Chapter 1 Petiole – The series begins with a few brief words about how the Canadian Maple Syrup Industry brings in hundreds of millions of dollars every year and how someone stole a very large portion of that in 2011. After this brief introduction, Teddy Green (Gita Miller) and Don LeBlanc (Tristan D Lalla) find Orval Steeks’s (Jason Cavalier) head floating in a maple syrup barrel while responding to a disturbance call.

48 hours before the disturbance call, Ruth Landry (Margo Martindale) learns that the feds are not only shutting down her farm and confiscating what maple syrup she’s already harvested, but they are deeming her an unlicensed operator.

Elsewhere, Maurice Bouchard (Michel Perron) wakes his son, Remy Bouchard (Guillaum Cyr), early to give him a gift for his 40th birthday party. Despite Maurice’s enthusiasm and already having a big party planned, Remy can only focus on a big work presentation.

At the Bar Salon, Mike Byrne (Chris Diamantopoulos) ignores a call from someone named Bo before meeting with Denis (Marc Beaupre) to collect payment. Although Denis pays every penny owed, he gives Mike an extremely hard time and makes him collect the money off the dirty bar floor.

Ruth’s meeting with Leonard Sr. (Guy Nadon) doesn’t go much better when she suspects that his interest in her and Martin Landry’s (Joseph Bellerose) farm might have something to do with the federal seizure and closure. This is later practically confirmed when he offers her $300,000 for the farm. She storms out of the office even madder than when she initially arrived.

While Remy arrives to deliver his presentation to Leo Gauthier (Mickael Gouin), Ruth receives a visit from Mike. Unfortunately, both of these visits end in disappointment for Ruth and Remy. Mike refuses to use his black market contacts to help Ruth sell her syrup on the black market due to a previous promise to Martin. At the same time, Leo and Leonard both refuse to give Remy the extra men he claims he needs for his security detail. Despite the request, Remy is shown later that evening selling a barrel of the Association’s syrup to his friend, Steeks. Steeks refuses to increase their operation by another barrel or two and reminds Remy that what they do only works because they keep it small.

After an entire night of consideration, Ruth calls Leonard and agrees to sell the farm. Although he is still willing to make the purchase, he is now only offering $200,000. Ruth doesn’t just refuse the offer but acts out in anger by cutting down the farm’s oldest and most productive tree. Later that evening, Maurice takes Remy out to eat for his birthday and gives him another present, a pair of handmade mittens. As luck would have it, the birthday dinner is where Remy learns about Mike and his involvement with the Devaney Family.

As Remy approaches Mike with an offer to steal $150 million dollars of unguarded maple syrup, Ruth drags the cut-down tree through town using the farm’s tow truck. Mike and Remy iron out the final details of Remy’s offer as Ruth continues to race and yell through town like a madman. By the time Ruth has made it to Leonard’s office, where she delivers the tree through his office’s front door, Mike inquires about Remy’s partner. Unfortunately for Steeks, Remy is far too trusting and revealing. Remy makes another major mistake that evening when he leaves his father’s mittens behind. Mike is ever quick to jump on the opportunity. He doesn’t just take them, but he uses them when he kills Steeks.

Despite refusing to help Ruth sell her syrup on the black market, she is the first person Mike shares his discovery of Ramey with.  This is practically where Chapter 1 ends.

 

The Sticky Review

For fans of true crime parodies, Fargo, and other quirk crime-based shows, you are going to eat this up. I have always enjoyed Fargo and other similar movies/series. I myself enjoyed the show. Having said that Chapter One doesn’t offer anything out of the ordinary. I do look forward to hearing more about the maple industry. I’d give the series a 5.7 out of 10.

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