Quirky twists set it apart.
I will begin by saying I was enthralled with this Belgian mystery series on Netflix. And I watch a lot of them.Yoann Blanc as Peeters rivals any of the modern detectives in his interpretation of the functional mental illness of a sincere crusader. He is the definition of quixotic. He tilts at every possible windmill in his way. It is both painful to watch and also engrossing.
The small rural town in Belgium is no Miss Marple village. It is filled with demons and their hapless accomplices. This darkness amplifies the frustration and suspense. Guillaume Kerbush as Drummer plays a truly clueless Dr. Watson, who successfully takes his character from vacuous to potentially sinister. This was one of the twists I enjoyed most.
Peeter's daughter Camille, played by Sophie Breyer, is a broody lesbian who neutralizes the teenage aspect of the story. Her reactions to her peers are well played and subtle. The supportive cast is evenly talented. I have to mention Alexis Julemont as Timotee, the mad Swede. He added a surreal element to the story which helps to set it apart.
I would watch another season, despite some dissatisfaction with the ending of this season. The ending seemed a bit too artsy-French for a hard detective story. Perhaps it was meant as a teaser for a second season.
score 9/10
paulcreeden 31 December 2016
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3609872/14406
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