Caïn

Cain is based on a wheelchair bound police detective with more than a few skeletons in his closet. Cain is one part Chief Ironside, one part Doctor House, one part Sherlock Holmes, and one part Dirty Harry. In short, he is cynical, deductive, tough-as-nails, and dangerous, breaking every rule in the book. He is brilliant and flawed, consistent and unpredictable, caring and ruthless. If you watch one episode, you cannot wait to see the next, and the next, and the next. I am surprised HBO hasn't yet bought the rights to make an American version.

The plots move at a good clip in every episode, not too much soapiness in the personal lives of characters, and the acting is good all around. The actor who plays Cain does a great job, and it's forward thinking of the show creators to feature characters of different abilities in prominent roles and demanding occupations. The gritty and beautiful landscape geo setting in and around Marseille makes it très interesting as well.

This show is supposed to take place in Marseilles. Well. You won't see anything of it, not a single known place, nothing. You won't hear no one speaking with the typical local accent. So, if it would be the dullest place in France, it wouldn't make any difference. But as the series itself is dull, it's alright... Caïn is an egocentric who lost the use of his legs by his own fault. That makes him bitter and cynical. But he still feels he is a hero. The main characters--that is the police force--are all poorly developed, and they all have a dark past; the plots are ludicrous and always very predictable. The series begin with the warning that it is not suited for persons under 10 years of age. I strongly believe that this is a mistake: in fact, the warning should be that the series it is not suited for persons over 10 years of age. Simply because the whole show is an insult to the viewer intelligence. This maybe the worst series I ever watch on French TV.

I can get season 3 &4 only. there is some interest but more clichés, or contrived plots- yes it's drama, TV. Francois, whom I saw in Spiral, Mugs continually, caricatures of real emotions, or thinking. His acting is awful- I can't believe no one has reined him in. Lucie, female Detective isn't much better.

Marseille- this seems to be a favorite spot outside Paris for these crime dramas- you would think they run into each other- they do not show the port, or the landmarks in the city.. he lost a wheel on his chair, from his car at night, and without showing how, I guess gets out of his car and home, bec he shows up the next morning. Does he call for help, on his cell, or does he crawl out on his belly. One scene, he gets in the car in his sporty convertible- with the woman detective, in a matter of seconds. He can't be flying like Mary Poppins. Makes me think of "Ironside" 1967 Raymond Burr (one of the few Movie stars who did 2 TV shows in the 1957- 75) before it was done).

He has (in the evening, but are Homicide detectives ever off duty) several hard liquor drinks, with a "suspect" and gets into his car for his drive home. He is often drinking and driving. Cain is either working or drinking. He rolls around on uneven terrain at crime scenes, without help..

Like Law and Order Criminal Intent, we knew the criminal. early on. There is a 4 episode arc, which resolves. again what is supposed to be a twist, and than we see how it resolved; the twist is predictable, cliché.

This is supposed to be a big success in France. I read Julian Baumgartner is taking over as Cain 2019. He was on Origins, Season 1 was good, Season 2 they replace the Actress (very good) playing the partner & Genealogists for being too old, (yes really) ruined the show. Another actress just showed up being the same character. I guess the French do this.

Someone who understands dialects better than I, said no one speaks like they are from Marseille- No surprise there either. Despite all the really bad writing and contrived plots, I find I am mildly interested, tho often not in all the plot. Meaning I phase out, and don't care.

I admitt , I was seduced by this series. It reminds a crime version of Doctor House , it has something from detectives of policiers from 1970 decade, it is not easy to prefer Bruno Debrandt or Julien Baumgartner and, I suppose, not the cases are the pillar of series but the dialogue, humor and a presumed Marseille.

No doubts, it is far to be the best crime series but it is one of charming ones and this, for me, it is just enough.

Sure, many absurd situations and many unplausible solutions.

But the sparkles of dialogues are just fair and beautiful, bitter - sweet and childish in some measure. And few episodes are nice for few drops of well used emotions. So, I like it. Maybe too much.