For Larry Newton, “Hudson & Rex” was never just a show — it was a family ritual.

Before his wife died from cancer two years ago, the couple regularly tuned in with their daughter and grandson, turning the Canadian cop-and-dog drama into a weekend tradition. Even after her passing, the show remained a source of comfort and connection: “We still made a point of getting together to watch it. We just enjoyed it so much.”

But when Season 8 debuted on Citytv last month without lead actor John Reardon, everything felt different.

“We were shocked,” says the 78-year-old retired teacher from Welland, Ont.

“We couldn’t even finish the first episode.”

Reardon, who played Detective Charlie Hudson for the first seven seasons, said last week that he didn’t leave by choice. In a social media post, he

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