Spiral (and other French police series)

[Anna]

I am hesitant to agree both with Caliban and vinteuil on what was otherwise a perfectly pleasant Sunday afternoon -but I have to say - I do. Deeply unpleasant and rather nasty was my reaction when I tried the various series of this.

[Nick Armstrong]

I am hesitant to agree both with Caliban and vinteuil on what was otherwise a perfectly pleasant Sunday afternoon

You know it makes sense!

[vinteuil]

I am hesitant to agree both with Caliban and vinteuil .

... but Vinteuil (and Caliban, I'm sure) - happy to find ourselves in agreement with Anna

[Nick Armstrong]

... but Vinteuil (and Caliban, I'm sure) - happy to find ourselves in agreement with Anna

Quite!

[Anna]

... but Vinteuil (and Caliban, I'm sure) - happy to find ourselves in agreement with Anna

You may both kiss the hem of my robe as I depart ......

[Dave2002]

You may both kiss the hem of my robe as I depart ......

Seems gut wrenching, with horrid scenes straight off. A certain amount of detachment seems necessary to watch this. "Those who Kill" had some similar scenes. Will carry on for a while, but is it entertainment?

I guess Anna may have made a wise decision, though perhaps she watched the earlier series, which we did not.

[Stunsworth]

I thought last night's two episodes were outstanding. They had me gripped from beginning to end. I won't say any more as not everyone may have seen them.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I thought last night's two episodes were outstanding. They had me gripped from beginning to end. I won't say any more as not everyone may have seen them.

I think it's turning into the best series yet. (But has Series Three ever been shown in the UK?)

[Stunsworth]

I think it's turning into the best series yet. (But has Series Three ever been shown in the UK?)

Yes...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01075w0

It's available to stream on Netflix - I finished series 2 earlier this week, series 3 is next up.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Ah! Thanks, Steve; I'd wondered what happened - I saw Series Two last year (which must have been a repeat).

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

..there was indeed a Series 3 the Butcher of La Villette

great thriller set pieces and a certain Parisian grit and veneer

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

Spiral 5

i caught up with the first seven episodes last night ... is any one watching?

gut wrenching developments ... pan-optical conflict and chaos completely irresistible

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I am! I think it's the best series yet; less reliance on physical violence, more on human emotions/emotional violence. Gut-wrenching is right! Not to post a spoiler, the actress who plays Josephine (Audrey Fleurot) has been magnificent - and all praise to the writers for presenting her with scripts that have convincingly turned her character from the somewhat two-dimensional cynic of the previous series to the heart-breaking scene she had in episode 7 on Saturday.

But they're all bloody good - the characterisation in this series is magnificent, and the crime story is also a belter.

[DracoM]

Yes, maybe...maybe...
BUT
Spiral seems to be doing what, on other threads has been attributed to 'Broadchurch', namely sprouting SLs for every character and this proliferation is clogging and sclerotic.

[Nick Armstrong]

I am! I think it's the best series yet; less reliance on physical violence, more on human emotions/emotional violence. Gut-wrenching is right! Not to post a spoiler, the actress who plays Josephine (Audrey Fleurot) has been magnificent - and all praise to the writers for presenting her with scripts that have convincingly turned her character from the somewhat two-dimensional cynic of the previous series to the heart-breaking scene she had in episode 7 on Saturday.

But they're all bloody good - the characterisation in this series is magnificent, and the crime story is also a belter.

You said it

I've never followed a series of Spiral before - dabbled with the first and second and wasn't grabbed.

But this one is a cracker and I've been glued to each episode. And I don't think the subplots are at all dragging it down, au contraire, they are deft fleshings-out of the lives of the main characters, it seems to me, adding dimensions and traction to the main story. A particular case in point would be the impact on the action of what the disaffected wife of 'Tintin' did with his car...

Both lead women are magnificent. I particularly like the multi-faceted 'Gilou' - tough cop, understanding friend, pugilist and cheeky 8-year-old all rolled into one very French combo. Likewise, the smarmy, faded matinée-idol barrister Edelmann is an absolutely classic Parisian legal operator who actually looks and behaves like an avocat I know. And enigmatic Juge Roban (what are those nosebleeds about?).

La classe, à mon avis!