Network: CTV Television Network
Broadcast Run: 2013 to 2016
Broadcast Medium: Television
On May 31, 2012 CTV announced that it had ordered a new procedural drama series titled Motive from Vancouver-based Foundation Features and Lark Productions. Thirteen episodes of the one-hour drama had been ordered. Motive would follow a female Vancouver homicide detective who matched wits with killers in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game. Daniel Cerone was named as Executive Producer.
Each episode of Motive offered an unconventional way to watch a crime unfold, with each episode beginning by revealing not only the victim, but the killer as well.
Motive was developed for television by Rob Merilees, Rob LaBelle, Lindsay Macadam, Louise Clark and Erin Haskett. Motive made its debut on CTV on Sunday February 3rd 2013, following the Superbowl. Thirteen episodes were scheduled in Season 1, which ended on May 16th.
Motive was produced by Foundation Features and Lark Productions in association with Bell Media. Executive producers were Daniel Cerone, Louise Clark, Rob Merilees, Erin Haskett, Rob LaBelle, Lindsay Macadam, and James Thorpe. Showrunner was James Thorpe. Daniel Cerone wrote the pilot.
Motive starred Kristin Lehman as Detective Angie Flynn, Louis Ferreira as her partner, Detective Oscar Vega, and Lauren Holly as the team’s lead medical examiner, Dr. Betty Rogers. The series also starred Roger Cross as Staff Sergeant Boyd Bloom, Brendan Penny as Detective Brian Lucas, and Cameron Bright as Angie’s teenage son Manny Flynn.
On January 30th, it was reported that ABC had picked up the series for broadcast on the US network in the summer of 2013.
On May 8th 2013 CTV announced the pick-up of Motive for the 2013/2014 broadcast season. CTV ordered an additional 13 episodes for the series’ second season from Vancouver-based Foundation Features and Lark Productions. The announcement came just before Motive’s first-season finale on May 16th 2013.
Production for the second season began in early September 2013. Showrunners for Season 2 were James Thorpe and Dennis Heaton. New to the cast were Warren Christie as the new Team Commander and Valerie Tan as a new rookie officer.
On October 3rd 2013, ABC announced that it had picked up the second 13 episodes of Motive for future broadcast on the U.S. network.
On January 27th 2014, CTV announced that Motive’s second season would launch on Thursday March 6th at 10 pm.
The second season of Motive concluded on May 29th 2014; earlier, on May 21st, CTV announced that Motive had been renewed for a third season.
Motive returned to the CTV schedule with Season Three on Sunday March 8th 2015 at 10 pm. At the time, CTV said that guests stars for the season would include Victor Garber, Alexis Bledel, Dylan Walsh, Ally Sheedy, C. Thomas Howell, Chris Kline and Bonnie Somerville.
The second season of Motive concluded on May 29th 2014; earlier, on May 21st, CTV announced that Motive had been renewed for a third season. However, ABC cancelled the series before the start of the 2015-16 season.
Motive returned to the CTV schedule with Season Three on Sunday March 8th 2015 at 10 pm. At the time, CTV said that guests stars for the season would include Victor Garber, Alexis Bledel, Dylan Walsh, Ally Sheedy, C. Thomas Howell, Chris Kline and Bonnie Somerville.
Motive was renewed by CTV for a fourth season, but on February 12, 2016 CTV announced that Motive would start its fourth and final season Tuesdays at 10 p.m. beginning on March 22nd. The final episode was broadcast on August 30th 2016.