Season 1
Republic of Doyle is a Canadian comedy-drama television series written, produced and starring Allan Hawco which stars Seán McGinley and Hawco as Malachy and Jake Doyle, a father and son team who partner as private investigators in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Thomas Magnum, Jim Rockford, Mannix, Remington Steele... would the cocky, temperamental P.I. with the cool partner and a penchant for trouble of all varieties please step forward?
Hey – not so fast, Jim Rockford... you had your turn.
Meet Jake Doyle – a rogue, a charmer, a drinker, a brawler, emotionally immature and unavailable... but that doesn't stop the ladies from flocking to him.
Think Californication's horny Hank Moody crossed with firecracker Tommy Gavin from Rescue Me, sprinkle in a generous helping of Rockford-style, gut-instinct street smarts and you have Jake Doyle, the handsome, P.I. hero of Republic of Doyle.
Jake Doyle is a new breed of Private Investigator, cracking cases – and the occasional head – in the colourful and unique port city setting of St. John's, Newfoundland, the oldest city in North America.
Jake's charming little hometown is changing in a big way as it's quickly transforming from a small seaport to a booming oil town – and where there's cash, there's trash. And lots of it.
Republic of Doyle combines the retro cool crime vibe of classic investigative shows with the dramatic/comedic edge of contemporary television fare, producing a blend of intriguing episodic mysteries woven with the always evolving (and sometimes regressing) relationship turmoil and dynamics of the Doyle clan.
This one-hour comedic drama takes a peek into the lives of a not-so-everyday family with problems trying to make it all work as they run a very uncommon family business – a gumshoe racket in St. John's, Newfoundland – out of a very full house.
This new take on the hero P.I. character, while embracing the traditionally fun and twisty conventions of the genre, is the charm of Republic of Doyle.
It's a modern day homage to the great and memorable P.I. shows of the past with benchmarks like classic cars, fleeting romances and great loves, and knockout punches and chases after bad guys – but with a new edge and in a different kind of town.
Republic of Doyle is produced by Take the Shot Productions.
Broadcast Notes
Season 1 originally aired on SABC3 on Sundays at 23h00. After five episodes had aired this changed to a double bill on Sundays at 23h00.