In 2005, there was a 20-episode sci-fi show, Charlie Jade, a Canadian-South African science fiction series that was filmed largely around Cape Town. The show has since been largely forgotten, but it is a series well worth revisiting.
Jeffrey Pierce (The Last of Us Parts I and II) stars as Charlie Jade, a private detective in a dystopian alternate reality dominated by powerful corporations. While investigating a mysterious death, Charlie becomes caught in an explosion and is thrown into another universe. There, he discovers that three parallel realities are interconnected and finds himself embroiled in a vast conspiracy, in which he must rely on his skills as a private investigator to survive.
The show was hard sci-fi and well ahead of its time. Each universe was shot with a distinct colour palette, while the costume design echoed The Matrix. Jeffrey Pierce delivers a strong performance as a rugged hero struggling to survive in a world where he does not belong. He keeps his portrayal of Charlie grounded despite the show’s often complex storylines.
Supporting cast
Jeffrey Prierce is joined by a great supporting cast, including Michael Filipowich (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind), Patricia McKenzie (Naked Josh), Michele Burgers (Catch a Fire), Tyrone Benskin (300), Danny Keogh (Invictus) and Marie-Julie Rivest (300).
Filipowich plays 01 Boxer, the Unstable son of powerful Vexcor founder Brion Boxer. He is a complicated character who can be an ally to Charlie at times and an enemy at others, depending on what he wants and where his loyalties lie.
Michael Filipowich plays 01 with great emotion and range, as 01 seems to manifest a different personality in each universe he’s in, further complicating his relationship with Charlie and other characters.
Another one of my favourite characters is Reena, played by Patricia McKenzie. Reena is a freedom fighter and an absolute badass who is fighting against the evil Vexcor. Like Charlie, she is also displaced by the explosion, and for most of the series, her story runs parallel to Charlie’s. When they finally meet, they clash as they try to work out which side each person is on.
One of the drawbacks of the show is Charlie trying to work out how the alternate reality works and the part Vexcor plays in each reality, using his PI and survival skills to work out what is going on, while meeting the other characters and figuring out who is friend or foe and who he can trust. Another thing that makes the show stand apart from others is the use of voice-overs from different characters, not just the lead, giving us more insight into what they are thinking and how they see what is happening around them.
One downside of the show is that it’s not the kind of show where you can watch a random episode. It’s very much a serial with complex storylines, and if you miss a week, you might be left with a lot of unanswered questions from the previous episode.
We sadly never got a season 2, and had it aired in the age of streaming, one can wonder if it would have been picked up for another season. In this era of more complex sci-fi shows and multiverses, Charlie Jade would have fit right in.
Depending on where you live, the show may be on Amazon Prime, DVD, or another streaming service. Charlie Jade remains a fascinating and underrated series. Its blend of noir detective fiction, parallel universes, corporate intrigue, and thought-provoking science fiction makes it a unique viewing experience that deserves a wider audience.
Leave a Reply