6 x 60 minutes – Crime, drama, mini-series
Date of first broadcast: January 25, 2017
Originating Network: CTV

2017 – 6×60 minutes (January 25, 2017)
2018 – 6×60 minutes (January 4, 2018)
2019 – 6×60 minutes (January 24, 2019)
2020 – 6×60 minutes (April 6, 2020)

Cardinal is based on the books of Canadian author Giles Blunt and his characters of police detective partners John Cardinal, played by American actor Billy Campbell and Lise Delorme, played by Karine Vanasse. The series is set in the fictional Algonquin Bay, which Blunt named his version of the real locations of North Bay and Sudbury, Ontario where the series is shot. Cardinal, the detective, seems distant, distracted, almost reclusive and unable to connect with his partner, who seems to need a connection in order to function within the confines of a professional relationship where trust is a necessary component behind the idea of being part of a team. The main cast remains in place for each season but the supporting actors change for each mini-series as each deals with a different crime. We have, where possible, identified those key players by putting the year of their appearance in brackets.

For those who have complained about the blandness of Canadian TV production, Cardinal is crafted to a level equal too and in places better than foreign series such as Broadchurch or Wallander without getting as extreme as the often bizarre Fortitude.