Son of a Critch

Mark is an 11-year-old going on 70. Raised on the outskirts of town, far away from kids his own age, his best friend is his grandfather. On his first day of junior high, he finally makes a friend. But things go awry when a family of bullies take a special interest in making his life miserable. But when Mark stands up for himself and takes a shot at one of the bullies – a young girl names Fox – he learns that words can hurt a lot more than fists.

A chance encounter at a funeral parlour leads to Mark's first date with a girl. Pop offers relationship advice causing Mark to woo her like an 80-year-old. Bringing Ritche for backup, Mark risks life and limb in a race across town to his date. Fox finds herself unexpectedly jealous. When she decides to follow along as well, Mark finds himself on a date that might be ruined before it even begins. Mary tries to convince Dick to sell her the old radio station truck.

Worried that his material is stale, Mark tries to freshen up his comedy act with edgier material before the school's public speaking contest. Sister Rose decides that Mark must play the cello, he fears the instrument will make him a social pariah. But when his cello is taken by a gang of bullies, Fox begrudgingly comes to his rescue. Meanwhile, Pop and Sister Rose take a stroll down memory lane when it's revealed they used to be an item.

When Ritche invites himself to a sleepover, Mark scrambles to hide his family's "eccentric" behaviour. And a visit to Ritche's house, makes Mark realize that his family is poor. Meanwhile, Mike Sr takes a staunch pro-cucumber stance when a hydroponic grow-op buys ad time on VOCM radio. Cucumber-mania spreads throughout Newfoundland.

Mark is chosen to present Lady Diana with flowers during a Royal visit. But he fears he'll be outed as a Monarchist to his friends when he learns that he will appear on television with her and Prince Charles. Mark's secrecy causes Ritche to doubt their friendship. Meanwhile, a gift from Dick comes between Mike Sr and Mary who's tired of feeling underappreciated by her husband.

Mark and Ritchie witness a grizzly crime on Halloween night. The boys are offered police protection at school and find themselves untouchable by their bullies. Fox grows tired of her brother's increasingly delinquent behaviour and is forced to make a choice between them and her new-found friends.

It's confirmation week and Mark is considering what life would be like if he became a priest. But when his mentor Father Moore is unexpectedly transferred, and rumours of child abuse among the clergy start to mount, Mark reassess what his religion means to him. Mark struggles to accept the priest's replacement. Meanwhile, Mike Sr and Mary are overwhelmed when they discover that a priest is coming for dinner.

Mike Sr's long-lost brother arrives on the family's doorstep at Christmas reviving the competitive nature of their relationship. Mark and Ritchie help make Christmas hampers for the needy, which leads to an uncomfortable discovery about one of their classmates. Meanwhile, Mike's Sr takes a second job at the mall after his visiting brother makes him feel bad about his lackluster gifts for the family. Pop worries about his prodigal son's influence on an impressionable Mike Jr.

Mark's excitement over the auditions for a school's Easter play are amplified when it is revealed that his father once acted in the same play when he was a boy. Father and son unexpectedly bond over as they rehearse for the big day. But when Mark is fired from the production, he pretends otherwise to keep his father's affections. Meanwhile, Pop turns to Mary for help after the CRA learns he's been collecting his dead wife's pension checks.

The Critch men are left to their own devices after Mary is hospitalized for a minor surgery. Mark is left in charge but he is soon overwhelmed and has trouble balancing the household chores. Disaster strikes when he accidentally gives Pops the wrong pills causing him to collapse. Meanwhile, Mary enjoys her time in hospital, delighted in being the one who is catered to for once.

Parents and students take the field on Sports Day. Mark's anxiety over his performance gets the better of him and he decides to take a dive, treating the all-day gym class as a comedy stage, much to his teammate's annoyance. Meanwhile, Fox fights for her mother's attention and attempts to break the school record for gold medals. Only the record's holder, her own gym teacher, stands in her way.

Ritche's mother decides that Mark is spending too much time at Ritche's house. A heritage fair project at school drives a wedge between Mark and Ritche, straining their friendship. When Ritche cancels on their plans to go to the circus together, Mark and Fox find themselves going on their own. But is it a date? Meanwhile, Ritchie's family hosts some new Filipino-Canadians who make him feel insecure about his heritage.

It's the end of the school year. Mark becomes jealous when he sees that Ritchie and Fox are spending a lot of time alone together. Having realized his feelings for Fox, he decides to win her back by copying his brother's style. Meanwhile, Mike Jr announces his plans to go to University – and move out of the family home. And, with the future of VOCM in doubt, Mike Sr attempts to learn how to DJ…at Mark's school-end dance.