Engrenages
I discovered this show because I saw a few comments saying this was one of the best detective shows ever made and was comparable to The Wire. Season 1 is clunky with a constant blue filter, crash zooms, and way too much unnecessary gore shoved in the viewer's face. However it has characters and a plot that are interesting enough to keep watching. There are also gorgeous shots of the city of Paris which lend an atmosphere and feeling of place to the show.
Season 2 improves on some things but is still a mixed bag. Gone are the crash zooms and in your face gore. The cinematic shots of Paris are gone though with the camera work focusing on much tighter outdoor shots introducing a more claustrophobic feeling. Character progression suffers a bit here, and the season ends a bit suddenly, but again the story is interesting enough for me to keep going.
Season 3 introduces 4 more episodes and suffers quite a bit because of it and this is where I start to lose interest. Irritating side character stories are introduced, the plot's pacing is much less tight and frustratingly slow because of it. You end up bouncing from certain scenes that may be interesting to other scenes that are agonizingly dull and drawn out, over and over. Many scenes just drag on for way too long. Character actions and their plot lines are so fantastical now that they require a suspension of disbelief I don't possess. The blue filter remains as does the claustrophobic feeling introduced in season 2. In your face gore returns for the first half of the season. I can barely tell we are in Paris the shots are so tight. I was dying with boredom by episode 8 but still managed to finish the season. However the conclusion again just ends suddenly with 0 of the aftermath or character's reactions to the conclusion shown. Speaking of which the conclusion was incredibly predictable and embodied the trite feeling of this season's overall plot elements. Because of the suffering through this season and how the previous seasons were just "ok," I think this is where I stop watching.
Season 4 (yes I know I said I was going to stop) improves on just about everything I was complaining about in season 3. Having 12 episodes is a gift and not a curse here. The plot is much better with many of the character's individual plot lines being interesting and not feeling like a distraction from the main plot. Gone is the unnecessary gore and tight claustrophobic camera work. We get much more wide outdoor shots now which allow us to take in some of the Paris scenery. The only complaint I have is once again with the ending in the final episode. This show does not like to deal with consequences. Onto the next!
Season 2 improves on some things but is still a mixed bag. Gone are the crash zooms and in your face gore. The cinematic shots of Paris are gone though with the camera work focusing on much tighter outdoor shots introducing a more claustrophobic feeling. Character progression suffers a bit here, and the season ends a bit suddenly, but again the story is interesting enough for me to keep going.
Season 3 introduces 4 more episodes and suffers quite a bit because of it and this is where I start to lose interest. Irritating side character stories are introduced, the plot's pacing is much less tight and frustratingly slow because of it. You end up bouncing from certain scenes that may be interesting to other scenes that are agonizingly dull and drawn out, over and over. Many scenes just drag on for way too long. Character actions and their plot lines are so fantastical now that they require a suspension of disbelief I don't possess. The blue filter remains as does the claustrophobic feeling introduced in season 2. In your face gore returns for the first half of the season. I can barely tell we are in Paris the shots are so tight. I was dying with boredom by episode 8 but still managed to finish the season. However the conclusion again just ends suddenly with 0 of the aftermath or character's reactions to the conclusion shown. Speaking of which the conclusion was incredibly predictable and embodied the trite feeling of this season's overall plot elements. Because of the suffering through this season and how the previous seasons were just "ok," I think this is where I stop watching.
Season 4 (yes I know I said I was going to stop) improves on just about everything I was complaining about in season 3. Having 12 episodes is a gift and not a curse here. The plot is much better with many of the character's individual plot lines being interesting and not feeling like a distraction from the main plot. Gone is the unnecessary gore and tight claustrophobic camera work. We get much more wide outdoor shots now which allow us to take in some of the Paris scenery. The only complaint I have is once again with the ending in the final episode. This show does not like to deal with consequences. Onto the next!
Mini Review: Season 1 is clunky but has characters and a plot that are interesting enough to keep watching. Season 2 improves on some things but is still a mixed bag. Character progression suffers a bit here, but again the story is interesting. Season 3 introduces 4 more episodes and suffers quite a bit because of it. Irritating side character stories are introduced, the plot's pacing is much less tight and frustratingly slow. A suspension of disbelief to high for me is required to continue.