Hudson & Rex

Premise and characters

Hudson & Rex centres on the professional partnership between Detective Charlie Hudson and his canine partner, Rex, within the Major Crimes Division of the St. John's Police Department. Charlie, portrayed by John Reardon, is a dedicated detective who returned to his hometown following a divorce, driven by a lifelong passion for solving mysteries. Rex is a German Shepherd originally from the K9 unit whose first human partner was killed in the line of duty. Instead of being retired, Rex passed a rigorous assessment and was permanently assigned to Charlie, who initially had no experience handling dogs. The series explores how their bond deepens as they tackle complex cases, with Rex using his superior senses of smell and hearing to track suspects and evidence.

The supporting cast provides crucial expertise to the investigations. Superintendent Joseph Donovan, played by Kevin Hanchard, oversees the division and offers guidance. Forensics Chief Sarah Truong, portrayed by Mayko Nguyen, and IT specialist Jesse Mills, played by Justin Kelly, handle the scientific and technical aspects of each case. Both Truong and Mills are promoted to detective roles in later seasons, reflecting their growing importance to the team. The dynamic between the human characters and the exceptionally skilled Rex forms the emotional and procedural core of the series, blending traditional detective work with the unique contributions of a police dog.

In later seasons, significant changes occur within the core partnership. Early in the seventh season, Charlie Hudson leaves St. John's to search for his missing brother in Mexico. For the remainder of that season, Rex works with Donovan, Truong, and Mills. The season concludes with the introduction of Detective Mark Hudson, a transfer from the Halifax police played by Luke Roberts, who is not related to Charlie but becomes Rex's new partner. This transition sets the stage for the eighth season, with John Reardon scheduled to return to the role of Charlie Hudson in the ninth season.

Production and filming

The series is filmed on location in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, with production beginning in October 2018. The city's distinctive architecture and landscapes are integral to the show's visual identity. Key locations include the Memorial University of Newfoundland campus, where the Bruneau Centre stands in for the fictional St. John's Police Department headquarters. Other parts of the campus are used to portray the fictional Heritage University of Newfoundland and Labrador. This authentic setting provides a recognizable Canadian backdrop that distinguishes the series from its European predecessor.

Casting the canine star was a meticulous process rooted in the legacy of the original Kommissar Rex. The original Rex for the Canadian series was Diesel vom Burgimwald, a German Shepherd who was a 15th-generation descendant of Santo, the dog who originated the role in the 1990s European series. Diesel underwent specific mobility training for the part and received star treatment on set, including his own trailer and chef. His nephews, German Shepherds named Izzy and Iko, served as his stunt doubles for action sequences. Diesel's tenure as Rex lasted from the first season through the first two episodes of the seventh season, ending with his death from cancer in August 2024.

Following Diesel's passing, the role of Rex was taken over by a team of his relatives. His nephews, Dillon and Dante, and a distant cousin, Dreamer, assumed the leading role beginning with the third episode of season seven. Izzy and Iko continued to perform as stunt doubles. The production has deep connections to the breed's lineage, as Diesel was a Canadian Kennel Club grand champion from the Trienzbachtal bloodlines. The show's success in English-speaking markets has even spurred plans for a revival of the original Kommissar Rex series in Europe in 2026.

Broadcast and international reach

Hudson & Rex premiered in Canada on Citytv on March 25, 2019. The first season was initially planned for 16 episodes, but the final three were held and broadcast as part of the second season, which began on September 24, 2019. Subsequent seasons have premiered consistently, with the seventh season beginning on January 14, 2025. The series quickly became a ratings success for Citytv, with the first six episodes attracting over 2.5 million viewers in Canada. During the 2019 to 2020 broadcast year, it was the network's highest-rated original scripted series.

The show's appeal extends far beyond Canada, having been sold to broadcasters in over 100 countries and territories by 2020. International distribution rights are held by Beta Film. The series airs on a wide array of networks globally, reflecting its broad popularity. In the United States, it airs on Ion Plus and Up, with earlier seasons available on Amazon Prime Video. In the United Kingdom, all seasons are broadcast on the Alibi channel. Other major international broadcasters include Rai 3 in Italy, France Televisions in France, TV2 Charlie in Denmark, and AXN in Portugal. The international broadcast list is extensive and demonstrates the series' global footprint.

• Armenia: Armenian Public TV (since September 30, 2022)
• Australia: Various networks
• Germany: TNT Serie
• Greece: ANT1
• Latvia: LTV
• Lithuania: LRT
• Netherlands: FOX
• Romania: Diva (since September 3, 2019)
• Switzerland: Private Channel 5+ (since 2024)
• United States (Puerto Rico): Telemundo (Spanish dub)

This widespread distribution has made the characters of Hudson and Rex familiar to audiences across continents. The series has been shown in over 100 countries and territories by 2020. It airs in many other countries including Brazil, Bulgaria, China, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Uruguay. This solidifies the show's status as a successful Canadian export.

Episodes and seasons

The series has maintained a steady production schedule, typically releasing between 16 and 20 episodes per season. The narrative structure usually features standalone murder cases with unique twists, while also developing longer character arcs for the main cast. The premiere of the third season, for instance, detailed the background story of how Charlie and Rex first became partners. The show has proven resilient, continuing production through challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, with season three beginning filming in July 2020 under provincial health guidelines. Later seasons introduced more serialized elements, particularly concerning Charlie Hudson's personal life.

The seventh season's storyline involved Charlie's departure to Mexico to find his missing brother, a plot point that allowed for the introduction of a new lead detective. The eighth season, featuring Luke Roberts as Detective Mark Hudson, began airing in late 2025. Some episodes in this season experienced broadcast delays due to sports programming but were made available earlier on the Citytv+ streaming service. A ninth season is confirmed for 2026 to 2027, which will see the return of John Reardon as Charlie Hudson. The consistent renewal of the series is a direct result of its strong viewer loyalty and commercial performance for Citytv.

Reception and cultural impact

Upon its debut, Hudson & Rex received a mixed critical response but found immediate popularity with audiences. An early review in March 2019 from The Medium Is Not Enough criticized the writing and direction, calling the show tedious. However, viewer ratings told a different story, as the series quickly became a top performer for Citytv. By April 2026, publications like Good Housekeeping were describing it as a terrific detective drama, indicating a positive reassessment over time. The show's core appeal lies in the reliable formula of the police procedural combined with the charming and capable canine star.

The series has had a notable cultural impact in its filming location of St. John's. The production employs local crew and presents the city's scenery to an international audience. In a unique honour, Diesel vom Burgimwald, in his role as Rex, was made an honorary firefighter with the St. John's Regional Fire Department during the filming of an episode. The show also engages with local institutions, using Memorial University as a key filming site. This integration has fostered a strong connection between the production and the community, with the city benefiting from the economic activity and promotional exposure.

Beyond entertainment, the series draws attention to the role of working dogs in law enforcement. The portrayal of Rex as a highly trained professional, not a pet, highlights the skills and training required for police K-9 units. The real-life lineage of the dogs playing Rex, tracing back to the original European series, adds an element of continuity that appeals to fans of the franchise. The show's longevity and international success have cemented the partnership of Hudson and Rex as a recognizable brand within the Canadian television landscape, demonstrating the broad appeal of its central concept.

Key cast and canine performers

The human cast of Hudson & Rex has remained largely stable, providing continuity through the series' many cases. John Reardon anchors the show as the intuitive and determined Detective Charlie Hudson. Kevin Hanchard brings authority and warmth to the role of Superintendent Joseph Donovan. Mayko Nguyen portrays the sharp and analytical Sarah Truong, who rises from forensics chief to detective. Justin Kelly plays the tech-savvy Jesse Mills, whose character also advances to a detective position. Luke Roberts joined the cast in season seven as a guest before becoming the lead Detective Mark Hudson in season eight.

The canine performers are central to the show's identity and have undergone a carefully managed transition. Diesel vom Burgimwald was the original star, playing Rex from seasons one through six and into the seventh. Following his death, a team of his relatives assumed the role. His nephews Dillon and Dante, and his distant cousin Dreamer, now play Rex starting from season seven, episode three. His other nephews, Izzy and Iko, continue as the primary stunt doubles for action scenes. This ensemble approach ensures the character of Rex can continue while maintaining the high standards for performance and action required by the scripts.

The dogs are handled by professional trainers and are integral members of the production, receiving care and accommodation befitting their star status on set. Diesel's real-life puppies even had roles in a season six episode, playing characters named Buster, Duff, and Kona. The detailed management of the canine cast, from lineage to training, is a fundamental aspect of the production's success and contributes significantly to the show's authentic portrayal of a police K-9 partnership. The transition between canine actors was planned to allow the character to continue without interruption to the production schedule.

Questions about Hudson & Rex

What channel is Hudson & Rex on in Canada?

Hudson & Rex airs on the Citytv network in Canada. The series premiered on Citytv on March 25, 2019, and all new seasons debut there first. Some episodes have also been made available in advance on the network's subscription streaming service, Citytv+, as was the case with certain season eight episodes in October 2025 before their linear broadcast. The show has been a consistent ratings leader for the network since its debut.

Is Hudson & Rex based on another TV show?

Yes, Hudson & Rex is a Canadian adaptation of the long-running Austrian-Italian police procedural drama Kommissar Rex, also known internationally as Inspector Rex. The original series aired in Europe for nearly thirty years. The Canadian version shares the core premise of a detective partnered with an exceptionally clever German Shepherd police dog. The dog playing the original Rex was named Santo, an ancestor of the dogs used in the Canadian production.

What happened to the dog that plays Rex?

The original canine star, Diesel vom Burgimwald, played Rex from the first season through the first two episodes of the seventh season. He died from cancer in August 2024. The role was then taken over by a team of his relatives: his nephews Dillon and Dante, and his distant cousin Dreamer. Diesel's other nephews, Izzy and Iko, continue to serve as stunt doubles for action sequences. The transition was planned to ensure the character could continue.

Where is Hudson & Rex filmed?

The series is filmed on location in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. A prominent filming site is the Memorial University of Newfoundland campus, where the Bruneau Centre doubles as the exterior of the St. John's Police Department headquarters. Various other locations throughout the city are used to establish the show's authentic East Coast Canadian setting. Filming began there in October 2018 and has continued for all subsequent seasons.

Why did Charlie Hudson leave the show?

In the storyline of the seventh season, Detective Charlie Hudson, played by John Reardon, left St. John's to search for his missing brother in Mexico. This narrative departure coincided with Reardon's real-life recovery from tonsil cancer. His character was replaced temporarily by the existing supporting cast and then by new detective Mark Hudson, played by Luke Roberts, for season eight. Reardon is scheduled to return as Charlie Hudson in the ninth season, continuing the story.

How many seasons of Hudson & Rex are there?

As of 2026, there are nine seasons of Hudson & Rex. The seventh season began airing in January 2025, and the eighth season aired from late 2025 into 2026. A ninth season has been confirmed and is scheduled for 2026 to 2027. The show was renewed for its seventh season on June 12, 2024, demonstrating its ongoing popularity and production commitment. Each season typically consists of 16 episodes.

Sources and further reading

• Hudson & Rex (Wikipedia)
• Actor John Reardon returning to 'Hudson and Rex' set in St ... (saltwire.com)
• POPE PRODUCTIONS (popeproductions.com)
• Hudson & Rex Season 8 Begins Pre-Production with Full ... (productionlist.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-05.