Son of a Critch Soundtrack Season 5 (2026) Guide
In the fifth and final season of the series, it is 1992, and Mark faces his most monumental challenge yet: his last year of high school. As he enters senior year, his entire world is turned upside down by the sudden economic and social shockwaves of Newfoundland's cod moratorium crisis. While the adults scramble and the future of his community feels suddenly uncertain, a more mature Mark remains fiercely determined to chase his ultimate dream of becoming a professional actor. Navigating the bittersweet realities of first love, shifting family dynamics, and the impending end of his childhood, this final chapter delivers a poignant, funny, and deeply satisfying conclusion to Mark’s teenage journey.
Season five marks the final chapter for CBC's beloved coming-of-age comedy Son of a Critch, following young Mark into his senior year of high school in 1992. Based on comedian Mark Critch's childhood in St. John's, Newfoundland, this concluding run of episodes catches the family at a historic crossroads during the real-world collapse of the local cod fishery. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth returns as the sharply observant teenager trying to balance first romance, part-time jobs, and his ambition to become an actor while his community faces economic uncertainty. Malcolm McDowell brings warmth and sharp wit back to the household as grandfather Pop, starring alongside Claire Rankin, Colton Gobbo, Sophia Powers, and Mark Critch himself as Mike Sr.
Classic radio staples continue to drive the comedy throughout the final season, soundtracking Mark's clumsy transition from awkward adolescence to early adulthood. The premiere welcomes the final high school summer with Seals and Crofts' breezy 1972 standard "Summer Breeze", contrasting easygoing optimism with Mark's chaotic regatta job. Huey Lewis and The News bring upbeat eighties rock energy to his work struggles with "Workin' for a Livin'", while Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch capture the vibrant pop and hip-hop boom of early-nineties radio with "Good Vibrations". As new episodes follow Mark through senior year, the tracklist keeps expanding with vintage rock and nineties pop hits that reflect the changing musical landscape of 1992.
Episode 1: The Regretta (Sep 8, 2026)
Mark takes a Regatta job as a bologna mascot to prove he's not lazy but ends up humiliated. Meanwhile, Mary's booth struggles until Fox steps in.
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Scene Context: The episode begins with Adult Mark narrating his lazy final summer before his senior year.
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Scene Context: At the regatta, Mark manages a dog while concurrently performing his duties as a bologna mascot.
Episode 2: Teach a Man to Fish (Sep 15, 2026)
As the cod fishery collapses, Mark questions his path and turns to shop class. Meanwhile, his family faces an uncertain future.
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Scene Context: The first day of the last year of high school
Episode 3: The Great Debate (Sep 22, 2026)
Mark joins a TV debate for a shot at fame but struggles to find his voice. Meanwhile, the Critches feel the pressure of a changing Newfoundland.
Period comedies live or die by their ability to recreate a specific time and place, and the music in Son of a Critch anchors the show right in the heart of early-nineties Canada. The songs bridge generation gaps within the Critch living room, moving between vintage records favored by parents and the new chart-topping sounds echoing through high school hallways. Fans tuning in for this final season on CBC and The CW get a soundtrack full of nostalgic comfort that celebrates the humor, growing pains, and lasting memories of growing up in Newfoundland.
Main Cast
- Benjamin Evan Ainsworth Young Mark
- Mark Critch Father
- Malcolm McDowell Pop
- Claire Rankin Mary
- Mark Ezekiel Rivera Ritchie Perez
- Colton Gobbo Mike Jr.
- Sophia Powers Fox
Official Trailer
Soundtrack Crossovers
Complete Soundtrack List - All Songs Played in Every Episode
| Episode | Song Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| E1 | Summer Breeze | Seals & Crofts |
| E1 | Workin' for a Livin' | Huey Lewis & The News |
| E2 | Good Vibrations (feat. Loleatta Holloway) | Marky Mark And The Funky Bunch |