‘Republic of Doyle’ star Allan Hawco and cast on the final season

TORONTO – Allan Hawco says the decision to end “Republic of Doyle” was an emotional one.

The star and creator of the hit CBC series says that mid-way through the last season, he realized they had “reached their conclusion creatively.”

“It’s a tough thing to come to grips with, because you can put the blinders on and push past, and try to keep going for as long as you possibly can. But we felt like creatively we were all at the wall,” the Newfoundland-born actor said in a summer interview.

“We felt if we were lucky enough to get an order for season six, let’s go out before someone else asks us to or our audience becomes fatigued or we lose support.”

Last season’s thrilling finale saw Leslie Bennett (Krystin Pellerin) fighting for her life after being trapped in a very dangerous corner.

Hawco said whether Leslie lives or dies will be determined in Wednesday’s Season 6 premiere, which picks up about three weeks later. In the episode, Jake will also try to solve a case for an unlucky inmate.

The 37-year-old star recently announced his next venture will be to produce and star in the new CBC series “Caught,” based on Lisa Moore’s bestselling novel about a drug-running fugitive.

“Republic of Doyle” has found an especially devoted audience in Newfoundland, where the show is filmed and set. Marthe Bernard, who plays Tinny, said she expected Newfoundlanders will be sad to see the show go.

“It’s become such a part of everyday life there,” she said. “People just seem to know us now. People have stopped being surprised when they see us around town, but they’re still really excited… And I love seeing people around. You are such a family.

“It’s been our lives for five years. It was hard to believe in season one that this would happen. But now it’s really hard to believe that it won’t happen again. I can’t imagine life without it, but I’m sure it’ll go on.”

Lynda Boyd, who plays Rose, said when she moved out to St. John’s from Vancouver she wasn’t sure what to expect.

“I thought I was coming out to this place that I had never been to, to do a six-month job. But something about getting there and meeting the people… I feel like it’s part of my life now, the city itself,” she said.

“Everybody feels connected to it. They feel like it’s their show too. Like it’s representing their city and their province and they own it along with us.”

Hawco said he meets fans of the show from across the country.

“It’s not about celebrity in Canada. It’s different than that. We connected with a group of people that have supported us from the beginning and they feel like they’re a part of it,” he said. “It’s not lost on me how special it is to have had an impact like that and it’s not easy for me to make the call to stop that. But you also don’t want to abuse it. You don’t want to push it.”

He added never expected the show to last this long.

“The thought that we’ve gone through six of these is a miracle, really in this business. I’m so grateful for having had that opportunity,” he said.

Mark O’Brien, who plays Des, said he always knew the show would be a success because of Hawco’s involvement.

“The fact that you got the show at all was amazing. To be at that point in your career, to be writing it, producing it, and in it… it’s unheard of. I just knew, if Allan’s running it, it’s going to go really far,” he said.

The final 10-episode season and will follow Jake trying to clear his name after being jailed for the murder of William Cadigan Clarke. The reputation of his family is in tatters and they are forced to take on every case that comes their way.

Speaking before the season finished filming, the actors said they hoped the show would end on an upbeat note.

“We just want it to be a happy ending, I guess, just because of the type of show it is. You don’t want to feel like this is the end for these characters,” said Bernard. “You want it to feel like they’re in a good place and they continue on a life after.”

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