Son of a Critch Bows Out After Season 5 as Co-Creator Speaks Out

If you’ve been following Son of a Critch—the quirky Canadian coming-of-age sitcom that’s quietly charmed its way into American homes via The CW—I have news that’s equal parts expected and a little bittersweet. The show’s fifth season is officially the last stop for Mark Critch and his not-exactly-nuclear family. It’s always a weird feeling when something that felt like your secret TV hang becomes a wrap.

Time to Say Goodbye (Canadian Style)

Mark Critch, the show’s co-creator and the real-life inspiration behind its main character, took to Instagram to confirm the final season. Yes, production is already underway in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Apparently, they’re pushing through until June 18 to finish up the last 12 episodes. It all sounds very 'end of an era'—especially since it literally is, both for the show and for young Mark in-universe.

'We're heading back to 1992, the year I graduated high school, so you can expect all the awkwardness and growing pains that come with it... And since it's the last year of high school, it will also be our final chapter. Growing up is hard to do, but it sure is fun to watch.'

So, what’s the game plan for this last season? It’s 1992—Mark’s final year of high school. That means plenty of teen angst, the usual dance with embarrassing moments, and one big Newfoundland-sized wrench: the cod moratorium that shook the region. Not exactly the smoothest time to chase your dreams of becoming an actor, but if there’s a running theme here, it’s resilience.

The Familiar Faces (and Some New Ones)

If you’re tuning in for the cast, don’t worry—the usual suspects are all present and accounted for:

• Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as young Mark, still trying to survive high school
• Mark Critch himself as Mike Sr. (yes, playing his own dad—still funny, still a little odd)
• Malcolm McDowell as the gruff granddad Pop
• Claire Rankin, Colton Gobbo, Mark Ezekiel Rivera, and Sophia Powers round out the rest of the core crew
• Guest stars this season include Shawn Doyle, Susan Kent, and Rick Mercer (because no Canadian TV show is really complete without a Mercer cameo, apparently)

The show’s a behind-the-scenes team effort, too. Critch co-created the series with Tim McAuliffe (who’s done time on all sorts of big comedies), and the production is a partnership between Project 10 Productions, Hawco Productions, CBC, and Lionsgate TV. If you like keeping track of producers, there’s a small army: Critch, McAuliffe, Andrew Barnsley, and Allan Hawco are the big names.

Award-Worthy, If Not Overhyped

Son of a Critch might not have the massive buzz of some streaming juggernauts, but it’s held its own in the trophy department. It just picked up a 2026 Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Comedy Series, and even snagged the Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award at the 2024 edition. For a show this low-key, that’s nothing to sneeze at.

And in case you missed it, the show’s been airing in the U.S. on The CW since last year. Season 5 (the swan song) is set to premiere in fall 2026. You can catch it on CBC, or stream it for free on CBC Gem if you’re north of the border—or know the right VPN.

So yeah, start getting nostalgic: the last round of awkward teen drama (with bonus Newfoundland history) is almost here.