In the aftermath of Letterkenny, Shoresy continues to live. All six Season 4 episodes of the hockey comedy created, written by, and starring Jared Keeso come to Hulu a month after premiering in its Canadian homeland, and hey, let’s crush some beers, because not only is it summer in “Suds Vegas,” but Shoresy and his scrappy bunch, NOSHO semi-pro’ers the Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs, are celebrating as champs of the whole damn country. But between beers, there is time to reflect, because in season 3, too many concussions – “conkys” – forced an end to Shoresy’s playing days. What’s next for a guy who always left it all on the ice? “This is the start of Shoresy…Part 2…”
Opening Shot: It’s a cup celebration on the water as the Bulldog boys parade their hockey championship hardware in triumph. And from the looks of this party – no whale shit here – it’s been raging all summer.
The Gist: Bulldogs team owner Nat (Tasya Teles) is huddling with her executive braintrust, Ziigwan (Blair Lamora) and Miigwan (Keilani Elizabeth Rose). “The offseason. We won the NOSHO, we set a league record, and then we won the country. I see an opportunity here.” Miig and Ziig do, too. Fuck yeah, hell yeah – let’s party? Not quite. “To ruin everything,” Nat continues. While the Bulldogs pound Puppers Golden Lagers at every spot around Sudbury – Beef N Bird, the Big Nickel, the Bridge of Nations – they’re threatening to tarnish the community goodwill generated by all of the organization’s hard work and winning.
It’s not like the guys are gonna stop, though, and their goal is to celebrate victory all the way to “Weird Sudbury,” the most infamous invite-only party in northern Ontario. But for Shoresy (Keeso), it’s also time to start. His life after hockey, that is. BROdude Energy gave him ten grand’s worth of new teeth and new threads, hit him with a spray tan, and threw him onto a new chat show alongside BROdude host Anik Archambault (Kim Cloutier). It’s a hockey hot takes gabfest, helmed by producer Emma (Vanessa Matsui). But even with guests like (real-life NHL legends) Sean Avery, Marty McSorley, and Doug Gilmour, the sticking point is the tricky nature of respect as it relates to hockey. “I’d stick the elbow out on a small disabled dog if it got me the W,” Shoresy tells Emma. Even in retirement, he remains unpredictable.
So what will Shoresy do with the rest of his life? He really does look awkward, suited up and shiny in the Toronto TV studio where 3-on-1 is shot. Nat continues to think he should pursue coaching, but he admits it would drive him nuts to be so close to the ice while unable to play. There is also the matter of continuing the educational seminars for Sudbury youth, which engaged the players and encouraged the Lakers, the area’s junior hockey squad. And Jill (Maxim Roy), chair of that seminar program, seems to have taken a particular interest in Shoresy.
For now, it’s another summer Saturday in Suds Vegas, but as the championship party continues, a thoughtful Shoresy leaves his teammates to bike over to the home of Laura Mohr (Camille Sullivan), his longtime crush.
What Shows Will It Remind You Of? As a sports comedy, Shoresy shines a constant spotlight on hockey and all its traditions and eccentricities. Ted Lasso fans, take note. But Shoresy, like Letterkenny before it, might as well publish its own dictionary. It really is in its own universe. So why not take that universe for a controllable spin? According to the Shoresy/Letterkenny merch page, a branded video game is in the works.
Our Take: Shoresy seasons are so brief – six eps – and the equally brief episodes are typically populated with so many quick cuts and non sequiturs, the whole thing feels like an argument you’d have with an opponent across three entire periods. It’s that kind of energy that’s always made it fun to watch, like hanging out with a group of friends where you gotta stay frosty with the comebacks and creative put-downs, because you never know where a stick is gonna jab you. And in that regard, Shoresy season 4 could very much coast on the party vibes it’s establishing early on. Watch Sudbury Bulldog faves like Dolo (Jonathan-Ismael Diaby) or Ted “Hitch” Hitchcock (Terry Ryan) bust on each other and act crazy? That’s easy.
But it’s not, and it won’t. This season marks the start of “Shoresy Part 2”, after all, where Jared Keeso’s character has to respect his health and figure out what’s next after the end of his hockey life. And that’s already adding more layers of emotion into the show’s usual rapid-fire dialogue. Keeso is great at the loudmouthery in Shoresy, and the heady hockey-centric stuff. But between the lines of season 4, it really feels like the sensitivity that’s steadily grown within Keeso’s performance will become the biggest factor.
Sex and Skin: Nothing here, just a lot of hockey player jawing about getting tuggies on tubes and handies in hammocks.
Parting Shot: Shoresy has made a declaration. “This is the summer I close on Laura Mohr.” She just smiles. “We shall see.”
Sleeper Star: The interplay between Blair Lamora as Ziigwan and Keilani Elizabeth Rose as Miigwan continues to be a highlight in Shoresy. They don’t quite finish each other’s sentences, but Ziig and Miig are certainly a two-headed monster (complimentary) in the Bulldog front office.
Most Pilot-y Line: Nat says it’s important they look after Shoresy. “Life after hockey is tough. It’s an identity for these guys and they don’t know what to do when it’s over. He put his body on the line for us, night in, night out, and never complained. ‘Just go ‘til you can’t go no more.’ Let’s be there for our guy.”
Our Call: Stream It! Shoresy is designed and built to do two things: elevate hockey as the best sport ever – an entire way of life – and come up with handful after handful of hilarious and/or impenetrable catchphrases. But season 4 is also a transitional phase for Jared Keeso’s comedy. What’s next for Shoresy after too many game-related conkys?
Johnny Loftus (@glennganges) is an independent writer and editor living at large in Chicagoland. His work has appeared in The Village Voice, All Music Guide, Pitchfork Media, and Nicki Swift.