From John Doyle (no relation) of the Globe and Mail:

• The big day is finally here; bring on Republic of Doyle
  “Republic of Doyle (CBC, 9 p.m.) is deliriously foolish, empty-headed, old-fashioned TV. It’s preposterous, but it isn’t twaddle. It’s not going to make you think deeply, unless you’re inclined to think very deeply about the possibility that there are an awful lot of rogues in St. John’s, Nfld.” Read more.

From Raju Mudhar of the Toronto Star:

• Republic of Doyle: A rogue P.I. with Newfie smarts
  “Doyle rules! Tonight’s launch of the Newfoundland-based private eye series, Republic of Doyle, at 9 on CBC is cause for some genuine excitement on the Canadian TV front. The first episode is a pretty great beginning to the series and sets up the show with a ton of potential.” Read more.

From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family:

• Republic of Doyle: Rockford Meets The Rock
  “Republic of Doyle also arrives just as crime dramas take a turn away from dark corners and toward the light. This series is more about character than plot, although the weekly whodunit premise works, too. It is a genre show, plain and simple, stocked with wise guys, car chases and snappy one-liners. It is Rockford Files meets The Rock, Magnum NFLD. It is a guy’s show, a welcome shot of testosterone on a CBC schedule that was too girly after a string of Sophies, Wild Roses and Ericas.” Read more.

A new father-and-son P.I. series starring Allan Hawco as the unpredictable and irresistible rogue private investigator. Set against the backdrop of the eccentric underbelly of contemporary St. John’s, Newfoundland. Sean McGinley co-stars as Doyle’s partner-in-solving-crime father. The series also features Lynda Boyd, Rachel Wilson, Krystin Pellerin, Mark O’Brien and Marthe Bernard.

Series I – Eps 1 – Fathers and Sons – The Doyles help a close family friend beat a manslaughter charge despite the fact that he refuses to defend himself; Jake’s relationship with his ex-wife, Nikki, is heating up when it should be cooling down – and new cop on the block Constable Leslie Bennett might be the perfect distraction.