Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
You may not be familiar with Detective John Cardinal, but you already know Detective John Cardinal.
Based on the critically-acclaimed mystery novels penned by Giles Blunt, Cardinal is a serialized Canadian crime thriller now available to stream on Hulu. Starring Billy Campbell as the eponymous John Cardinal, the six-part first season, which originally aired on CTV, follows two mismatched detectives who relentlessly track a deranged serial killer. If it sounds like a familiar formula, well, it is, and that’s exactly what makes the series such a soothing, enjoyable viewing experience.
Already renewed by CTV for two more seasons, the confident drama knows exactly what it is and plays to its strengths, which includes Campbell’s doleful portrayal of dogged detective John Cardinal. Recently demoted for going overboard in his investigation of a missing girl (aka “caring too much, dammit!”), Cardinal’s instincts prove to be correct when police discover the young girl was the victim of an apparent serial killer (or serial killers). The perpetually brooding Cardinal is reassigned to the case and given a new partner: Lise Delorme (Karine Vanasse).
If TV history has taught us anything it’s that laconic loners with haunted pasts aren’t too keen on the whole “working in harmony with a new partner” situation. Although, in this particular case, Cardinal has a valid cause for concern.
You might be asking yourself, “Does this Cardinal guy go by the book or does he play by his own set of renegade rules?” Well, his name is John Cardinal and the series is titled Cardinal, so what do you think?
One of those rules, however, may have dire consequences for our grizzled hero. Cardinal’s new partner is secretly investigating him for potentially colluding with a local drug dealer, which adds a fun wrinkle to the Cardinal/Delorme partnership. Even though the two leads are both in romantic relationships best described as complicated, the partners share an easy, unspoken chemistry precipitated by their mutual obsession with solving this gripping mystery.
You may have streamed similar shows comparable in plot and tone, but Cardinal is an engaging puzzle that’s definitely worth solving. You can stream all six Season 1 episodes on Hulu.
