Jo

I'm a big fan of Jean Reno, so I'm watching Jo. Not bad, not good. But will someone explain to me why a series filmed in France has everyone speaking with an American accent except Jean? I just don't get it...

I was looking forward to some gritty French drama series, starring the incredibly talented Jean Reno. I understand that the series has to appeal internationally (and by that I mean Americans), but it's totally NOT French. Jean Reno is wasted and the plot is interesting in terms of story lines but the police-procedure is so contrived, and whilst it's not entirely predictable, it's full of leaps in investigation.

Reno plays it French but everyone else is either American or British and I don't get that. He's investigating random murders (being a homicide cop) but everyone is English! Everyone! Even if they spoke with cheesy French accents it would have made more sense. The producers missed a trick by making it too much like all the other investigative procedurals that are on US and UK TV at present - if the only thing different is that it's set against Parisian architecture, that's not a good enough reason to watch. The script is too staccato because the action is stilted due to the contrived leaps, and even Reno can't raise this show to above 5/10 for me. Tom Austen the sidekick is good, pretty and the flirty cop who gets all the ladies to open up with information - well cast - but I would like to see some reason why he's working in Paris and hear him attempting to speak French occasionally.

Only Reno's character St-Clair has a back-story, which makes the program too shallow. St-Clair's struggle with drink and drugs is only touched on, but perhaps it's early days in the series... there's not much story arc.

It needs to be more French. I'd love it then. Subtitles aren't such a bad thing!

This series kept my mind puzzled, not because of the mystery or detective work, but rather that it was 100% Paris but I don't think I heard a single word of French through the entire season. It really makes me wonder what the decision was behind this project. Who was the target audience?

The reason it only lasted one season is because I think the story lines are weak and a bit dull. The actors and acting was fine. Detective series are favorites of my wife and me. It was interesting seeing Jill Hennessy from Crossing Jordan in this series.

I lived in Paris for three years almost 40 years ago. I was excited to see familiar sights, and to learn of a few places in the city I didn't visit.

What a waste of the superb talents of Jean Reno! The only actor permitted to speak with a French accent (well, he could hardly do any other) but its completely unfathomable why the rest of the cast - many of whom are English - are forced to speak with an America accent. Why? I can only assume it was done to improve the appeal to a US audience - but surely if they can understand Jean Reno, they can understand the likes of Sean Pertwee speaking in their own tongue?

My other complaint would be the deliberate wobbly-cam - something that always winds me up. Why do it? I'm pretty sure I don't move my head around when I'm trying to listen to someone.

There are some good stories here - one standout jewel is Episode 6 with a moving performance by Sam Waterston. Perhaps character backstories were expected to come into play in later series but it was predictably canned after its first season.

Overall - worth watching - but be prepared to get annoyed with it!

While this may not be the best show Jean Reno has ever made, I still enjoyed it very much! It is kind of stiff in parts, forced in others, but he's worth watching regardless. I do recommend this. The only part that bugs everyone is that this takes place in Paris, but everyone speaks English with an American accent, except for Jean. Where's all the French?