Balthazar

It would be nice if writers could actually present forensics as intelligent without having to rely on the usual hooks such as a not legal romance with a detective tainting his independent evidentiary role. Usual added hooks of bizarre behavior, and/or personal issues.

The open chest prosthetic with the spewing of a list of medical terms like an auctioneer - all very fake. Joins Bäckström, Brokenwood, The Night, Professor T, The Alienist, Shakespeare & Hathaway all with poor, improbable forensics. More believable forensics to be found in Wisting, Bloodlands, Halifax: Retribution, Spiral season 7, and Traces.

I gave season 1 a 2 rating; season 2 a 1 rating, and this season a 3 rating because the ending (although very improbable) has hopefully brought it all to a close.

This is among the best ACORN has to offer. Clever, suspenseful, funny and with just the right amount of sexual tension. Balthazar kinda reminds me of Kramer from Seinfeld....haha

Our whole family of mystery buffs voted the French production Balthazar to have the finest quality writing, production values, acting, and each mystery construction, to be the finest on American TV even though we need to use subtitles. We are glued to the episodes for the full hour (approx) it is on. Clever, intelligent, no police woman needing to prove herself, no plots that anybody can figure out in their sleep, and a Holmes-Like doctor who doesn't play stupid or obvious. The surprise twists within each episode are smooth and so superior to the U.S.detective / forensic adventure shows on our networks, we can't wait for more episodes to appear on the Acorn Service.

Doctor Balthazar is quite a self-absorbed man, but not without charm. His companion Capitain Bach is sexy and lovely and smart woman. Often they have problem working together. And the best thing about this series is that they dont fall in love with each other. Not yet. It can be a bit sentimental even in the medical examiners room among the dead corpses, but the writers and the directing never let it be too long. The backstory with Balthazars dead wife and him talking to her is flawless, and that actress is rally good.

We watched both series on Acorn TV and its probably the best show we have watched over the lockdown. At first it was hard to watch the forensic and mortuary scenes, but the clever, quick paced stories, Balthazar's character, and the french themes, lifestyles and scenery grew on us. (We love France, Paris, etc so that helps too). There certainly were a few bizarre murders and some weaker moments, but in the end I would say it's a favorite of ours and we can't wait for Season 3.