Years after fifteen year old Harley Carter (Jerry O'Connell) solved a serial killer mystery that had plagued his small, northern home town of Bishop, he became a famous actor, playing a tv detective who solved similar mysteries on a Hollywood crime drama. But after his embarrassing public meltdown forced the show into hiatus, he came back to Canada to evaluate his acting career and reconnect with his old high school friends, Sam Shaw (Sydney Tamiia Poitier), who is now a no-nonsense police woman and Dave Leigh (Kristian Bruun), a witty friend with a shady past who drives his own coffee truck. Carter moves back into his childhood home which is still run by the same old Japanese couple who looked after him growing up; Dot (Brenda Kamino) is an overly protective, white haired housekeeper who brings out her shotgun and points it menacingly at anyone who threatens Harley while her more sensible husband Koji (Denis Akiyama) tries to keep her in check.
Creator Garry Campbell has successfully brought another Canadian story to television, using a mostly Canadian cast (Kamino, Akiyama, and Bruun were all born in Toronto) and filming the show in North Bay, Ontario. Although some reviewers still dismiss any Canadian film or tv series as being inferior to their American counterparts, viewers should not be discouraged by this type of knee-jerk commentary as murder mysteries that happen in a small town have their own unique appeal.
Jerry O'Connell has a long list of film and tv credits for acting, writing, directing, producing, and voice over work beginning with his first role as a child actor in the coming-of-age movie "Stand By Me" and has most recently appeared on the highly successful tv shows "The Big Bang Theory" and "Billions". His easy charm and good looks win over the mayor of Bishop (Joanne Boland) but his Hollywood actor detective skills and sympathetic nature undermine his credibility with both the chief of police (John Bourgeois) and the town's law breakers. Fortunately, his police detective friend and partner, Sam is more than capable of taking down the toughest of bad guys.
Garry Campbell has already enjoyed success writing and producing another Canadian tv series, "Kim's Convenience" which has been renewed for a third season and Jerry O'Connell has undeniable appeal as Bishop's newest consulting detective so "Carter" looks like a solid new entry in the Bravo tv lineup and seems destined for a second season and broader distribution.
