If you grew up in Canada, or spent your Saturday nights glued to a screen watching Coach’s Corner, Don Cherry wasn’t just a guy in a loud suit. He was an institution. But how do you capture a life that big on screen? You do it in parts. While the first miniseries gave us the rise, Wrath of Grapes: The Don Cherry Story II deals with the reality of the mountain top. It’s gritty. It’s loud. It’s surprisingly emotional. Honestly, it’s exactly what you’d expect from a story about Grapes.
Most people remember the suits and the "Rock'em Sock'em" videos, but this sequel, which originally aired as a two-part miniseries on CBC, digs into the 1980s and 90s. It’s a weirdly specific era of Canadian culture. This was when Cherry transitioned from a coach who couldn't find a job to the most polarizing figure in sports media.
The Transition from the Bench to the Booth
The sequel picks up right where the first one left us hanging. We see Jared Keeso—long before his Letterkenny fame—stepping back into the high-collared shirts. He nails it. The twitch, the bark, the way Cherry looks like he’s perpetually about to explode. It covers the stint with the Colorado Rockies, which, let's be real, was a disaster on the ice but a goldmine for drama.
Cherry’s coaching career didn't end with a Stanley Cup; it ended with a whimper in a locker room that didn't want him. That’s where the heart of this story lies. It’s about a man who realized his time behind the bench was over and had to reinvent himself or fade away. He chose the loudest reinvention possible.
Why Wrath of Grapes: The Don Cherry Story II Feels Different
The first part of the Don Cherry saga was about the dream. It was about the Boston Bruins and the glory days. Wrath of Grapes: The Don Cherry Story II is about the baggage. It’s about the toll that kind of fame takes on a family.
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Rose Cherry, played by Sarah Manninen, is the actual anchor of the film. Without her, Don is just a guy yelling at a camera. The movie does a solid job of showing that while Don was becoming a national icon, Rose was the one keeping the wheels from falling off. Their relationship is the only thing in the movie that feels quiet.
Everything else is chaotic.
The production value isn't Hollywood blockbuster level, obviously. It’s Canadian TV. But that low-budget, slightly grainy feel actually helps. It matches the aesthetic of 1980s hockey. You can almost smell the stale beer and the arena popcorn through the screen. It doesn't try to be slick because Don Cherry isn't slick.
Breaking Down the Myth of the Suit
We get to see the birth of Coach's Corner. It wasn't an instant success. Producers at the CBC were, predictably, terrified of him. He was a loose cannon in a world of polished broadcasters. The movie highlights the friction between the "establishment" and Cherry’s blue-collar, "good Canadian boy" rhetoric.
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It’s interesting to watch this now, years after Cherry was finally let go from Sportsnet. The film portrays him as a man out of time, even back then. He was fighting for a version of hockey that was already starting to change.
There's a specific scene where he's dealing with the fallout of his comments—something that became a recurring theme in his real life. The movie doesn't necessarily shy away from his controversial nature, but it definitely paints it through a sympathetic lens. It views his stubbornness as a virtue, which is exactly how Cherry views himself.
The Keeso Factor
It is impossible to talk about this miniseries without mentioning Jared Keeso. Before he was Wayne, he was Don. It’s a transformative performance. He doesn't just do an impression; he captures the frantic energy of a man who feels like he has to fight for every inch of respect he gets.
You see the seeds of his later work here. The rhythmic way he delivers dialogue, the physical presence—it all started with the high collar. If you’re a fan of Canadian television history, seeing Keeso tackle this role is worth the price of admission alone.
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Accuracy vs. Television Drama
Is it 100% historically accurate? Probably not. It’s a biopic based on the life of a guy who is known for telling tall tales. But it gets the vibe right. It gets the pressure of the NHL right.
One of the more poignant segments involves his relationship with his players. He wasn't just a coach; he was a father figure to some and a nightmare to others. The film touches on the loyalty he inspired, which is why, even today, you’ll find former players who would walk through fire for him.
The Legacy of the Sequel
Wrath of Grapes: The Don Cherry Story II serves as a time capsule. It captures a moment when hockey was the undisputed king of Canadian culture and Don Cherry was its high priest. It also serves as a reminder of how much the media landscape has shifted. Today, a character like Cherry would be filtered, managed, and probably canceled within a week. Back then? He was given a platform and told to go nuts.
The miniseries concludes by cementing his status as a folk hero. It doesn't look ahead to his eventual downfall, which keeps the narrative focused on his peak. It’s a celebration, plain and simple.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive back into this specific era of hockey media or find where this fits in the larger Canadian TV landscape, here is what you need to know:
- Where to Watch: Finding a physical copy of the DVD can be tricky these days, but it often pops up on Canadian streaming services like CBC Gem or through secondary markets like eBay. It’s frequently paired with the first part, Keep Your Head Up, Kid: The Don Cherry Story.
- The Soundtrack: Pay attention to the music. It uses period-accurate Canadian rock that perfectly sets the tone for the late 70s and early 80s. It’s a masterclass in using "blue-collar" audio cues to build a brand.
- Contextual Reading: To get the full picture, pair the movie with a read of Cherry’s book Grapes: My Life. You’ll see exactly which anecdotes the screenwriters picked to dramatize and which ones they left out for the sake of pacing.
- Performance Study: For fans of Letterkenny or Shoresy, watching Keeso in this role is a fascinating look at his range. He brings a level of intensity to Cherry that makes you realize why he became a star in his own right.
Ultimately, this miniseries isn't just about hockey. It's about a man who refused to change while the world moved on around him. Whether you love him or hate him, that makes for a compelling story. It’s a loud, messy, and unapologetically Canadian piece of television that understands its subject perfectly. Don’t expect a neutral documentary; expect a tribute to a man who lived his life at 100 miles per hour.