Just Passing Through
is a two-season Canadian Web Video Series created by Jeremy Larter. Much of the series' humor is from its exaggeration of Canadian stereotypes while subverting the "quaint" image that Prince Edward Island is publicly known for. The cousins show a strong sense of regional pride, and often end up causing most problems because "that's the way it's done on the island".
The series follows cousins Terry and Parnell Gallant from Bumblefuck, Prince Edward Island (PEI) after they land on their cousin Owen Steven's doorstep in Toronto, Ontario when their car broke down "just passing through" to get rich in Alberta. Terry and Parnell try to remind Owen of his roots and party while drawing in illegal unemployment benefits ("Pogey"), while Owen tries to keep the pair from destroying his life and get them off his couch. Rounding out the cast is Owen's friend Alex, a coffee shop owner who always wants in on Terry and Parnell's schemes, and her roommate Vanessa, who Owen works with and has a crush on.
The first season was funded by Access PEI, while the second season was funded by a largely supported Kickstarter campaign.
Just Passing Through contains the following tropes:
- The Alleged Car: Granny's Shitbox. If it's running, it won't be for long.
- Becoming the Mask: In season one, Terry, who is from Prince Edward Island, "turns Toronto" to get dates on an internet dating site.
- Good Is Dumb: Parnell is kind and always looking out for his friends, but is dumb as a post.
- Kavorka Man: Terry. He's loud, crude, and scarily intense, but he has no problem getting tail.
- Kissing Cousins: Not on purpose, but the small number of islanders has led to this happening to a few characters by not carefully considering lineage.
- Take That!: Any province or city mentioned will be called out for its stereotypes, either in the characters or the descriptions of the areas provided by the characters. Featured heavily in season two in an act of Self-Deprecation.
- Verbal Tic: Anyone from PEI, to a point of several running gags. Notably, inhaling sharply when saying "Yeah", and the abundant use of the word "cocksucker" whenever agitated.
