Very often when we talk about diversity and inclusion, it's assumed that if roles are to be taken up by people of color then we're on the right track. However, there's one key component that's missing even if there's a multi-racial/ethnic/gender cast i.e. Telling their stories and appreciating the complexity behind such narratives.
'Run the Burbs' has a diverse cast but the story lines are very Euro-Canadian and wholly incoherent. As for the first episode, the only thing diverse apart from the cast is the South Asian food item of somosa. Both Rakhee and Andrew are decent and talented actors. However, the lines lack comedic feel and the first episode fails to convey the crux of the series.
Previous CBC productions like 'Kim's Convenience' and 'Little Mosque in the Prairie' had their fair share of flaws and deserves a lot of criticism. Having said that, both series' were able to narrate a tale of the non-European ethnic group in concern and the recurring roles revolved around them. For an example, in Little Mosque, Fred the radio host was funny and complemented the main story very well illustrating the interactions he had with the main characters and vice-versa. Similar trends were seen With Kim's, characters like Gerald, Shannon, and Kimchee. Telling stories about Korean-Canadians and Muslim-Canadians as the central theme was key to their success.
In conclusion, the CBC should stop lumping all 'known' identities into a show for the sake of 'diversity and inclusion'. A serious attempt to any diversity and inclusion would be to allow members of different groups to speak about their experiences through these shows without sanitizing it to make it look that everything in Canada is hunky dory. Since Andrew is one of the co-creators, it would be a positive step to delve a little bit deeper into the origins of each character and how the past influences the present. The show shouldn't be about how 'Canadian' they are or how well they are 'integrated' into society. Showing the complexities and contradictions is a right step forward as opposed to some faux diversity that Trudeau likes to exude.
