Allegiance is back. And they’re not playing around.
For those who are unaware, Allegiance is a Canadian drama series that follows Sabrina Sohal (Supinder Wraich), a police officer who believes in the system but also sees its flaws. Newly promoted to the Serious Crimes Unit of the CFPC in British Columbia, Sabrina finds that she has only six months to prove that she has what it takes to be a detective. Determined to prove that she’s worthy of the position, she finds herself paired with a new partner who has more experience and takes a different approach to the job. As she fights for the people on the streets of Surrey, Sabrina also fights desperately to take down the man responsible for framing her father for treason.
Back for its second season, Allegiance continues to build upon the drama of the previous episodes but still remains accessible to newcomers. Make no mistake, Allegiance has all the things you want in a police procedural. A grand conspiracy undergirds the weekly dramas. The team is elite yet the characters are still everyday people dealing with their own issues. The drama is solidly executed with intensity. Every episode remains complex but also creates characters that we genuinely care about, making it quality television.
It’s worth noting that Allegiance remains proudly Canadian. Whereas Hollywood North remains a valuable part of our economy, Canada is often swapped out for other countries. Not so with Allegiance. Set in Surrey, British Columbia, the series makes no qualms about showing off its Western Canadian locale.
Yet the concept of ‘Canadian’ extends far beyond landmarks and street signs. In fact, there’s a distinctly Canadian voice to Allegiance that adds to the drama. This is a series that celebrates diversity without being ‘preachy’. (Canadian television seems able to honour its multicultural surroundings in ways that other series are still learning.)
But perhaps what makes Allegiance most unique is its ability to sit within darker issues. Without being preachy in its approach, Allegiance wrestles with its social issues as harsh realities that must be faced. For instance, in the first two episodes alone, the series deals with the psychological damage done to content moderators and the disappearance of Indigenous women. There’s more underneath the crime of the week than simply ‘catching the bad guy’.
Instead, Allegiance wants us to know that darkness can run deeply.
Much of the success of the show lies with its cast, especially Wraich. As Sabrina, there’s both a confidence and empathy that comes from her performance that makes her engaging. When called into action, Wraich commits. But, at the same time, Sabrina is also a character who bleeds empathy. This creates unique tension within the force as they wrestle with the ‘right’ way to handle their responsibilities. You see, this is a police force that genuinely wrestles with what it means to ‘do better’ in a complex world. Sometimes, Sabrina’s more compassionate approach is necessary. But is it always? There’s a tension within her (and the team) as they recognize the difficulties of police work in our current culture.
But, in the end, Allegiance is simply solid television. Simply put, this is a show with an edge that executes its stories with intensity. Even if you’re new to the show, you may want to declare your own Allegiance to following along.
To hear our conversation with Supinder Wraich, click here.
New episodes of Allegiance are available at 9pm on Wednesdays on CBC and CBC Gem on January 15th, 2025.