Endlings

Set 20 years in the future, Endlings is the empowering story of four kids in foster care who discover they're not alone in the universe, even though sometimes it can feel like they are.

After the death of her mate, Tuko becomes the last elephant in existence — what biologists call an endling. Her endling status summons to earth a mysterious alien who is on an intergalactic quest to save the last members of near-extinct species. After Tuko is collected, the alien's ship malfunctions and sends it on a crash course with the farm where teenagers Julia (Kamaia Fairburn), Johnny (Edison Grant), Tabby (Michela Luci) and Finn (Cale Thomas Ferrin) live with their foster dad, Mr. Leopold (Neil Crone).

Before crashing, the Alien releases all of its cosmic collection into the fields and wilderness surrounding the property. This kicks off a high-action, life-altering mission to retrieve these fantastical creatures before the local police, Tuko's caretaker (Oyin Oladejo) or a secretive industrialist (Lisa Ryder) can. Along the way, four discarded teens discover that "endling" doesn't have to mean the end; it can also mean a new beginning.

Premieres Sunday, Jan. 5 at 6 p.m. on CBC. Or stream it on Gem.