Counterstrike (1990 TV series)

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Counterstrike was a Canadian/French crime-fighting/espionage television series. In the United States it aired on cable on the USA Network, premiering on July 1, 1990. It premiered on November 2, 1991 in Canada and on November 20, 1991 in France. The series ran for three seasons, airing 66 hour-long episodes in total. It has yet to be released in a home video or DVD format.

1 Cast
2 Plot
3 Awards
4 Nominations
5 Notes
6 External link

[edit] Cast

Christopher Plummer ... as Alexander Addington (1990-1993)
Simon MacCorkindale ... as Peter Sinclair (1990-1993)
Cyrielle Claire ... as Nicole Beaumont (1990-1991)
Stephen Shellen ... as Luke Brenner (1990-1991)
Laurence Ashley-Taboulet ... as Suzanne Addington (1990-1991)
Sophie Michaud ... as Gabrielle Germont (1991-1993)
James Purcell ... as Hector Stone (1991-1993)
Patricia Cartier ... as Hélène Previn (1991-1993)
Andre Mayers ... J.J. (1990-1993)
Tom Kneebone ... Bennett (1990-1993)

[edit] Plot

After his wife is kidnapped by terrorists, international industrialist Alexander Addington assembles a clandestine team of troubleshooters to help combat terrorism around the world. He recruits Peter Sinclair from Scotland Yard to lead the team. They set up a French con artist and art/jewellery thief named Nicole Beaumont and blackmail her into joining because of her valuable criminal connections. The third teammember is Luke Brenner, an American mercenary whom they rescue from a Mexican jail. The series' other recurring characters are Bennett and J.J., Alexander's valet and pilot, respectively.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

When the series was picked up for a second season, both Stephen Shellen and Cyrielle Claire opted to leave, he to pursue movie roles and she in part because of a financial dispute ^[1]. Therefore in the first episode of the second season Luke Brenner is killed while saving Peter’s life, and Nicole Beaumont retires from the team to marry and pursue a normal life, although she will return once in a third season episode.

In the second season's second episode Peter and Alexander encounter a French reporter named Gabrielle Germont whom they recruit into the team to prevent her from publishing a story about them. In the season's third episode Peter and Gabrielle rescue Hector Stone, an American CIA-operative and former Navy SEAL whose cover has been blown, and invite him to join the team.

The character of Alexander's daughter Suzanne Addington, who designed the team's computer systems, was also written out of the series at the beginning of the second season. Suzanne appears in one third season episode, although played by a different actress. In her stead Alexander gets a secretary/confidante named Hélène Previn.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Awards

1994 Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role - James Purcell

[edit] Nominations

1994 Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role - Sophie Michaud
1992 Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role - Simon MacCorkindale
1992 Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role - Christopher Plummer