weinberg-04643

I agree with the user whose review mentioned that this is refreshing and different. It doesn't follow the same patterns as your average cop show, differing starkly from NY shows (blockbuster, high profile, big budget, big stars Blue Bloods seems to be the sole basis for comparison), and tying decades old IRA crimes into it makes for some compelling TV.

The complaints about camera angles and shakiness are just silly, it was a well done, well produced and reasonably scripted little police procedural.

Nesbitt was very good, McKenna was excellent. Poor Birdie get a bad rap, the actor was very good and very compelling. Both seasons were good and the suspense steadily grew rather than a roller coaster ricochetting the audience around.

Anthony Hopkins, of course, is always a treat- another reviewer said treasure- it applies here.

We have a hypothetical. The lives of two extraordinary men in the tangled webs of their lives thrust together for an imagined discussion. Anna's life plays out in the background, performed beautifully by Liv Lisa Fries. Lewis' possible/ probably love interest of a best friend's mother is a cameo performed by Orla Brady, of whom I'm a fan and so appreciate any appearance of hers. Matthew Good plays C. S Lewis. Jack is a tortured soul at this point in his life, struggling with quite severe ptsd as well as the implications and impact of his private-emphasis on private- life. These two thrust and parry VERY well as they move through what was designed as a theatrical monolog adapted for screen and woven with images of the story of their real lives. Definitely rewatchable and extremely thought provoking.

Do yourself a favor, watch episode 1, 4, 2, 3 and so forth. The order was changed but occurrences in number 4 are referred to in 2 and 3.

Now, the show is fairly dated, even for it's filming period. The majority of the cast is British, Irish and American... not much French while they're all supposed to be French. Accents and episode orders aside this was a good cop drama. Set in France, progressing through individual murder mysteries with a few small storyline running through the entire show.

The first few episodes are reasonably standalone and about midway through the story and tension start to build before culminating it what became the finale. The show was canceled despite Jean Reno being contracted into a second season. This was partly due to his thick accent and doubts about how the UK/American audiences would receive it. Definitely enjoyable.

I found this gem recently and enjoyed every moment of season 1 with the stand alone episodes that build a complex character arc overall. Season 2 delved into a little bit more interpersonal drama, which was very good, albeit unexpected. The 90s were a time world wide and television was no exception. The cast does a phenomenal job with each other, on screen chemistry is great as these detectives work out murder and other crimes without all of the fantastical tech of fancy crime labs in city settings. The players deal with each other and the work in such a realistic way, it was a pleasure to watch.