Actor Kristin Lehman as homicide detective Angie Flynn is shown in a promotional photo for the television program "Motive." THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Bell Media

TORONTO - The second season of CTV's Vancouver-based police procedural "Motive" returns Thursday with new cast member Warren Christie as Mark Cross, the new boss to lead homicide Det. Angie Flynn, played by Kristin Lehman.

The two characters were once partners both on the job and romantically, but if a recent interview with Lehman is any indication, it's doubtful sparks will reignite between the two anytime soon — if at all.

Lehman notes the tough and intuitive Angie, who is also a single mother, is "a pretty shut-down person" and she doubts that "watching her dating life would be that much fun."

"I think she's far more successful in the other relationships in her life," Lehman said by telephone from Vancouver, where she grew up.

"Even the relationship with Cross that was at one point romantic — it's just better now that it's not. I think it would be like a trainwreck."

Besides, Lehman likes that her character "has other things going on" in her life and isn't focused on romance.

"I just think it's kind of great to play a female protagonist who isn't pursuing a main romantic relationship in her life. I don't think that's shown at all on television," she said.

"We don't necessarily get to go home with her in the ways that might be fulfilling to see her pursue a romantic relationship, but I'm also proud to play a woman who's not always pursuing that."

"Motive" offers a "whydunit" format in which viewers learn the identities of the killer and victim at the start of each episode and then see what led to the death as well as its subsequent investigation.

ABC also aired the first season and CTV says the American network plans to broadcast the second later this year.

In Thursday's season opener at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, Angie investigates a suspected suicide case and has her back up when Cross joins the team.

Also new to the show this season is Valerie Tian as officer Wendy Sung. Other cast members include Louis Ferreira, Lauren Holly and Brendan Penny.

Guest stars this season include Jennifer Beals, Corbin Bernsen, Martin Donovan and Callum Keith Rennie.

Lehman said this season viewers "don't go home as much with" Angie, a role she prepared for by meeting with Vancouver detectives.

"It's much more inter-office, and with the addition of new characters and such good actors, that's excellent."

Lehman signed on to "Motive" after a slew of roles in Canada and the U.S., including that of campaign adviser Gwen Eaton in AMC's crime drama "The Killing."

One of her other memorable roles was Avery Swanson on "Felicity." Avery was only a recurring guest part but she made a big impact as she tried to come between Felicity and boyfriend Ben (Scott Speedman).

"Man, I was hated on that show — I mean by viewers," said Lehman with a laugh. "I was in a restaurant years after, YEARS after, I was sitting eating alone and these two women were just giving me a foul look. ... I heard them kind of whispering a little bit and it started to get obvious, actually.

"I was like, 'What is happening here?' And they said, 'We don't like what you did to Ben,' I was like, 'Um, I'm an actor. Ah, you know those aren't real people, right?" Lehman continued with a howl.

"I'm like, 'Ah, I'm at a vegetarian restaurant just eating my quinoa, man. Guess what? Scott Speedman and Keri Russell are doing just fine!'

Lehman, who has a nearly six-year-old son with husband/actor Adam Greydon Reid, said she and her family spend summers in Toronto and live the rest of the year in Vancouver.

Besides her acting career, she also produces films for ThisFairLand.com, a lifestyles site she and Greydon Reid run to showcase and celebrate Canadian talent. Greydon Reid shoots and edits the films.

Lehman said the project is about "exploring what it is to live a creative and healthy life in Canada."

"It was something I wanted to explore in the larger Internet world, because I just wanted to let people to know that in a creative world where we're told to constantly look south, you don't need to."

News from © The Canadian Press, 2014