Cardinal

Cardinal follows John Cardinal, a troubled homicide detective in the cold northern Ontario town of Algonquin Bay. He investigates murders while dealing with guilt, grief, and suspicion from his own police department. His new partner, Lise Delorme, is secretly investigating him for possible corruption. The show uses a slow, dark, and violent crime-drama style.

The four seasons focus on murder cases, damaged families, police work, revenge, mental illness, and personal loss. Lise is a capable detective, but the story does not present her as an activist symbol. The first season involves the murder of a First Nations girl, but later seasons focus more on criminal cases and the detectives’ private lives. The show has little direct political or identity-driven messaging.