How to Create a TV Show Like Saint-Pierre: 5 Lessons from Its Writers’ Room

Introduction

Creating a TV show like Saint-Pierre, the Canadian police procedural that premiered on CBC in January 2025, isn’t just about writing a script. It’s about building a world that hooks viewers, blending character depth, cultural nuance, and compelling mysteries. Why does this matter? A well-crafted show like Saint-Pierre—set in the unique French territory of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon—can captivate audiences by balancing familiar procedural tropes with fresh twists, as seen in its 8.1 IMDb rating despite mixed reviews on clichés. For aspiring writers or industry pros, understanding the writers’ room process behind Saint-Pierre offers a roadmap to craft engaging dramas. Think of shows like The Mallorca Files, which Saint-Pierre mirrors with its outsider-cop dynamic. This article breaks down five practical lessons from Saint-Pierre’s writers’ room, drawing from real-world insights and industry practices, to help you create a show that stands out.

Lesson 1: Build Authentic Character Dynamics

Characters drive procedurals. Saint-Pierre’s success hinges on the chemistry between Donny “Fitz” Fitzpatrick (Allan Hawco) and Geneviève “Arch” Archambault (Joséphine Jobert). Their clashing styles—Fitz’s gut-driven approach versus Arch’s evidence-based policing—create tension that evolves into partnership. How do you do this? Start by giving characters distinct voices and flaws. Fitz’s exile stems from a scandal involving a politician and his ex-wife, adding regret and stakes. Arch’s Parisian background hints at a mysterious past, revealed slowly.

Common mistakes? Flat characters or forced chemistry. Writers often rush relationships, but Saint-Pierre takes time, letting Fitz and Arch bicker before bonding. If you skip this, viewers won’t care. Map character arcs early—know their goals, like Fitz proving himself or Arch seeking redemption. Use a writers’ room to brainstorm how characters evolve over a season, as Saint-Pierre’s team did for its 11-episode arc. Test dynamics in a pilot outline, ensuring each character’s voice shines through dialogue, not just action.

Lesson 2: Integrate Cultural Context Naturally

Saint-Pierre’s setting—a French territory off Newfoundland—sets it apart. The bilingual dialogue, with hardcoded French subtitles, and cultural details like Bastille Day celebrations ground the show. To replicate this, research your setting deeply. The writers visited Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, weaving in local quirks like windswept cliffs and eerie churches. How? Use location as a character. Show its impact on the story, like how Saint-Pierre’s isolation hides criminal activity.

Mistakes happen when writers slap on cultural details without purpose. A review noted unrealistic unaccented English among residents, which broke immersion. Avoid this by consulting locals or experts. If you’re setting a show in a unique place, spend time there or interview natives. Consequences of laziness? Viewers notice inauthenticity, as seen in Saint-Pierre’s critiques of Hollywood-style gendarme uniforms. In your writers’ room, assign someone to fact-check cultural elements, ensuring they enhance the narrative, not distract.

Lesson 3: Craft Compelling Mysteries with Twists

Procedurals live or die on their mysteries. Saint-Pierre delivers episodic crimes—like a billionaire’s decapitation or an archaeologist’s murder—while hinting at a larger arc involving corruption. How do you write mysteries that hook? Start with a clear premise per episode. In Saint-Pierre, each case introduces a unique crime, like a vigilante justice case tied to a severed finger. Build a story area—a 2-3 page prose summary of the episode’s plot—before scripting, as industry pros suggest.

Common errors include predictable plots. A reviewer complained Saint-Pierre’s early episodes were clichéd, with obvious culprits. Avoid this by planting red herrings and twists, like the mid-season reveal in Saint-Pierre’s Episode 6, which redeemed earlier criticism. If mysteries resolve too neatly, you lose suspense. Use cliffhangers or unresolved threads, as Saint-Pierre does with its overarching corruption plot. In the writers’ room, pitch ideas collectively to ensure surprises feel earned, not cheap.

Lesson 4: Balance Episodic and Serialized Storytelling

Saint-Pierre blends episodic crimes with a serialized arc about Fitz’s past and local corruption. This keeps viewers hooked weekly while building long-term stakes. How do you balance this? Outline the season arc first, identifying key turning points—like Saint-Pierre’s mid-season twist about a trusted ally’s betrayal. Then, craft episodic stories that tie to the main arc. For example, Fitz’s investigation into a bank robber connects to his Newfoundland past.

Mistakes? Overloading episodes with arc details or neglecting them entirely. Saint-Pierre was criticized for tacking on arc reveals in the last five minutes of episodes. To avoid this, weave arc elements subtly into each case, like Arch’s personal revelations during a murder probe. If you focus only on episodic plots, viewers lose investment in characters. In your writers’ room, use a season board to track how each episode advances the arc, ensuring a cohesive pace.

Lesson 5: Foster Collaboration in the Writers’ Room

A writers’ room is the heart of a show like Saint-Pierre, created by Allan Hawco, Robina Lord-Stafford, and Perry Chafe. Collaboration shapes everything from character arcs to plot twists. How do you make it work? Encourage open pitching, as Saint-Pierre’s team likely did to blend cozy mysteries with darker themes. Assign roles—showrunners guide, writers pitch, and assistants take notes. Everyone reads each other’s drafts, offering feedback, as seen in industry practices.

Mistakes include dominating the room or staying silent. A writer’s assistant learned to jot down ideas and wait for their turn, avoiding interruptions. If one voice overshadows, you lose diverse ideas, risking clichés like Saint-Pierre’s early episodes. Poor collaboration can derail a season, leaving gaps in pacing or character growth. Set clear deadlines and use tools like story boards to keep everyone aligned, as Saint-Pierre’s team did for its 2026 Season 2.

FAQs

How do you avoid clichés in procedural writing?

Clichés, like predictable culprits, plagued Saint-Pierre’s early episodes. Counter them by subverting tropes—maybe the obvious suspect is a decoy. Brainstorm twists in the writers’ room, testing ideas against viewer expectations. Use unique settings, like Saint-Pierre’s French island, to freshen familiar plots. If you lean on stereotypes, viewers disengage, as seen in reviews calling early episodes formulaic.

What’s the role of a showrunner in a writers’ room?

Showrunners, like Hawco and Lord-Stafford for Saint-Pierre, steer the creative vision. They approve story areas, manage network notes, and ensure consistency. Mistakes? Micromanaging or vague direction. This can stifle writers, leading to uneven episodes. A good showrunner listens, delegates, and balances feedback, fostering a collaborative room that delivers cohesive stories.

How do you integrate a unique setting into a TV show?

Saint-Pierre uses its French island setting to shape crimes and character dynamics. Research your location—visit if possible, as Hawco did. Avoid tokenism; don’t just name-drop cultural events like Bastille Day without context. Errors, like inaccurate uniforms, break immersion. Embed setting details in the plot to make the world feel lived-in.

Why do procedurals need serialized arcs?

Serialized arcs, like Saint-Pierre’s corruption thread, keep viewers invested beyond weekly cases. Without them, shows feel repetitive, risking viewer drop-off. Plan arcs early, tying them to character goals. Mistakes? Overloading episodes with arc details or ignoring them. Balance both, as Saint-Pierre does by linking episodic crimes to Fitz’s past.

How do writers’ rooms handle network notes?

Networks provide feedback on story areas or scripts, as seen in Saint-Pierre’s polished Season 2 plans. Writers’ rooms discuss notes, prioritizing story integrity. Mistakes include ignoring notes or overcorrecting, which can dilute the show’s voice. Review notes collectively, ensuring they align with the season arc, to maintain quality while meeting network demands.

Conclusion

Creating a TV show like Saint-Pierre requires authentic characters, cultural depth, compelling mysteries, balanced storytelling, and a collaborative writers’ room. From Fitz and Arch’s dynamic to the French island’s unique vibe, these elements hook viewers, despite early clichéd pitfalls. Aspiring writers can apply these lessons: craft flawed characters, ground stories in real settings, twist mysteries, blend episodic and serialized arcs, and foster team input. Mistakes like predictable plots or inauthentic details can alienate audiences, so stay diligent. Want to write your own hit procedural? Start with a strong pilot outline and a clear season arc. Share your thoughts or questions below