Network: Reelz
Episodes: 18 (hour) + two-hour movie
Seasons: Two
TV show dates: September 11, 2012 — May 26, 2014
Series status: Cancelled
Performers include: Meg Tilly, Jodi Balfour, Charlotte Hegele, Ali Liebert, Antonio Cupo, Sebastian Pigott, Peter Outerbridge, Anastasia Phillips, Jim Codrington, and Lisa Norton.
TV show description:
Set in 1940s Toronto, this TV series explores the lives of various women who find themselves thrust into new worlds. They work in munitions factories, building the arms that keep their overseas husbands, lovers, brothers, and sons alive and fighting.
While they’re building bombs, the women also find themselves flourishing with newfound freedom, discovering strengths they never before imagined. At the same time they’re often woefully under-equipped for the new challenges they face. Amid propaganda and sexual harassment, crossing social and cultural boundaries, these remarkable women form a unique sisterhood.
Lorna Corbett (Meg Tilly) met her husband Bob (Peter Outerbridge) at age 18 before he shipped out to the Great War, and married after their affair left her pregnant. Bob returned a broken man, shell-shocked and paralyzed, and their dream of a happy life vanished. Lorna quietly relishes her new job as it’s a chance to escape an oppressive home and is secretly jealous of the other ladies’ happiness. She’s determined not to let them make the same mistakes she did. Lorna is especially resentful Gladys and seeks to break the spirited girl, even though she recognizes her own long-lost exuberance.
Gladys Witham (Jodi Balfour) is a wild child and the only daughter in a wealthy Rosedale family. Gladys’s privileged life has made her fearless with an appetite for life and she’s always gotten what she wanted. Now, what she wants is changing and its far less superficial. Does this leave room for James Dunn, her fiance?
New to Toronto, Kate Andrews (Charlotte Hegele) is eager to please and gifted at lifting spirits thanks to a staggeringly talented singing voice. Beneath her smile is a sheltered, insecure girl who’s on the run from her abusive street-preaching father. Cobbling together a new identity, Kate appears to have evaded punishment and her past, for now.
Betty McRae (Ali Liebert) is a recent arrival from rural Saskatchewan. An early arrival to Victory Munitions, Betty quickly rose through the ranks to be a well-regarded worker who doubles as Blue Shift’s on-floor trainer of the new workers. She fled her troubling past to live in a place with fewer men to mistrust. Betty has a hard attitude but for some reason, this doesn’t seem to apply to her interactions with Kate.
Blue Shift’s materials controller, Marco Moretti (Antonio Cupo), is responsible for the raw materials coming into the factory, as well as the export of every finished bomb. He gained his experience from his family’s fireworks factory, and now supports his mother, sister and nieces as the sole breadwinner. His father has been locked away in an internment camp alongside hundreds of other Italian immigrants. Though Marco considers himself a Canadian, he knows others see him as a potential enemy and is unable to enlist.
James Dunn (Sebastian Pigott) is smart, attractive, wealthy, and poised to take the world by storm. He’s a decent man whose refinement haven’t resulted in snobbery. Still, having been largely sheltered from the world’s harsh truths, he’s woefully innocent about matters of the heart. While he’s drawn to Gladys, her exuberance often threatens to overwhelm him. He was an American before Pearl Harbor and still doesn’t feel that the war is truly his to fight.
Vera Burr (Anastasia Phillips) is a Blue Shift worker and was disfigured in an accident at the factory and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. African-American Leon (Jim Codrington) works in the warehouse at Victory Munitions. A jazz musician and singer, he saves Kate from an attempted assault. Edith McAllum (Lisa Norton) is a floor worker at Victory, is close friends with Lorna, and befriends Bob while dealing with the aftermath of her husband’s death.
Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemy (series ending movie)
It is the Spring of 1943 and the Battle for the Atlantic rages as an Axis victory seems inevitable. The one hope the Allies have – production of newly developed sonar equipment – is moved to Victory Munitions when the British factories are bombed. Under the increased pressure, the women of Vic Mu — Gladys, Lorna, Kate, Betty and Vera — band together in a tight bond of support and friendship. Then, in the darkest hour of the war, a new and disturbing menace appears – a saboteur among the factory workers.
First aired: May 26, 2014.
What do you think? Do you like the Bomb Girls TV series? Do you think it should have been cancelled or renewed for a third season?
Absolutely the best series I’ve ever watched! I want more – more – more.
This is fantastic series and should have a third series it would be a shame to end it without proper story closure. Though if they are making a film that follows things to a believable end then that would be good too.
I love this show! Please save our “girls”!
Has anyone heard of there is going to be a reunion of Bomb Girls?
No, but they’re working on a wrap-up movie.
This is the one show that my daughter and I watched together. We don’t watch a lot of TV shows, but this is one that we never missed 🙁
Renew Bomb Girls for another season! I don’t watch much TV, but I made sure I watched every episode of this show. It is great! I would like to see more.
Don’t cancel The Bomb Girls, please! It’s a superbly well-written show. The story lines are engaging, candid and insightful and each actor delivers beautifully.
I read that the reason for the cancelation was because of competing shows of the like in the US – i.e. not financially viable to continue here in Canada. This is a show that has thus far captured the appeal of a wide audience and needs only the chance to prove just how far it can really go.
The Bomb Girls is a gem!
I never before dedicated my time to watching any tv series. However, this one is my exception. I found it to be a series that did not insult my intelligence and was amazingly entertaining too! The acting was excellent and the story line engaging. I enjoyed the outfits of the 40’s and also learned a lot about life during the war. But, of course it was canceled, it didn’t contain insultingly unintelligent “adults” and over weight children acting in a most unattractive manner. I will miss this show! I was looking forward to its return.
I also found Bomb Girls accidentally while surfing through channels. I love anything about the military and especially about the women of WW II. Please do not cancel this show.
What is the reason for wanting to cancel it when there are so many stupid shows on that go on season after season?
Found this on Netflix. Wife and I loved the characters and their story lines. Can’t believe it’s been cancelled.
I really enjoyed watching series 1 and 2.
Good shows are hard to come by. This was a show that had good entertainment value. You really need to rethink your decision and keep the show going.
Found this how by accident, watched all episodes marathon fashion and really want to see more seasons. It’s awesome – please don’t cancel.
Has a reason for cancelation ever been presented?
Bomb girls is as good a show as any others that aren’t cancelled. I hope enough people will ask for it to be reinstated.