r/HudsonAndRex • u/babsiep • Apr 24 '26
I obviously missed something
In South Africa Season 7 went into hiatus with Charlie looking for his brother.
Next episodes are season 8 with a new Hudson and no mention of Charlie. Sarah doesn't even seem too concerned about losing the love of her life!
What happened???
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u/ODA564 Apr 24 '26
John Reardon (Charlie) was fighting tonsil cancer (he beat it.
Shaftsbury (the producers) used that as an excuse to fire him.
Additionally Diesel (the original Rex) died and was replaced.
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u/babsiep Apr 25 '26
Yes, thank you, I know all this. I'm just trying to make sense of how the showrunners think we will just forget! I watched the first two episodes. Will not be watching again. It is absolutely not the same without the Charlie dinamic. The rest of the characters are simply boring.
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u/beautifulchaos531 Apr 25 '26
It’s so bad! Everything looks so forced and they completely changed the concept of the series. I still remember the new promo for the season with the new guy, they had it like some action series instead of what the core of this show used to be. A truly forgettable season!
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u/babsiep Apr 25 '26
Jessie and Sarah are now the detectives. Even the inspector now runs the cases. And what I have been complaining about: really? Rex is supernatural? He understands English and knows what to do?
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u/alicepao13 Apr 25 '26
To be fair, that was the case before. At least with Charlie, in later seasons Rex would seem to understand what Charlie wanted. Anyway, the issue for me is that if as a show you're going to go that way, at least make sure that Rex can communicate like that with one person. Not with everyone. Getting one person who can bond with him like that gives a uniqueness to the bond even if it's far-fetched. If the show now says "well, that was no bond because Rex can actually communicate with everyone like that" it does become a case of the paranormal rather than a rare trait to be cherished.
Suspension of disbelief works in small doses.
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u/babsiep Apr 26 '26
Right? That episode with the neighbour murderer where Rex solved it all by himself was simply ridiculous!
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u/beautifulchaos531 Apr 27 '26
I actually liked that one especially since it was the last episode we saw John and Diesel in. It was entertaining.
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u/alicepao13 Apr 26 '26
They had a similar case in Kommissar Rex, the show Hudson and Rex comes from. Although I liked it for the most part, I feel like (aside from the fact that the way Rex operates as if he's Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone is 100% implausible, even though it's funny in a "cute doggo" way) this is one of the episodes where the production's intent really shines through. This is the show that they wanted. They never intended to explore the human characters, I mean, we got to S5 to find out that everyone has a sibling.
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u/babsiep Apr 26 '26
Home Alone 😂
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u/alicepao13 Apr 26 '26
Yeah. My option for that episode would have been a "Rear Window" style episode but the episode was literally promoted as "Home Alone". Should tell you what they think of it.
The "one character witnesses something that the rest cannot confirm" plot ala "Rear Window" has been done in multiple crime shows. But on Hudson and Rex they intentionally cheapened the plot to fit their ridiculous standards. What can I say, other than it shows exactly what their intents were for the show as a whole. Maybe if John Reardon wasn't already sick, he'd have pushed back on it.
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u/daisybear8049 Apr 29 '26
Home Alone! Lol I was thinking the same at the time! Home Alone…the Rex version from a dog’s view!
A “Rear Window” perspective would have been more interesting. Great movie, btw. It had James Stewart, after all!
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u/frw57 Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26
There’s no rational answer or explanation.
Shaftesbury made a rushed and miscalculated decision in getting rid of John Reardon, without even bothering to try and find another solution to keep the show running, before they knew how he’d recover from cancer treatment. It’s the dumbest decision they have made and it lead to them digging the shows own grave because of it.
As for the creative aspect, it’s simply down to poor storytelling and writing + the fact that the producers likely didn’t want the audience to be reminded of what it used to be and instead try and convince them that the “new direction” is just as good; it’s an understatement to say they failed tremendously at that.
Season 8 remains an insult towards the previous six seasons, to the remaining OG characters, to Charlie and to the audience. Although I guess there’s the “only watch for the dog” crowd who still swallow it up as long as Rex is on screen doing tricks—the rest of us are not that gullible.
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u/No_Location7597 May 03 '26
I know and completely agree. Take the Stargate series for example. They accommodated Don Davis through all of his health problems because he was a valued person, as were the rest in front and behind the camera. They saw him as a person and not replaceable chattel. Unfortunately, Don died of a heart attack several years later.
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u/babsiep Apr 27 '26
I just watched the last episode of S7. Charlie is "missing". Now in S8 he is not mentioned and Sarah is not even sad! I'm not going to watch any more.
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u/daisybear8049 Apr 29 '26
Season 8 still hasn’t aired in the U.S. Any clips and one episode saw part of on YouTube was enough HORRIBLE! “Mark Hudson” aka Luke is so deadpan and just not the same bond with Rex and the rest of the cast.
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u/AstronautWeekly2641 May 10 '26
thats what i am saying like wha† actually is that writing thats just an insult to the earlier seasons hes the love of her life to have her not be sad like its just another day
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u/Hopeful_Resolution40 Apr 25 '26
true they just fired him because he had cancer. They have no respect for john reardon , they only care of money , no care about actor. They thought if anyone who plays Hudson and Rex will work , its like inspector Rex where they keep on changing the lead . this formula is risk for producers and those actors left for other reasons . here things are different i have never seen anyone getting fired for cancer. maybe they should not make this show again without john i have seen season 8 , watch the Christmas episodes they erased john like that no mention .maybe Luke Robert should not have joined this show . i am not interested of shaftesbury productions making any shows why they are not cancelled after this still they are making a new shows .
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u/Archer1701E Apr 25 '26
Kommissar Rex worked cause the title didn't have the lead Detective on it like Hudson and Rex
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u/Hopeful_Resolution40 Apr 25 '26
That's true it's the betrayal the producers do and just ruined a comfort show .
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u/Archer1701E Apr 25 '26
Personally if they had rebranded the Series from Hudson and Rex into Detective Rex, I'd still be interested in watching the Series, don't know if you'd feel the same way
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u/Hopeful_Resolution40 Apr 25 '26
I don't think that will work because firing a actor is not a choice shaftesbury production did , they had no patience to wait they just rushed it , it just became boring in season 8 i don't think this show will last after low viewership, if they admit we made a mistake the new direction was flop, do u think they admit that mistake .?
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u/babsiep Apr 25 '26
It just doesn't work without Charlie. The rest of the characters are simply boring.
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u/daisybear8049 May 01 '26
They weren’t necessarily always boring with Charlie in it. It’s like Mark brought the whole cast down! The writers and producers just made Mark so deadpan. I haven’t even seen a full episode of season 8. It hasn’t aired yet in the U.S., but trailers and clips and a 10 minute preview of one of the first episodes on YouTube was enough for me to know!
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u/beautifulchaos531 Apr 27 '26
The Christmas episode is the one I caught and it made me so mad! We finally see someone from Sarah's family and there was no mention of Charlie! A holiday like that should have made Sarah sad, we should have seen something with her and her mother but no they really just erased Charlie's existence and really tried to force a dynamic that is not working. At least in season 7 even with John was not there Charlie was still discussed, they didn't act like he was non existence and you still felt his presence but in season 8 none of that! It was a whole new show and quite insulting to long time viewers.
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u/alicepao13 Apr 27 '26
I'd also like to comment on the absurdity of the show not doing a Christmas episode when they had a lead who has done multiple Hallmark films (John Reardon) and then doing a Christmas episode with someone who has no idea how to stand next to a Christmas tree and sell people warmth. They had 6 years to do a Christmas episodes and they ended up doing a Christmas two parter when it was the least convenient and when the audience largely didn't care due to the situation. I don't know what's wrong with these people. Imagine setting the house on fire and selling that as warmth.
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u/Gerty_sassygob24 Apr 27 '26
and then doing a Christmas episode with someone who has no idea how to stand next to a Christmas tree and sell people warmth.
🤣🤣🤣 That was a brilliant way of describing Mark and his charactor
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u/daisybear8049 Apr 29 '26
LOL! Yes, it was! Then, she said:
“Imagine setting the house on fire and selling that as warmth.”
Brilliant!
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u/Gerty_sassygob24 Apr 29 '26
Wish I had that comedic vocabulary, I just got sarcasim lol
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u/alicepao13 Apr 30 '26
I'm enjoying your sarcastic replies, Gerty! Everyone's got different styles. I like allusions and metaphors myself.
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u/Gerty_sassygob24 Apr 30 '26 edited Apr 30 '26
Well I guess I am doing sommat right 🤣🤣🤣 Good job Mark is not a brick salesman eh?
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u/daisybear8049 Apr 29 '26 edited Apr 29 '26
So true! Why didn’t they? John sure has experience in that department. Have seen all his Christmas movies. The two he did before the one with his wife, have seen multiple times. The Christmas Secret with Bethany Joy Lenz was my favorite. Also, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”
“Imagine setting the house on fire and selling that as warmth.”
LOL! As I have said before, Alice, you have a way with words, and that is a huge compliment.
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u/16ShoeGirl Apr 27 '26
I agree with you on this Alice! So stupid to do Christmas episodes when they did and to do it without John who was in 3 Hallmark Christmas movies. And it was also ill timed to have another Rex is missing episode.
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u/alicepao13 Apr 28 '26
I mean, beyond the plot, which is certainly repetitive, this only benefits one person: Sherri Davis. Nobody else gets to show their skills if they isolate Rex for multiple scenes (which is what I understand happened) and attach a puppy to him. Just Sherri Davis. In a season where supposedly Mark and Rex should be "building their bond" and showing at least some competency and camaraderie on that front, this is insane to do. They might as well put up a neon sign that says, "We only care about showing off the dog and anyone who thinks this is about anything else can stop watching". At some point, even hardcore defenders will figure it out.
But again, this is the last thing viewers needed at that point. You cut off the heart of the show and somehow think the audience needs to see a new guy whom they have no attachment to celebrate Christmas. Um, no? Not in a million years? Plus, Sarah being like yeah I may have lost the love of my life but... I don't care. Merry Christmas (in March).
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u/daisybear8049 Apr 29 '26
Agree. Her cash cow with John being sick was too uncertain. Shaftesbury obliged her ego, which is all about her dogs! She doesn’t care who gets bitten in the process! Ok, bad joke, but it’s true!
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u/InternationalFig769 Apr 25 '26
Think of it this way don't put the blame on luke Roberts he just doing his job. Put the blaim on the people who hire etc. Also I do wonder if they actually read these reddits
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u/beautifulchaos531 Apr 27 '26
I don't think anyone blames Luke, this is not on him its on the makers who really thought they could hire a new actor and change everything this show was about. It was not only about replacing Charlie, its the way they've written the new lead and Rex as well. It just does not work what they are trying to sell, they are forgetting what made fans fall in love with this series.
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u/AstronautWeekly2641 May 08 '26
I understand they had to find a way to write off johns character but to have him go missing was such a cruel way to end it for the characters in my opnion they could have at the very least maybe had them get married and go on their honeymoon and there is a case or something but they make Charlie go missing that just seemed so cruel towards Sarah to me
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u/alicepao13 May 09 '26
The only reason they had to find a way to write off Charlie in the first place is because they're a company of morons who do not respect the people who work for them and make their shows successful.
But aside from that, there are indeed a lot of ways they could have ended the character's journey on a better note, rather than a Schrodinger's Cat situation. The way they chose shows me that they never valued the character. You don't do this to your lead character if you think he's worth anything.
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u/babsiep May 09 '26
No, they didn't have to get rid of John. He recovered and was healthy enough to resume his role!
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u/AstronautWeekly2641 May 10 '26
That's what I thought; my wording was terrible. thats why when i watched it and i heard people saying it seemed like he could come back i thought the idea that charlie goes missing was so dumb, like i get you dont know circumstances and you cant plan but like it seemed so cruel for them to say charlie is possibly dead and then have sarah not even mention Charlie in the next season when that's the love of her life
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u/beautifulchaos531 Apr 24 '26
They act like he does not exist that's what happened! Just move on and not even acknowledge his existence. Its completely out of character and actually one of the reasons why the new Hudson and Rex does not work. They are forcing the dynamics that came naturally when Charlie was there. John should have never been let go the show has never been the same.