Cardinal (2017–2020) User Reviews (153)

Not for action fans, good for gritty detective drama

[keithm-18 · 8/10 · 8 February 2017]

The show may come across as plodding to people expecting an action series with a Hannibal Lector-like serial killer, but the show is a character-driven drama featuring a cast of flawed people very reminiscent of "Nordic Noir" shows such as "Wallander", but very unapologetic Canadian very with very good sense of place. Algonquin Bay on the show, and in the original novels, is quite clearly North Bay, Ontario in all but name (many of the same street names, located between the same lakes, and geographically in the same location), and the show, as with the novels, touches on the mix of English, French, and First Nations groups that form the culture of the area. And anyone who has lived in communities in northern Canada can sympathize with water lines freezing.

Billy Campbell does good work playing the troubled, but very good detective Cardinal, while Karinne Vanasse plays his partner Lise Delorme --also from the novels, lest people think they were casting a French-Canadian actress simply as a token--as equally competent, if not as experienced. The dynamic between is certainly not a copy of the Holmes-Watson relationship that people might be tempted to assume it is, and the pair do a very good job of portraying a detective paired up with a partner who is just as good as he is.

Overall, a very engrossing series again, as long as you aren't expecting shootouts or a serial killer leaving taunting clues.

Canada does Scandi....pretty well.SPOILERS

[Izzyennygood · 7/10 · 26 January 2017]

Highly intriguing first episode, with a lot of Scandi vibes. Ominous music score, vast cold open spaces, lots of torches used, missing kids and an apparent clash of the sexes between Det.John Cardinal and his unwanted new assistant, Delorme whom he fobs off by giving her some B&E cases to occupy her while he tackles the more exciting homicide work. Apparently very routine but wait...is John Cardinal a dirty cop ? We discover that he is being discreetly investigated and suspected of being in cahoots with a local drug lord and...his innocent new assistant is a police snoop, planted to keep an eye on him. The main crime story is about missing children (reminiscent of The Killing) with searches in dark cold uncomfortable places where the need for torches is paramount. A very well directed and acted episode and having the transparently honest upright good guy Billy Campbell as a "dirty cop" is inspired casting. Karine Vanasse as his assistant Delorme catches the eye too. There are other subplots, mainly a spate of burglaries which look like an unconnected open-and-shut case, at this time..but are they. I have high hopes for this one

I am hooked!

[wwaigl · 9/10 · 25 January 2017]

UPDATE MAR 1, 2017 - CARDINAL RENEWED FOR 2 MORE SEASONS!!

Are you a fan of say the Jesse Stone movies with Tom Selleck, or perhaps The Tunnel or The Bridge series out of Europe? If so then Cardinal is for you. The same atmosphere, foreboding, characterization, quality writing, acting and direction are all present. The main protagonist Cardinal, is very much in the vain of Jesse Stone, moody, skilled, with warts and flaws, and secrets yet to be revealed. In the first episode saw a small glimmer of the man, although perhaps flawed or misdirection, peeled back.

This is apparently a Canadian production, and takes place in a nameless mid-sized city apparently in Northern Ontario, and which I think is supposed to be a mirror for Thunder Bay (correction, North Bay apparently).

Other then the weather (its a winter setting) the actual setting is incidental to the plot, and could easily be where you are. The quality of the production itself is exactly on par with the series I noted in the first paragraph, so no let down will be found there.

I look eagerly forward to the next episode. I suppose the one thing I do believe is more bodies will be found, other then that the suspense is palatable, and I relish it.

=============

Mar 1, 2017 cont'd - Cardinal has been well received and has been picked up by quite a number of networks internationally. Which is a good thinkg since its budget is about $1.8MM per episode. But apparently it is a financial success as its primary sponsor CTV in Canada committed to not one but 2 more seasons of at least 6 episodes. 6 eps is very short by North American standards but from what I have seen quite common in many euro productions.

Each season is going to do a book or two from the written series.

I really enjoyed the entire season. It had very few lows, and many highs. Billy Campbell was superb as Cardinal. I feel my comparables above were accurate and relevant.

High-ranking Canadian TV from Top Notch Novel

[jwagge · 10/10 · 2 February 2017]

As a loyal fan of the Giles Blunt "Cardinal" book series, I can say I was delighted to learn they were headed for the screen. It is always a great concern when one has loved the books that the screened adaptations be faithful - and tho I know it is impossible for every page to be represented, the reader is usually the most critical viewer. That being said, I am happy with the show so far to the point that I am hoping there will be other 6-part TV series to represent the 5 (so far), Giles Blunt, remaining Cardinal books. Many proud Canadian moments for me: great Canadian fiction, represented in great Canadian TV, with many great Canadian actors...Canadian TV has come of age!

Cool Canucks

[jc-999-591106 · 8/10 · 25 January 2017]

The characters and situations seem real and interesting.

Cardinal is a guy with a lot of issues and secrets, there are 50 degrees of grey to this guy.

The show feels Canadian, from the snow covered streets to the remote tree lined roads.

I really enjoyed the first episode and wonder if the show will continue to build interest for me. The politics of the police department feel uncontrived and realistic too.

Cardinal's new partner is initially uncertain of Cardinal and he of she. It seems like they might develop a good or trusting relationship but there are many things going against this outcome. It will be interesting to see the relationship develop as the characters are both smart and strongly independent.

A potentially very interesting show that is truly Canadian.

Excellent depiction of the John Cardinal books by Giles Blunt

[imcross-94206 · 9/10 · 15 February 2017]

I've seen 3 episodes so far. Actually the Algonquins were in this area, which was disputed in a different review. They were and remain very much in the North Bay region, which is where the fictional Algonquin Bay is based on. The role of Lise Delorm played by Karine Vanasse is spot on in my opinion. The Giles Blunt books depict Lise as French Canadian and again to dispute an earlier review, many of the northern Ontario towns are french or half-french - Mattawa near North Bay for instance. So it is not really a stretch as suggested. I've read all the John Cardinal books and I think the casting is excellent. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the series before submitting a review, but the landscape captured in the series evokes the mood of the book very well.

We have a serial killer amongst us...a repeater as John Cardinal would say

[Ed-Shullivan · 10/10 · 26 January 2017]

We have a serial killer loose who is killing young girls and boys in various ways so the serial killer's method of operation is still not clear. Lead detective John Cardinal (Billy Campbell) believes this serial killer stalks his victims and when the opportunity presents itself the killer strikes. Not much else is known about the serial killer mainly because the only one who believes there is a repeater (serial killer) loose is detective Cardinal. He is like a dog with a bone who will not let go that a serial killer is loose in their northern township somewhere in the Canadian province of Ontario.

Detective Cardinal seems to prefer to work alone but when his superior Noelle Dyson (Kristen Thomson) assigns a recent new hire to the precinct, a young female detective Lisa Delorme (Karine Vanasse), Cardinal makes it clear to her that he does not need a lap dog, and diverts her attention to another case he was working which was trying to catch a thief who breaks into peoples homes after the homeowners had just purchased a high end priced electronic such as a microwave oven or a flat screen television.

This 6 episode mini-series is dark, moody with a cast that shines. Lead actor Billy Campbell is a perfect fit to play detective John Cardinal on the hunt for what he calls a repeater, and what we normally refer to as a serial killer. My only complaint is that the six (6) 60 minute episodes should have been extended to three (3) 120 minutes so we wouldn't have to wait six weeks to see how the series ends. So far it has been great!

Cool Vibe

[zzholly · 7/10 · 3 July 2017]

I have to say, Canadian shows are catching my attention. It's the pacing as much as the quality of the production. American editing is a real problem for me as the scenes flick so fast I don't have time to take in the images and process to enjoy the emotions before you have to absorb the next image, and the next and next in split second action. I like lingering on a face (as long as you hired a real actor that is trained in the arts, not the couch) in order to capture what they are feeling. A technique that compensates for some lost book context if you have the right scene played out so you feel like you get inside their head. Non-American movies have always been attractive to me because of the more relaxed pacing that relies more upon acting. It's good to see this Canadian TV offerings as it captures you with a good story, moodiness and good character development. Except the young criminals. They are not as intense and believable as twisted, tortured beings. Next season will have new villains, and I hope they devote budget to those characters now that it's such a success. Also, perhaps second season bigger budget might mean more forensic realism and less relying on lingering dead body images. That's the one place I'd prefer the split-second images!

A moody masterpiece

[rdnhansen · 8/10 · 3 April 2019]

Billy Campbell (John Cardinal) is the Demián Bichir of Canadian TV drama. He looks at the camera and says his lines and you believe every word he says, but more than that, you would give anything to know what he's thinking.

Casting is Correct

[Benoit-Hutchins · 7/10 · 14 June 2017]

I quite enjoyed this series.

I take issue with with the idea that Karine Vanasse was miscast being a francophone Canadian in Northern Ontario. In fact I appreciate hearing Ms. Vanasse muttering in French when frustrated or angry. It is a realistic usage of dialogue in this series. Her placement as a cast member is most appropriate and likely in real Ontario life.

Many Québécois apply for employment outside of their home province. In fact there are Québécois police officers in British Columbia; further from Quebec than Ontario.

As well, there is a substantial number of French speaking Canadians in Northern Ontario. Franco-Ontarians constitute the largest French-speaking community in Canada outside of Quebec, as well as the largest minority language group within Ontario. In fact there is a French term for a French speaker in Ontario - Ontarios.

good bad and the ugly

[A_Different_Drummer · 8/10 · 29 March 2020]

Following closely the story arcs from the BBC hit HINTERLAND, although with more dollops of sadism, this could be the best Canadian show ever produced in terms of script, direction, casting, and production. The problem is that this specific type of series is so depressing (not really a police procedural at all!) that the day eventually comes when even the most loyal viewer has to choose between jumping to the next episode ... or seeking psychiatric help.

Cold up north

[paul2001sw-1 · 7/10 · 30 June 2017]

Canadian drama 'Cardinal' follows a (middle-aged, male) detective - the silent, loner type - as he investigates a serial killing. So far, so familiar - but the twist is that he's suspected of corruption, and his own partner is actually investigating him. It's actually nicely done, and mostly in a low-key manner - think 'Fargo', though without the comic undertone. But it's also hard to feel so strongly for a character to keeps his own cards quite so close to his chest, and the final resolution is somewhat underwhelming, although in six shortish episodes, it doesn't outstay its welcome.

Sound engineer needs firing!

[Fredolow · 5/10 · 8 July 2020]

It's a solid show but the audio mix is quite possibly the worst I've ever come across. Most of the cast seem pretty intent on talking in hushed tones, particularly the male lead who whispers all of his dialogue... and then over all of that a constant drone of atmospheric music has been laid at far too high a volume which makes it very difficult to hear what's being said. I've taken two stars off my rating for that alone. Sound engineer definitely needs a hearing test.

Ice Cold In Algonquin

[Lejink · 8/10 · 26 June 2017]

Told over six 45 minute episodes, this was a very good 'tec drama from Canadian TV. Set in the wintry setting of Algonquin, we meet whispering, silver-bearded, middle-aged Detective John Cardinal. A dogged, committed, old-school detective, he's pursuing here a killer or killers who abduct, torture and kill youngsters. There's a strong sub-plot involving a young female detective Lisa Delorme ostensibly brought in to assist Cardinal's investigation but who in reality is investigating him for suspected corruption in relation to a police bust that went wrong and cost an officer his life. Both these main characters, as it happens, have relationship problems at home, Cardinal's wife has bi-polar disorder and Delorme and her husband are struggling to have a family.

It was hard not to see the influence of Nordic Noir predecessors like "The Killing" and "The Bridge" here, with the mix and match male / female cop pairing, the bleak, snowy geographic settings, as ever filmed with numerous, on-high drone shots and the brutal activities of the killers towards their hostages not to mention the by now obligatory lo-fi contemporary music used as the theme tune.

Derivative it may have been but that didn't detract from a gripping story told well. I think I prefer my mini-series played out like this over a shorter running time as it brought more dynamism and pace to proceedings. Sure it was tough at times to watch the excruciating treatment meted out to the victims and spare a thought in particular for the young lad whose whole role was to be trussed up naked and be intermittently tortured, I hope his next part is as the male lead in a rom-com or something.

The acting of the two leads was very good as was the chemistry between them. Their interplay is mutantly reflected and contrasted in the bizarre relationship which subsists between the two young male / female murderers they track, both these parts chillingly well played too. Tension reigned throughout with some surprising twists along the way and a suitably dramatic climax to finish things off. As you'd imagine, there wasn't much humour in all this bleakness but at the end there's one laugh-out-loud moment which will strike a chord to anyone who's ever been sent for a long stand on their first day at work.

I for one would be pleased to see this new detective pairing return for future investigations. Recommended.

Have Loved Cardinal For Several Years....

[heykateforever · 9/10 · 28 July 2023]

And had no idea after watching the first two seasons of this excellent Canadian police drama that two more seasons were made and available until today. John Cardinal, well played by Billy Campbell, is a haunted homicide cop because of his wife's ongoing mental illness. Each season deals with different homicides as Cardinal works through dealing with a new partner, wonderfully played by French Canadian, Karine Vanasse as Lise Delorme. I think Season 1 is still my favorite, but as each season builds on the relationships and casualties suffered by Cardinal, I never lost interest in any way.

In many ways, Cardinal is my favorite show about cops; the things they experience, the way they are treated and treat each other, and mostly the grief many cops suffer because they are often torn between the job and their responsibilities to their families. This show is raw in portraying the secrets they must keep, the horror of what they witness, the guilt they carry when they cannot solve every crime, the life they choose to try to bring Justice to a populace that many times does not appreciate them. As well as the corruption and inner politics they must muddle through to get their jobs done.

I watch many cop shows and there are other excellent shows: Law&Order, Law&Order Criminal Intent, Prime Suspect, Vera, The Fall, Hinterland, and so many more on Peacock, Acorn and Brit Box. Cardinal is on Hulu! I'm not sure why Cardinal has stayed with me (so has Criminal Intent), and I watch those two over and over. There is something that touches a nerve in me in these shows and when they are well written with great characters and actors perfect for that character, I just wish they would never end. Highly recommend Cardinal if you love really good murder mysteries. As an addendum, we also discovered "Class of '09", an FBI thriller that takes place over 25 years last night and binged it. It is also on Hulu and highly recommended! But Cardinal is still my favorite. If you love a good, complex mystery cop show, watch Cardinal!

Highly reccomended

[neil-26033 · 9/10 · 9 February 2018]

Extraordinary crime drama. Great cast. Great story. Expertly rendered in a perfect setting. Front story and back story perfectly woven through both season one and two culminating in a season 2 finale that blurs the distinction between winning and losing. Sans all the sex and gratuitous gunplay found in American cop shows, Cardinal achieves a standard rarely seen on the small screen. Highly recommended.

Solid Canadian Noir

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 17 June 2017]

Set in the fictional Ontario town of Algonquin Bay police officer John Cardinal had been investing the disappearance of a girl for some time but his superiors have taken him off the case. As the series starts her body is found and he is back in charge of the case along with his new partner Lise Delorme. It isn't long before her murder is linked to two others and disturbingly to the disappearance of a boy, Keith, who had visited the town. Evidence suggests that the killer kept his victims alive so there is a chance that Cardinal and Delorme will find him in time. If that weren't enough it emerges that Delorme has been transferred so she can investigate Cardinal and his involvement in a case that led to the death of a police officer in Toronto.

This was an enjoyable six-part series that feels very like the so-called 'Scandi- Noir' series that have become popular in recent years; we have a brooding protagonists with some troubles at home and an unpleasant series of murders. There isn't too much mystery for the viewer as we are shown the killer and his girlfriend, who is involved with the kidnapping and could turn out to be just as dangerous. Knowing their identities doesn't detract from the series as every time we see what they are doing to Keith it increases the sense of urgency. The secondary story concerning Cardinal's possible corruption does provide a mystery; we can guess that he will ultimately be exonerated but what he is doing is suspicious so why he is doing what he is doing is interesting. The cast does a fine job; Billy Campbell impresses as Cardinal and Karine Vanasse provides fine support as Delorme; I hope we get to see them in further cases in future seasons. The location adds to the atmosphere; a comparatively small town in a frozen landscape. Overall I'd recommend this to anybody wanting a series with a 'Scandi- Noir' feel without the need to read subtitles.

.the mood is constant throughout.. and therein lies the problem..

[bjarias · 6/10 · 26 February 2018]

It's a show you're better off watching when it first airs, rather than binge watching later on. For if you watch episode after episode without a break, the darkness of the story-line, and the brooding mood of the characters just sneaks up and starts wearing you down, and gets to annoying you. And if they would please have him stop talking once in awhile in that irritating droll monotone it would do wonders for interest. The cast is good, and you can make it through the episodes. There's just not many characters in this story that you find yourself liking. They try with several side stories to make things a little different, but none of them make you more interested in watching. You get to wondering were they all deliberately made annoying, or did it just kinda work out that way. Season 2, as the bodies (good guys & bad) keep pilling up, you are left guessing who will remain standing at the end of the season-series. It's not an easy production to give great marks.. you like it, and then you're kinda put off by it, time and again.

Excellent Old School Style Police Crime Thriller

[smsenna · 8/10 · 29 December 2021]

I came across this gem on Hulu and it's fantastic. The acting is excellent, the scenery in the show is great. And absolutely NO political nonsense (aka Wokeness).

Now for the queasy - or hard of hearing

[thejdrage · 7/10 · 4 June 2022]

In all honesty, I've watched only 3 of the seasons. It is a very good, hard core noir Nordic-like mystery. That's a compliment. Well, Canada is a bit north too.

The first three seasons I've watched have good stories and characters and some of the wickedest villains I've seen. Billy Campbell is not a favorite of mine and in this series, he affects an inconsistent soto voce whisper that is, frankly, irritating as well as often hard to understand. So, I am still not a fan of his and I had to turn on Close Captioning.

It IS worth watching!! Please don't let me scare you away. Don't let Billy Campbell soto voce you away either!

What might blow you is all the blood and guts that are prevalent in this series. All kinds of it. It is everywhere - except it is "gore lite" in season 3. Thank goodness. Guess everyone needed a break. Don't get me wrong, there's still a bit of it, but nothing compared to the first 2 seasons.

Even outside of the bad guy and police station, gore and gruesomeness is brought in for you to observe with the keen eye and camera of Detective Cardinal's sometimes wife, Catherine. (Billy Campbell is Det. Cardinal.) She's an interesting character on her own. She made me very nervous from the start, and as the series went on, I, personally, liked her less and less.

There are lots of bad guys in this series, absolutely zero giggles and laughs for a break in the tension. And gore galore!! Season 3 is a bit less gruesome - thank goodness.

This series is taken from books, apparently. The writer must have had a strange childhood. Bet he's fun date!!

This is definitely worth the watch! I took away one star because of Campbell's whispering 98% of the time. So unnecessary. Added nothing to the character, in fact hurt it.

Season 4

[martimusross · 8/10 · 2 July 2020]

Cardinal Season 4

Really quite brilliant in every way, when something is so so good it is very difficult to write a review. I would only make two points,

Billy Campbell does the minimum it is stiff and wooden but somehow it works and reflects the choices he has made in acting this role.

The love interest is a leap of faith both in terms of the age, personality and lack of chemistry.

It is rare the see Canadian programmes and this was a total treat from start to finish.

If we can have some more it would be great.

Whispering

[JtheD · 7/10 · 15 August 2018]

After Keifer Sutherland this whispering dialogue is terrible.

Stop whispering, stop whispering, OMG STOP WHISPERING!

[scruzen · 3/10 · 1 December 2020]

Another actor who thinks that acting consists of delivering dialogue in a monotone whisper. Lead actor needs to go back to high school acting class. After two episodes i was throwing things at the tv and screaming "Speak like a normal human being, you hack actor!" Ugh.

Yes, please.

[runoke · 8/10 · 31 December 2022]

This is a great one. An oasis with a well. Simple, well written (good source material delivers), honest, mature, respectful to its viewers, characters and real life. A relatable and believable but interesting and strong main character who's not estranged from his family for once. No standout sacrifices for the sake of storytelling (or social narrative, thank god). The people are flawed but likeable, the plots are quirky and well constructed enough to stay out of dull and exhausting territory.

The series had some weak points by they were spread along the line and never felt like a downward slope. Sad to see it end, but if there is no more source material - then it should end. There are close to zero screenwriters that can provide something on a level.

If you like brooding mysteries like Nordic Noir can deliver, this is worth a watch

[KenLG · 8/10 · 7 December 2022]

I'm sure it's a personality thing but there's something I just love about moody and thoughtful mysteries that you often find in the Nordic Noir genre.

Cardinal has this great atmosphere and mood. The characters aren't flashy. There aren't a lot of jump cuts and gimmicks in the cinematography. In some ways, it feels like how it would when someone truly respects the place, the people, etc.

Of course, it's not just the place and cinematography. The characters, especially, Billy Campbell's Cardinal and Karine Vanasse's Lise just feel so well lived in and real. Billy Campbell's got this great knack for expressing so much without saying a word or using a minimum of words. And Karine compliments his character so well.

The four seasons all work well. I wish they could have done more but I also am glad they didn't try to stretch it out to where it starts to degrade. Something about watching the stories in the cold makes you want to bundle up and just watch the show. The somber mood makes you feel like you're watching something more substantial.

I highly recommend giving it a watch. The tone is set right off the bat so if you like how the first few episodes feel, you'll be good all the way through.