Audiences have been gripped by a crime drama's dark and spine-chilling storylines. TV viewers have been binge-watching a Canadian crime drama that is currently streaming for free. Fans of crime dramas will love a compelling thriller set in the 'bleak' fictional city of Algonquin Bay.
Cardinal: A Gripping Crime Drama
Cardinal is a Canadian crime drama that initially aired in 2017. The programme brings to life the novels of crime author Giles Blunt, centring on police detective John Cardinal, portrayed by Billy Campbell, and his colleague Lise Delorme, played by Karine Vanasse, as they tackle criminal investigations. Over six episodes, the opening season brought to screen the debut John Cardinal novel, Forty Words of Sorrow, which revolved around the murder investigation of a young girl.
The series opens with the discovery of Katie Pine, a missing 13-year-old girl whose remains are found in the shaft-head of a disused mine. John and Lise work to piece together the mystery surrounding Katie's fate, but as the investigation expands in scale and brutality, a sinister secret from Cardinal's past threatens to undermine the entire case.
The official synopsis states: 'Cardinal struggles to right past wrongs that could derail his investigation and end his career, as the case grows more violent and twisted and the clock ticks down on the killer's next victim.'
Cast and Seasons
The cast also features Kristen Thomson, Deborah Hay, Alanna Bale, Glen Gould, James Downing, Zach Smadu, Eric Hicks, David Richmond-Peck, and James Thomas. Cardinal was recommissioned for a second and third season, each with six episodes. These drew from Blunt's novels Blackfly Season, By the Time You Read This, and Crime Machine. The fourth and final season aired in 2020, drawing from the sixth Cardinal novel, Until the Night.
All 24 episodes are currently available to stream without charge on U, positioning the series as ideal evening entertainment. The drama currently holds an impressive 89% score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
Viewer Praise
Viewers have lavished praise upon the distinctive drama, which shares characteristics with cherished series such as Fargo and Shetland. One IMDb reviewer commented: 'Gripping from beginning to end. The darkest show on TV and it should not be missed.' Another contributed: 'The snow-covered Canadian backdrop is inspired. I did not find any need to compare it with Nordic dramas. It has an originality of its own. This is a brilliant edge-of-your-seat detective drama. Masterpiece TV.'
A third remarked: 'I am proud to say that this adaptation of one of my favourite thriller series hits it out of the park,' while another similarly stated: 'If you enjoyed Fargo, you will love Cardinal! A serial killer drama that stays with you long after you finish.' A fourth audience member mirrored this view, noting: 'Best police drama ever. Unmissable. This series gives me life.' Someone else commented: 'It's dark, grim and criminally underrated. A true gem of TV.'
Cardinal is available to stream for free on U.
