After airing for two summers on ABC, the US network decided not to pick up the Motive TV show for a third season, effectively cancelling it for American viewers.
However, the series is produced in Canada and the CTV network renewed it for a third and fourth season anyway. The fourth season has just completed filming and will begin airing on March 22nd.
The fourth season cast includes Kristin Lehman, Louis Ferreira, Brendan Penny, and Lauren Holly. Guests will include Jon Heder, Will Sasso, and Tommy Flanagan.
It’s now been revealed that the police drama is ending and there won’t be a fifth season.
Here’s the press release:
Killer Ending: Final Season of CTV’s Hit Crime Drama MOTIVE Premieres March 22
– Season 4 of original Canadian drama wraps production today in Vancouver –
– Season 4 guest stars include Jon Heder, Will Sasso, and Tommy Flanagan –
– CraveTVTM First Look available March 21, the day before CTV’s broadcast premiere, with Seasons 1-3 streaming now –VANCOUVER (February 12, 2016) – CTV announced today that multiple Canadian Screen Award nominee MOTIVE is set to face its last round of investigations, as the series returns for its fourth and final season Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT beginning March 22 on CTV and CTV GO, following a CraveTV First Look starting March 21. Wrapping production today in Vancouver, the final season brings the story of the series’ dynamic homicide team to a powerful conclusion as they continue to explore what drives the motive behind the murder in 13 unforgettable new episodes. MOTIVE was nominated last month for nine Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Dramatic Series.
In the final season, each member of the homicide team faces pivotal choices about their future, as they set on a course of deciding what they want their legacies to be. Canadian Screen Award nominee Kristin Lehman (THE KILLING) returns as Detective Angie Flynn, who leads the team through a season of big change and evolution: Detective Oscar Vega’s (Louis Ferreira, BREAKING BAD, SGU STARGATE UNIVERSE) new role as Staff Sergeant means adjustments for everyone; Angie and Detective Brian Lucas (Brendan Penny, THE ASSISTANTS) develop a deeper bond; Dr. Betty Rogers (Lauren Holly, NCIS), who is personally involved with Vega, must now mind the boundaries of her personal and professional relationship; and new detectives are introduced to the team.
Building on its roster of incredible guest stars throughout the series, Season 4 of MOTIVE continues to showcase a fantastic line up of seasoned actors with appearances from Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite); Will Sasso (SHAMELESS); and Tommy Flanagan (SONS OF ANARCHY), who guest stars in a recurring role as Interpol Agent Jack Stoker.
“We’re proud to have had the privilege of bringing this compelling and innovative crime format series to CTV audiences for the past three seasons.” Said Mike Cosentino, Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks and CraveTV.
“MOTIVE is primed to leave an indelible mark on the Canadian television industry and its creative family here at CTV,” said Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. “Both clever and cinematic, each episode is exceptionally well-written with smart performances from its ensemble cast. Lark Productions, Foundation Features, and the series’ creative team led by showrunner Dennis Heaton have delivered a dynamic final season.”
“We are grateful to our broadcast partners at CTV for four incredible seasons of MOTIVE,” said Executive Producers Louise Clark and Rob Merilees. “Thanks to the exceptional talent and efforts of our writers, cast and production team, we are thrilled to conclude our finest season to date. Season 4 builds towards its conclusion with even more compelling performances and intriguing cases.”
MOTIVE also stars Victor Zinck Jr. (THE 100) and Karen LeBlanc (CRACKED), who join this season as new detectives on the series’ homicide team.
In the Season 4 premiere, entitled “The Vanishing Policeman” (Tuesday, March 22 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV GO), while Detective Angie Flynn (Kristin Lehman) and Staff Sergeant Vega (Louis Ferreira) adjust to his new role, the suicide of an officer with whom Angie and Detective Brian Lucas (Brendan Penny) worked on a crime scene turns the team’s investigation into a hunt for a cop killer.
CTV’s top Canadian Screen Awards nominee for two consecutive years, MOTIVE once again garnered nine nominations for the upcoming CSAs, including Best Dramatic Series and Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role. Season 3 was watched by an average audience of 1.2 million viewers, a 15% increase over Season 1, landing the series among the Top 4 most-watched Canadian dramas last season. All past episodes of MOTIVE are streaming now on CraveTV™.
MOTIVE is produced by Lark Productions and Foundation Features in association with Bell Media. Executive Producers are Dennis Heaton (CALL ME FITZ, Fido), who also serves as the Season 4 showrunner; series creator Daniel Cerone (DEXTER, THE BLACKLIST); Louise Clark (CORNER GAS, HIGH MOON); Rob Merilees (Stone of Destiny, Brain on Fire); Erin Haskett (THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF VANCOUVER); Rob LaBelle (MENTAL); Lindsay Macadam (Brain on Fire); and Ben Brafman (PERSON OF INTEREST, DEFYING GRAVITY). The series is distributed internationally by NBCUniversal International.
For Bell Media, Michele McMahon and Kathleen Meek are Production Executives; Tom Hastings is Director, Drama, Independent Production; and Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, CTV Networks and CraveTV. Randy Lennox is President, Entertainment Production and Broadcasting, Bell Media.
Source : Numeris Sep. 22, 2014 – Sep. 13, 2015, final data.
What do you think? Do you like the Motive TV show? Would you like to see the complete series air in the United States?
Well… Season Finale coming next week and here we are again in anticipation as to whether USA will give us another season.
It’s exhausting trying to get info on whether tv shows will be rebewed ! Why can’t they just tell us in Season Finakes. Ugh !
Let’s hooe they are snart abd renew this fabulous shiw.
cissie
Finally find a show that is entertaining and thought provoking. Great characters themes. Addition of Flanigan perfect. Another case of great show canceled due to wrong time scedule. It was one of a kind . Shame on you.
I love this series! I am very grateful to USA for showing it every week and to the producers for introducing us slowly to a coherent and reasonable ending so as not to leave us shocked. Of course a nice little visit to Paris Interpol would be awesome but I’m not holding my breath. Thank you for the four seasons and thank you for every single episode that was awesome, innovative with great actors, some comedy, sexy, just brilliant. You will all be missed, I have already seen one of you on Hallmark, maybe I will see some others soon.
Such a great show! I’m so upset to hear it’s been canceled. It’s innovative, unique, edgy and just darn right entertaining. I’ll be watching for the 4th and last season.
This show can’t get any better. Love Kristen and Louis, they have chemistry you can’t find on any show. Love Tommy Flannagan. Very cool guy. Please show final season in US. Do a spinoff of her at Interpole. Love that woman.
LB
I for one thought this was one of the best police shows on TV. I’m very sad to see it cancelled. Kristin Lehman and Louis Ferreira were dynamite together. And the concept was terrific!
This is an excellent show, with excellent actors. Sign of the times, nonsense, reality shows last, while shows like Motive go….yikes.
I really love this show. It seems like you get a great cast with chemistry and you just cancel. Why even watch new series, if they get cancel with good ratings and plots. Really, this show should have 5 more seasons. Growth with fans!!!
There are some very good things about this show and some things that the producers should know going forward, regardless of where it airs.
The good: cutting edge, diverse plots. Liked the camera work and specifically how scenes transitioned with meaning and link to each other.
The weird, re-think it please: all the obvious filters being used to enhance the lighting. Lose it-many scenes seem to fake because of this technique. The coroner-we don’t need another “upscale, odd Abbiy”. The love triangle-not interested. It’s a crime drama show, no need for that spin.
Good shows, like Motive, are terminated and silly shows like Big Brother and so forth stay on. Motive is very different in its format. That’s what make s the show so enjoyable. I have been following it since it was in ABC. What a big shame. Bring it back!!!!
I’m so sick of big brother! Just really a disgusting, sex oriented show which shows peoples true selves. Should be R rated! I watched 1 season and couldn’t watch again. Go away already. Leave good shows like Motive on!
We just discovered this show on dish TV and it’s our favorite show now. Can’t believe it’s cancelled. We definitely want all the seasons aired.
I have seen the show on Dish USA channel. It was in the 10 pm slot. Now they have moved to 11 pm. Need to move it back to 10 pm. This is a great show. Should not be cancelled. You learn with time, “the higher up you go, the less oxygen reaches your brain”. Someone toooo far up the chain is not thinking. That person needs to be replaced.
I love this show. I hope someone will pick it up and show in USA. ABC never really promoted the show and showed it during the summer.
I, too, am very much a fan of the pace, the acting, character development, and mystery embedded into the writing of this show. I still have not learned of the rationale as to why the show was not renewed for Season 5. With the Award nominations about which I have read, quality does not seem to be the reason.
PLEASE keep this very thought provoking and exciting show going! TV loses too many good shows to “corporate ratings”.