cassie) definitely have a strong bond, we have mutual respect for each other as private-eye agents, but also, now that I got shot at the end of Season 1, that adds new stakes and a whole different dynamic in terms of our relationship,” Winnick explained. “For my character, I did a lot of research in terms of having a near-death experience, and how that actually affects your life choices if you do get a second chance. I feel that you will see Jenny in a new light. You’ll see a new version of her, a 2.0 version.” It also should be mentioned that John Carroll Lynch, who played State Trooper – and Ronald’s accomplice – Rick Legarski in Season 1, is also back on BIG SKY. This fact was confirmed during the virtual interview with the cast and creators, when Lynch made a surprise appearance. Since Rick died in Season 1, the circumstances and particulars of Lynch’s participation in Season 2 will be revealed in due time. “I’m really excited to be back,” Lynch said. “You know, this cast got very close last year. We really enjoyed working with each other. And when you get beaten to death with a hammer, you likely think that’s the last time you’re going to hang out with the family. So it’s a very exciting opportunity to come back and be part of Elwood’s wonderful version of this show.” billharristv@gmail.com @billharris_tv