Republic of Doyle

At first I was a little skeptical about this series, and certainly the concept is a pretty well-worn one. It has improved with time though as the characters established their roles and the balance between the comic and the serious has settled into something a bit less predictable than it was at the start. Some nice guest roles have helped out as well (Gordon Pinsent, Russell Crowe). If nothing else the series is a wonderful advertisement for the fantastic world of Newfoundland: the houses, the vistas, and most definitely the crazy half-Irish/half-Canadian accents add to the appeal. All in all worth watching, though some might find it a slow burn at first.

I've never visited the province of Newfoundland and Labrador but I consider the entire population to be my friends. I've always been intrigued by the populace due to their unique accent/dialect, their music, their food such as fish and brewis and their booze. I've watched a lot of NTV and have learned a great deal about their province. These are hardy, tough and determined people living on a rock where Canada's worst weather occurs. They love to fight. The idea of an action comedy-drama show set there is a brilliant idea.

Allan Hawco, the star, co-creator, executive producer, head writer and showrunner of Republic Of Doyle, plays Jake Doyle, a PI in St John's, NFLD&L. Doyle is a fearless man who isn't afraid to die in the line of fire for justice. He is aided by his father Malachy (Sean McGinley) and his step-mother Rose (Lynda Boyd), who usually go online to dig up dirt on his targets. He also has Des Courtney (Mark O'Brien), a stammering youth who helps/hinders him. There's also Katrina Doyle (Marthe Bernard), a cute-as-a-button, Janet Wood-type who works for the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.

Unlike Magnum P.I., RoD is more like typical T.V. as an entire season of story lines occur throughout its run. It's a deft mix of drama, comedy and action in the streets of the capital city. It's unique to see crime fighting take place in a smaller city like St. John's than in, say, New York, L.A. or Toronto.

If you're obsessed with Newfoundland like I am, this show is a must- watch. Even if you're not, it's much better than 85% of T.V. today and it's just only hitting its prime. It's a fun romp every time I watch. I also have to commend Mr. Hawco on his taste in women as he hires knockouts on his show. Only in RoD could some beautiful lady in a mini-dress be the mastermind behind a mad bomber.

Newfoundland and Labrador is taking over, people.

Just watched the very last episode in the final season and the series gathered momentum from the beginning to the end. I got very attached to the characters and will miss them which showed that the characters were well developed. The stories were good as well. Sexual tension between the pairs was irritating along the way but in the end that was satisfying. The stand out acting came from Jake and Des although the whole cast was very good and convincing in their roles. Des provided much of the humour. The island setting was beautiful and colourful. The very last episode and even the few before that were riveting and the series ended on a very good note.

Canadian actor, Allan Hawco, is a likable PI in this series that ran for six years and can now be seen on Netflix. In partnership with his father, Jake (Hawco) and Malachy Doyle (Sean McGinley) investigate murder, robbery, and other crimes in picturesque St. Johns, Newfoundland. The hour-long show has plenty of action, and lots of humor, a la The Rockford Files with Hawco a younger and studlier version of James Garner. This guy is catnip to women, and skirts the edge of the law to beat the bad guys at their own game. Lots of action, involving the Doyle clan, who are the ultimate crime-solving family. One character, however, consistently strikes a false note and that is Des, a kid who has become part of the family. He's a consistent idiot as a character, highly unfunny simply in the way. Otherwise, this show makes for wonderful binge watching.

If you had said last season that this show was a little cheesy, I would have agreed. I mean, Jake is right out of the 70's in so many ways. He hasn't really grown up but the show has grown up around him this season in my opinion. The characters are deeper, the plots more complex and interesting, and a lot of the lame situations have been benched in favour of better material.

Do Newfoundlanders really talk like that? And what's with the brightly coloured houses? Where can I get a GTO like that? Little glimpses of maritime Canada I suppose.

If you're looking for realism and big-budget effects, you won't find satisfaction here. But this show is good fun and a reliable source of entertainment. Good work!