Spiral (and other French police series)

[Stunsworth]

BBC4 has been involved since at last the fourth series.

The great thing about about it is IMHO that there are a lot of sub-plots which are all interlinked, though not to all of the other sub-plots. It’s a bit like a rather complicated Ven diagram. The other wonderful thing, is that despite all these things happening at the same time it’s very easy to follow everything. I’m sure in the last two episodes a lot of loose ends will be tied together.

Changing the subject, I’ve watched the first episode of the Belgian/French language series The Break on Netflix. It looks promising so far. Over the weekend I completed the Israeli series Fauda - also on Netflix - enjoyed it, and series 2 should be along soon.

[underthecountertenor]

Well, I'm sorry, but Spiral has got more and more sidetracked into pretty obvious 'uman intress', and further and further away from the very serious corruption themes in number of areas this series is investigating - or I thought they were so doing.

Is that the influence of BBC4 mentioned in credits?

In fact I think the formal 'en association avec BBC OVEN, sorry, FOUR' has been happening since the 3rd series, though perhaps sporadically.

I thought the 'getting it on in the van' bit was a wonderful bit of French comedy, as well as indicating the further isolation of pauvre Tintin. I could perhaps do with fewer scenes of Berthaud and Gilou snogging/shagging at every possible moment, but, knowing this show, I imagine that they are setting up a dramatic conflict of interest situation, so I'm happy to let it go. I do tend to reach for the armagnac cabinet every time Berthaud visits p'tit Romy in hospital though.

[mercia]

would someone like Judge Roban be employed by the state or self-employed ? I'm a bit concerned about his health but perhaps he can't take time off work.

[Dave2002]

would someone like Judge Roban be employed by the state or self-employed ? I'm a bit concerned about his health but perhaps he can't take time off work.

Spiral is just another soap opera like East Enders - with a crime and police theme, but appeals to aspiring intellectuals because it deals with actions in a different country and is in a language which most of us only partially understand. Discuss!

[DracoM]

Quality of acting? Sharpness of editing? Themes of betrayal, corruption at many levels in the judiciary? Racial politics treated seriously in terms of crime in big city?

[vinteuil]

Spiral is just another soap opera like East Enders - with a crime and police theme, but appeals to aspiring intellectuals because it deals with actions in a different country and is in a language which most of us only partially understand. Discuss!

... o, it appeals to non-aspiring intellectuals too, y'know.


.

[eighthobstruction]

... o, it appeals to non-aspiring intellectuals too, y'know.


.

....yeah and me....I like it....

....is that case being rested over there ....or....is this a luggage shop....

[Dave2002]

Of course, not saying the 'uman intress' is in itself not worth doing, nay, doing as well as it is here, but........
Silent Witness has gone the same way as well.

My quarrel is that the themes of corruption, rape, the practice of the law on both sides seem to me to be huge topics, and worth pursuing, but getting it on (off?) inside a van deliberately scheduled for quiet surveillance seems...well, a bit odd, and even a real anti-climax [sorry - pun not intended]. Just seems a bit undermining.

Thanks for the spoiler! We haven't got to that episode yet. Look forward to that.

[DracoM]

No spoiler at all - I was reflecting on last week epis!!

[burning dog]

It's not a Soap Opera, stories last only 12 episodes.

It has a Police and Crime story line as mentioned.

It isn't restricted to one outside set which appears to be in an internment camp ( Although Eastenders has a station on the District/Circle/Met system no -one seems to commute)

Despite being about riots and murder it has long periods without violence.



So not much like Eastenders

[Dave2002]

burning dog

Thanks for the comments. Indeed the series do only last about 12 episodes - and although there are hooks to enable one series to follow on from the previous, some details have to be filled in or imagined by the viewer.

Some of the outside location scenes (perhaps nearly all ...) are real, or maybe there's such a lot of stock B roll mixed in as to make us believe that the actors are within the outside environment.

Most of the video editing (cuts and transitions - cuts mostly) is good, and sometimes there are some neat effects. One is in episode 5 (or is it 6) where Laure goes through a door and Roban emerges "on the other side" in another location. I don't know what the "normal" term for that cut type is - it's not a match cut - see https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=OAH0MoAv2CI

So yes - it is not a soap opera and it is better than East Enders - or the Archers!

[burning dog]

Dave

The question might be

"Does the fact that the series is French give it a patina of intellectualism it doesn't deserve?"

Possibly, but it's well made and entertaining ( in an odd way) IMO

[eighthobstruction]

....obviously anyone who has a degree in Media Studies....would know!!

[Dave2002]

We liked the Killing (Danish) then the Bridge (Danish with a smattering of Swedish) and Trapped (Icelandic), but there were some foreign language series which we decided were rubbish - and we wouldn't have bothered if they'd been in English.

We actually do like Spiral - but at times I'm not quite sure why. Is it popular in other countries?

[burning dog]

I don't think I've ever knowingly met any one with a Media Studies degree. I've known a couple of people who studied Sociology (the joke degree of yore), they were OK, and someone who has a Business Degree. He IS a bit of a ...