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Son of a Critch by Mark Critch - Penguin Random House Canada

The show’s genius lies in its narrator: the real-life Mark Critch, who looks back at his younger self with a blend of affection and cringing horror.

Mark Critch (the adult) playing Mike Critch (the father) is a meta act of genius. He isn’t playing a sitcom dad; he’s playing a tired, loving, sarcastic 1980s everyman. He doesn’t give pep talks; he gives reality checks. When young Mark says he wants to be a writer, Mike replies, "You mean a starving writer?" It’s brutal, but it’s love.

Unlike shows where the family is comfortably middle-class, the Critches are poor . They reuse teabags, heat stones in the oven to put at the foot of the bed, and treat a block of cheddar cheese like the Crown Jewels. The show finds humor in financial struggle without being depressing. When young Mark gets a "new" winter coat, it is a women's hand-me-down—and he has to wear it. The comedy stems from resilience, not wealth. Son of a Critch

Have you watched "Son of a Critch"? Who is your favorite character—Pop, Mike, or young Mark? Let us know in the comments below.

: Touches on heavy topics like the 1980s Catholic sexual abuse scandals and corporal punishment in schools.

Perhaps the most surprising piece of casting is cinematic legend Malcolm McDowell as Mark’s father, Mike Critch Sr. Known for his intense, sometimes villainous roles in films like A Clockwork Orange , McDowell here plays a man who is stern, emotionally distant, yet deeply human. He represents the old-world Catholic masculinity of Newfoundland—stoic, hard-working, and baffled by his sensitive son. The dynamic between McDowell and Ainsworth provides the show’s emotional core: a father and son who love each other but speak different languages. Son of a Critch by Mark Critch -

Son of a Critch offers a window into the life of 11-year-old Mark Critch, a boy who is much older on the inside than his actual years. Navigating a local Catholic school in Newfoundland, Mark uses self-deprecating humor to win friends, survive aggressive schoolyard bullies, and find his footing in a rapidly changing world. Unlike traditional childhood biopics, the series relies on a refreshing sense of self-awareness; the younger Mark knows he is an eccentric individual surrounded by an equally eccentric family.

This central tension—Mark’s desire to be seen as mature versus his utter lack of real-world experience—provides the show's comedic engine. Whether he is trying to navigate the complex politics of the school bus or attempting to understand his father's nightly news broadcasts, Mark approaches life with a mixture of wide-eyed optimism and neurotic cynicism.

Yes, there are rotary phones, VHS tapes, and hair band posters. But Son of a Critch doesn't use the 80s as a gimmick. It uses the era to show a time when kids had actual freedom (and actual danger). The jokes about smoking behind the shed or trying to buy a Penthouse magazine at the corner store hit a very specific, very funny nerve for Gen X and elder Millennials. He doesn’t give pep talks; he gives reality checks

: Available on The CW (US), CBC Gem (Canada), and streaming on Netflix in certain regions. If you’re deciding whether to start it, How it compares to the original memoir ? More details on specific characters like Pop or Fox?

It reminds us that growing up is universally embarrassing, but if you are lucky enough to have a family that loves you—even a dysfunctional, poor, sarcastic one—you end up just fine.

The Critch household is a pressure cooker of eccentricity:

Recommended If You Like: The Wonder Years , Derry Girls , Kim’s Convenience , The Middle . Best Episode: Season 2, Episode 6 – "The Stone" (Pop teaches Mark about mortality using a rock from the backyard).