Once again, MHz Choice has got me through bleak times by immersing me in terrific foreign series you cannot see anywhere else. Gritty, twisty procedurals, suspenseful mini-series, and then there’s the wonderful eccentric detective Captain Marleau (like Olive Oyl in a fur-trapper hat) back for maybe the best season yet. And with tantalizing new series on the horizon what are you waiting for? Sign up, stupid!
Deadly Tropics. First of all, it’s set on Martinique for God’s sake- which is so gorgeous it takes your breath away. The statuesque and gorgeous Sonia Rolland plays an officer who returns to her island home with her son and daughter but after suffering a criminal investigation for impropriety in Paris, (which she was exonerated of). The stigma still hangs over her. But working as a commander is a bit of a challenge due to her outrageous partner (Beatrice de la Boulaye) who is a little firecracker with a quick temper, often hung over, and unorthodox methods of policing to say the least. You just know in the end these two will be thick as thieves. But the setting is extraordinary and the mysteries so far have been smart and fun so I’m grateful to wallow in paradise watching this enjoyable series.
Spitfire. I am obsessed with this dark thriller set in Mallorca about a serial killer targeting people who have evaded real justice- then torturing and killing them (occasionally leaving body parts stung up in a warehouse or dismembered hands on the beach). The scrappy, acerbic female detective is paired with a male rookie from out of town who initially pisses her off. But she grows to accept him. (Unfortunately, he is really an undercover officer investigating her for a previous crime). The murders they are now trying to stop are also linked to an investigation by a Judge who was blown up to stop him. It is also tied in to a crime in the 17th Century and the killer leaves painted triangles with ancient symbols left as clues. It’s really intense and suspenseful.
Cherif. This addictive French series stars the handsome, charismatic, forever smiling Abdelhafid Metalsi as Captain Kader Cherif, who works in Lyons and heads the Criminal Brigade. He is introduced to a new partner, the unsmiling, by-the-books, Adeline Briard (Carole Bianic)- another one under a cloud of mystery (I still haven’t figured out her whole back story). Cherif is a great detective- he lives across the street from the police station with his feisty daughter and often brings suspects to his home to interview them and make them feel more at ease which annoys Adeline but usually brings results. The cast is great, the mysteries have been terrific- who could ask for more? Except for more.
Tandem. This mystery series is set in the French city of Montpellier, which is pretty spectacular. It’s about two police investigators Lea Soler (Astrid Veillon) and Paul Marchal (Stephane Blancafort), who were once married and have two children now having to work together to solve crimes, which can be difficult. There is also a growing romantic tension between the two which grows with each episode. This horrifies their kids who like them divorced. There have been some really suspenseful episodes- one where Paul almost dies which brings he and his ex-wife even closer. This is one I look forward to each week and I just noticed season 2 is about to begin which thrills me.
Amsterdam Vice. A colorful gritty thriller set in Amsterdam in the swinging 80s with the unfortunately named Jurre de Cock (Waldermar Torenstra) who joins the chaotic and dysfunctional police force and is paired with a wild and shady cop Tonnie Montijn (Tygo Gernandt) with his own way of going about things- usually using violence and ignoring warrants to break into houses. The whole milieu of political unrest, prostitution, drug dealers, underworld criminals and corruption within the police station often reaches a bloody head in this first-rate, exciting series. Trust me, you won’t see things coming in this wild show.
The Sandhamn Murders. This popular Nordic crime show returns with the lovely Alexandra Rapaport as Nora, a lawyer who has a summer home on Sandhamn, but without the sexy detective Thomas (Jakob Cedergren). They made a great team sleuthing and with a simmering unspoken attraction that pulsated under every episode for six tempestuous seasons. The seaside setting is just astounding (part of the Stockholm Archipelago). The newest season brings a new detective, the handsome Alexander (Nicolai Cleve Broch) who lives with his son on a houseboat. The wife and mother disappeared years ago and that mystery and trauma keeps the father and son always unsettled and looking for answers. Nora does end up interacting with the new guy and there is an attraction there, but Alexander’s emotional baggage is pretty big. The new mysteries have been great and helped me get over missing Jakob Cedergren (sort of).
Captain Marleau. This wildly popular mystery series stars the amazing Corinne Masiero as the eccentric detective, who usually charges onto the scene of a crime like a bull in a china shop saying the most inappropriate things to the families of murder victims. But like the shambling Columbo there is cleverness in her unruly behavior and she is able to ferret out clues in unexpected ways. This season has the sight of her on skis which had me falling off the couch laughing. One of the guest stars was the wonderful Caroline Proust from the Spiral series, and Captain Marleau even cracks a Spiral wisecrack during the episode. She even makes a Highlander joke to Christopher Lambert in another episode. This is a delight from beginning to end. Corinne Masiero is just hilarious and sublime.