If you’re scrolling through Netflix or CBC Gem looking for something that feels like a chaotic family reunion fueled by cheap beer and old secrets, you’ve probably stumbled across Moonshine the TV show. It’s weird. It’s loud. Honestly, it’s one of the most refreshing things to come out of the Canadian maritime television scene in years. Created by Sheri Elwood—the brain behind Call Me Fitz—this show doesn't try to be a polite, postcard version of Nova Scotia. Instead, it gives us the Finley-Cullens, a family of half-siblings who are essentially one bad day away from burning down their own legacy.
The premise is pretty straightforward. The Finley-Cullens run the "Moonshine," a crumbling summer resort that has seen better days. Much better days. When the eldest sister, Lidia, returns home for her aunt’s funeral, she expects a quick trip. She gets a percentage of the deed instead. Suddenly, everyone is fighting over a business that is barely staying afloat. It’s messy. It’s funny. It’s deeply human.
What Sets Moonshine the TV Show Apart from Typical Family Dramas?
Most family dramas follow a specific rhythm. There’s a secret, a confrontation, and a hug. Moonshine the TV show throws that rhythm out the window of a moving car. The humor is jagged. You have Jennifer Finnigan playing Lidia, a high-strung architect who is the "successful" one, but she’s just as broken as her siblings. Then there’s Ken Hall and Corrine Koslo as the parents, Bea and Ken, who have been keeping the resort—and their secrets—running on vibes and illegal side hustles for decades.
The setting is a character itself. It was filmed in Hubbards, Nova Scotia. You can practically smell the salt air and the stale wood smoke through the screen. It isn’t the shiny, touristy Atlantic Canada you see in travel brochures. It’s the gritty, "we have to fix the plumbing with duct tape" reality of seasonal living.
The Finley-Cullen Sibling Dynamic
The magic is in the casting. You’ve got Lidia, the "prodigal daughter." Then there’s Rhian, played by Anastasia Phillips, who has stayed behind and done all the grunt work, only to be overlooked. The resentment there is palpable. It’s not just "TV angry"; it’s that specific kind of sibling rage where you know exactly which buttons to push because you helped build the remote.
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- Lidia (Jennifer Finnigan): The professional veneer masking a total life collapse.
- Rhian (Anastasia Phillips): The backbone of the resort who is tired of being the martyr.
- Nora (Emma Hunter): A local radio DJ with a chaotic streak and a complicated love life.
- Sam (Alexander Nunez): The brother trying to find his place in the madness.
- Ryan (Tom Stevens): A twin with his own set of "extracurricular" complications.
The show excels because it understands that family isn't just about love. It’s about obligation. It’s about being stuck with people who know your most embarrassing stories and won’t let you forget them.
The Gritty Realism of the South Shore
A lot of people ask if Moonshine the TV show is based on a real place. While the Moonshine resort is fictional, the vibe is 100% authentic to the South Shore of Nova Scotia. The production used the old Standhope Lodge as a primary filming location, which gave the set an immediate sense of history. You can’t fake that kind of weathered aesthetic.
The show also leans into the "shady" side of coastal life. We aren't just talking about stolen lobster traps. There are hints of organized crime, smuggling, and decades-old disappearances. It’s a dramedy, sure, but it has teeth. The stakes feel real because the characters are always broke. Money is the driving force behind almost every bad decision made in the show. That’s relatable.
Why the Critics and Fans are Split
It’s interesting to see the reception. On one hand, critics love the bold, unapologetic Canadian identity. On the other, some viewers find the frantic pace a bit much. It’s a "maximalist" show. There is always music playing, someone is always screaming, and there’s usually a goat or a random tourist wandering through the shot.
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If you like Shameless or Succession (if the Roys were poor and lived in a trailer), you’ll get it. If you’re looking for a quiet, contemplative Hallmark-style coastal retreat, you are going to be very, very stressed out.
The Sound of the Moonshine
We have to talk about the music. The soundtrack is incredible. It features a heavy dose of Canadian indie rock and maritime classics that ground the show in its location. Music supervisor Jonathan Goldsmith did a fantastic job of making the resort feel like it’s stuck in a time warp between 1974 and 1998. It adds a layer of nostalgia that softens the blow of the family’s constant bickering.
How to Watch and What to Expect
Currently, Moonshine the TV show has run for three seasons. It’s available on CBC Gem in Canada and has found various streaming homes internationally, including The CW in the United States for a period.
If you’re starting it now, expect the first few episodes to feel like a fever dream. You have to learn the shorthand of the Finley-Cullen family. You have to understand that when they insult each other, that’s usually how they say "I’m glad you’re here."
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- Season 1 focuses on the deed and the immediate fallout of Lidia’s return.
- Season 2 dives deeper into the criminal underpinnings of the town and the parents' past.
- Season 3 explores the cost of keeping the "Moonshine" dream alive as the world changes around them.
The show doesn’t shy away from the fact that the resort is a money pit. It asks the question: at what point do you stop fighting for a legacy that is actively ruining your life?
The Legacy of Sheri Elwood’s Vision
Sheri Elwood has a knack for writing "lovable disasters." She did it with Jason Priestley in Call Me Fitz, and she’s doing it here with an entire ensemble. She reportedly drew inspiration from her own experiences growing up in a similar environment, which explains why the dialogue feels so sharp. It’s lived-in.
The show is a testament to the fact that Canadian TV doesn't have to be "polite." It can be messy, sweary, and incredibly vibrant. It captures the specific weirdness of the Maritimes—the kind of place where everyone knows your business, but nobody tells the cops.
Actionable Steps for New Viewers
If you’re ready to dive into the world of the Finley-Cullens, here is how to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch in Order: This isn’t an episodic sitcom. The plot moves fast, and the secrets revealed in season one pay off massively in season three. Missing two episodes means you’ll have no idea why there is a random biker gang in the kitchen.
- Pay Attention to the Background: A lot of the humor in Moonshine the TV show happens in the margins. The "tourists" staying at the resort are often involved in hilarious, wordless subplots that highlight how dysfunctional the management really is.
- Look Up the Soundtrack: If a song catches your ear, it’s probably a deep-cut Canadian track. It’s a great way to discover bands like The Stanfields or Joel Plaskett.
- Check Out CBC Gem: If you are in Canada, the app is free and has the entire series in high definition. It’s the best way to support local production directly.
- Don't Expect a Hero: Every character in this show is flawed. They make selfish choices. They lie. But by the end of the first season, you'll find yourself rooting for them anyway because their desperation is so honest.
The show is a wild ride. It’s a bit like a summer vacation where the weather is terrible, the car broke down, and you got into a fight with your cousin—but you still talk about it years later as the best time you ever had.