SON OF A CRITCH

After being bullied on his first day of junior high, 11-year-old Mark takes a shot at one of the bullies — a young girl named Fox — and learns that words can hurt a lot more than fists.

An encounter at a funeral parlor leads to Mark’s first date with a girl, and Fox is unexpectedly jealous. Meanwhile, Mary tries to get Dick to sell her the old radio station truck.

When Mark’s cello is taken by a gang of bullies, Fox begrudgingly comes to his rescue. Meanwhile, Pop and Sister Rose stroll down memory lane when it’s revealed they used to be an item.

When Ritchie invites himself to a sleepover, Mark scrambles to hide his family’s “eccentric” behavior. Mike Sr. takes a staunch pro-cucumber stance when a grocer buys ads on VOCM Radio.

Mark fears he’ll be outed as a Monarchist to his family when he’s chosen to appear on TV with the visiting Charles and Diana. Meanwhile, a gift from Dick comes between Mike Sr. and Mary.

Mark and Ritchie receive police protection after witnessing a grizzly crime on Halloween night. Fox grows tired of her brother’s increasingly delinquent behaviour.

During confirmation week, Mark wonders what life would be like as a priest. But as rumors of child abuse among the clergy start to mount, Mark reassesses what religion means to him.

Mark and Ritchie help make Christmas hampers for the needy, leading to an uncomfortable discovery about a classmate, and Mike Sr. takes a second job at the mall.

Mark and Mike Sr. bond over Mark’s role in the upcoming Easter play. 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 procedure. Mark has trouble balancing the household chores and accidently gives Pops the wrong pills.

On Sports Day, Mark treats the all-day gym class as a comedy stage — much to the annoyance of his teammates. Meanwhile, Fox attempts to break the school record for gold medals.

When Ritchie bails on their plans to go to the circus, Mark and Fox have a maybe-date. Ritchie’s family hosts some new Filipino-Canadians who make him feel insecure about his heritage.

Having realized his feelings for Fox, Mark learns she’s been spending time alone with Ritchie. With the future of VOCM in doubt, Mike Sr. tries to DJ at Mark’s school-end dance.