The new season of the TV drama Family Law is set to see forces stronger than their own egos finally compel half-siblings — and full-time foes — Abby and Daniel into a detente.
"Where's the fun in that?" said Jewel Staite, who plays Abby, when asked if the siblings were finally going to get along in Season 4 of the Global TV show.
That question got a laugh from Staite and Zach Smadu, who plays Daniel, when the pair came together recently to talk about the series' return Jan. 8 on Global at 9 p.m.
Without spoiling the plot, the move toward a united front is the result of outside forces causing issues for the Vancouver family law firm of Svensson and Associates, founded by their father Harry Svensson (Victor Garber).
"There's going to be a moment where they're going to have to come together and work together to essentially save the company," said Staite. "There's definitely a new dynamic, which is refreshing."
Smadu, like his co-star, understands that the tension between the siblings ticks a lot of emotional and entertainment boxes, but he's also happy to see the characters grow up — although there is still room for funny, quick-witted barbs — and sort out their relationship. And, yes, their daddy issues too.
"Although it's fun to play off each other and compete, there's a bit of a win seeing them on each other's side and seeing them support each other," said Smadu.
The show picks up where Season 3 left off with Abby's home, work and love life in a mess. Her daughter Sofia (Eden Summer Gilmore) won an essay contest with a story that discussed Abby's alcoholism (Abby has been sober for a handful of years), her boyfriend Ben (Benjamin Ayres) falling off the wagon and her dad, who is having his own romantic crisis, deciding she wasn't equity partner material.
Add to that a lot of other moving parts and shifting relationships — there's the other half-sibling psychologist Lucy (Genelle Williams), whose love life has taken a dark turn — and you have plenty of plot lines packed into the new season.
Created by Vancouver's Susin Nielsen, Family Law, focuses on the Svenssons and adjacent family. But their stories also circle around, and are often filtered through, the lens of the unique cases that come through the law firm's door.
"There's some fantastic cases that we jump into," said Smadu. "This year, there's a very interesting case with an AI doll as a companion."
The opening episode's main case focuses on a mother who has decided to leave the family farm business to a pair of "rental kids" she has grown fond of after hiring them for the company's marketing campaigns. Her estranged biological kids aren't happy about the decision.
Both the AI companion and rental family story are zeitgeist moments as tech overlords are pushing the virtual companion idea, and the movie Rental Family, starring Brendan Fraser, is in theatres now.
"We've shot these seasons a long time ago, there's been this big gap between shooting and airing the seasons, but somehow our writers are able to keep things as current as possible," said Staite. "And it's really fun to see these kinds of stories play out in this fictional world, and how that would look in a court of law."
Season 4 opens with the core characters all struggling with their emotional and romantic relationships — no one is happy — but things change, says Staite, without giving away any spoilers.
"There's some really beautiful moments of closure with romantic love and new love, but then also sibling love and family love," said Staite. "There's some really gratifying moments, not only as actors, because you know, you see these characters suffer for so long, it's really nice to see them come to a place where they feel loved and they feel like they have somebody to rely on and to lean on."
There is no word yet if Family Law will get a fifth season. Discussions have been continuing, but whatever the network decides, Staite says the show has it covered.
"We do have a really great finale that will leave people satisfied, but there's also a fun little twist, just in case something happens down the line," said Staite.
But if the book does close on Family Law at the end of this season, both Staite and Smadu say they're nothing but grateful for having had the experience of making the show — and doing so in Vancouver.
"Not only was it a great job and a great show to work on, and great hours and all that, but I gained a new family. And we have this tight-knit bond," said Staite, a White Rock native. "I always say the best thing that came out of the show was my friendships that I made, relationships that we have for life."
For Smadu, the show meant a move from Toronto to Vancouver and a big change in his personal life.
"I was going back-and-forth for the first two (seasons) and not only did I fall in love with all my castmates, I fell in love with this city," said Smadu. "I met and fell in love with my wife (screenwriter Miriam Van Emst) here … The show has really changed my life in many ways."
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