Cardinal – Season 4 (2020)
A prominent local’s husband is taken, launching Detectives John Cardinal and Lise Delorme into their final, terrifying investigation. The abductor is a calculated killer motivated by a decades-old act of betrayal, leaving victims to succumb to the brutal Northern Ontario winter. The partners must work quickly to expose the original cover-up and halt the murders before they are torn apart by Delorme’s impending transfer.
Length: 4h18m
Genre: Crime, Suspense, Drama
This Title is: Icy Noir
Cast
Billy Campbell, Karine Vanasse, Kristen Thomson, Glen Gould, Alanna Bale
Parental Guidance
Maturity Rating: TV-MA – Violence, Abduction, Mature Thematic Material
FAQ
- Is Cardinal – Season 4 (2020) Based on a True Story?: No, it is based on the novel *Until the Night*, the sixth book in the John Cardinal Mystery series by Canadian author Giles Blunt.
- Where was Cardinal – Season 4 (2020) filmed?: Primarily filmed in North Bay and Sudbury, Northern Ontario, Canada, where the extreme cold is central to the show’s look and atmosphere.
- Who Wrote the Soundtrack?: Todor Kobakov
Filmmaker Profile
Director Nathan Morlando masterfully utilized the severe landscape of Northern Ontario, making the crushing cold an active element in the story. His tight, atmospheric direction and intense focus on the raw emotional exchanges between the leads ensured the series finale maintained its signature tone and gripping quality.
Why It’s Worth Watching
The final season is a spectacular showcase of atmosphere and execution. The unforgiving, frozen scenery provides a beautiful yet hostile backdrop to a truly gripping crime story. The direction is taut, building exceptional tension with every snow-swept location. The entire production is visually superb and delivers a powerful, satisfying conclusion to the central relationship.
Main Character Deep Dive
Detective John Cardinal’s final journey is defined by his lingering grief over his wife, Catherine, which fuels his professional obsessions. His internal struggle to move past personal tragedy while facing his greatest professional challenge makes his character arc truly powerful. Billy Campbell’s performance captures the troubled lawman’s isolation and growing connection with Delorme beautifully, grounding the entire series in raw emotional truth.
Unforgettable Quote
“We can’t change the past, John, but we can still save what’s left of the present.”
Trivia
- It concludes the adaptation of the *John Cardinal Mystery* book series, starting with *Forty Words for Sorrow* (Season 1) and ending with *Until the Night*.
- The frigid conditions of filming in Northern Ontario were so extreme that the camera crew had to spend extra hours heating the lenses to prevent them from fogging up.
- Season 4 marks the final case for the partnership of Cardinal and Delorme, as the season’s conclusion involves Delorme accepting a new job in Toronto.
Trailer
Stream Cardinal – Season 4 (2020) on:
Our Review
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I found this final season to be an absolute triumph of mood and character study. From the first episode, the intense atmosphere drew me right into the bone-chilling cold of Algonquin Bay. The mystery itself is layered and genuinely shocking, expertly drawing together the victims through a shared past event. What truly elevates this show, however, is the superb connection between Billy Campbell and Karine Vanasse. Watching their characters, Cardinal and Delorme, work together is a masterclass in screen chemistry. The quiet respect and unspoken affection between them provide the warm core to an otherwise dark and chilly show. The creators crafted an incredibly satisfying ending that honors the journey we’ve taken with these two. The pacing is deliberate, the acting is top-tier, and the resolution is earned. I simply adored how they wrapped up this Canadian gem.
Who Should Watch This?
Stream it if you appreciate a sophisticated, character-driven crime drama where the frigid, beautiful environment is as crucial to the story as the central mystery.
