Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent lands on The CW as the franchise’s first Canadian spin on American screens

The CW has snapped up Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent for American television, bringing the first Canadian entry into the venerable Dick Wolf franchise to U.S. screens. After premiering in Canada on Citytv and spawning a second season there, the series has crossed the border for U.S. audiences, joining a roster that remains faithful to the procedural DNA that has defined Law & Order for decades.

The pilot centers on a high-profile yacht party on Lake Ontario, where crypto investor Daniel Siddiqui (Ali Kazmi) hosts a VIP event that appears to be unraveling. As tensions around his recent marriage to Sophie (Amber Goldfarb) simmer and questions about a potential multi-million-dollar fraud surface, Daniel is found in trouble at sea, leading Det. Sgt. Henry Graff (Aden Young) and Det. Sgt. Frankie Bateman (Kathleen Munroe) to the marina to start the investigation. Early clues point to a possible staged death or a dramatic disappearance tied to Siddiqui’s allegedly shoddy handling of client funds—figures that could total hundreds of millions of dollars. The case deepens when Siddiqui’s body washes ashore and documentary-style details reveal he was drugged with phenobarbital before dying, suggesting a long-planned setup rather than a simple accident.

As the investigation unfolds, the duo heads to Siddiqui’s crypto-investing firm to interview partners, including Siddiqui’s business associate Nick Millwood (Peter Mooney). Investigators quickly see that Siddiqui and Millwood may have operated a coalition in which Siddiqui served as the public face while Millwood’s murky past kept the venture afloat. The pilot also introduces several suspects, including Sophie, who becomes a focal point before she is sidelined by a separate hit-and-run incident that deeply injures her. In short order, the story threads together financial deception, personal entanglements and questions of motive, all while keeping the procedural clock ticking at a brisk pace.

Critics say Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent stays true to the franchise’s core: crisp banter, procedural rigor, and a courtroom cadence that often lends itself to a swift, conviction-friendly arc. Yet the Toronto setting gives the series a local flavor without sacrificing the franchise’s recognizable rhythm. Tassie Cameron, who adapted the show for Canadian television, crafts new stories rather than recycling international plots, a choice that helps the American version feel fresh even for longtime fans of the law-and-order framework.

The show also leans on its two leads to carry the dynamic forward. Young’s Graff is portrayed with a broad knowledge base and a distinctive cadence that hints at a borderland accent—an element that adds texture to the Canadian setting and helps the character feel rooted in the region. Munroe’s Bateman provides a complementary energy, and the two establish a quick, almost telepathic rapport in the first scenes they share. Observers have noted that their chemistry is a highlight of the premiere, particularly in how their partnership balances street-level police work with sharper, faster dialogue that skims along the edges of courtroom drama.

In the debut episode, the balance tilts toward police work, with courtroom elements arriving in smaller doses than some traditional L&O installments. While fans of the franchise may expect frequent courtroom sequences, the pilot stays focused on the investigative process—interviews, forensics, and the art of connecting disparate clues—before shifting attention to how the evidence is marshaled, a pattern that aligns with the franchise’s longest-running iterations. Supporting performances, including Karen Robinson as Inspector Vivienne Holness, add a practical, seasoned sensibility to the precinct’s command staff, providing both humor and gravity as the investigation unfolds.

The twist of the pilot—whether Siddiqui’s death was a genuine one or the culmination of a calculated scheme to siphon away funds—gives the story a classic L&O feel: high-stakes financial crime intersecting with personal betrayals, all filtered through a procedural lens. The production design and Toronto backdrop underscore the sense that this is a grounded, real-world investigation rather than a glossy, heightened drama, a hallmark of the franchise’s international adaptations.

Overall, the arrival of Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent on The CW represents a strategic addition to the franchise’s global footprint. It offers a familiar procedural cadence with a distinctly Canadian texture, anchored by a capable lead duo and a case-driven narrative that invites viewers to follow the breadcrumbs from the crime scene to the courtroom. Early signals suggest the series will maintain the franchise’s balance between police work and legal maneuvering, while continuing to build new stories that resonate with audiences beyond North American borders.

The CW has positioned Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent as a streaming-ready, appointment-viewing option for fans of the genre and newcomers alike. As the first Canadian adaptation, it delivers a sense of place that differentiates it from its American counterparts while honoring the lineage that has made the Law & Order brand durable for more than three decades. If the premiere is any indication, the show could become a reliable entry point for a broader audience curious about how Toronto’s crime-and-police ecosystem translates to the long-running franchise’s established formula.