Le passager

Just finished episode one and the number of situations that digress from standard practice in real life just kept coming one after the other. If the plot, pace and narrative was a bit more punchy and stimulating they could be forgiven for such artistic licence. But its not, its slow, low grade, and embarrassing to know it was produced by some fellow humans. If it was made by some over enthusiastic students - then that would explain it. And she cuffs the psychiatrist without formally arresting him - that's a rights violation and should not be shown so casually as though their about to have a pornhub sex session. I mean REALLY?

The Passenger starts with a very workable plotline, but doesn't seem to put enough work into delivering its possibility. A watchable series, it's held back by lazy, sloppy writing, leading the episodes with happy coincidences, lucky breaks, repeated way too easy escapes, and incredibly convenient chance encounters. The series tries to present high intrigue by dragging the story all over France for no apparent reason, and the characters seem to get around with lightning speed. But instead of adding depth or grandeur to the events (a la Bourne's world hopping), it just comes across as unnecessary. Some expected red herrings along the way... a little sex thrown in... not a bad way to spend a few hours, all in all.

The guy she sleeps with looks exactly like her father but not so grey!!!!!

A relatively good thriller, the suspense was not killing me but I did stay on board and followed it thru. What exasperated me, to be franc, was the character of the lead female detective who is totally incoherent for a cop. I really thought portraying the lead woman as a really damaged, unstable woman did not make the story stronger. I found it hard to believe in a trained detective that would disregard her skills and get subdued by her emotions so that her investigation would always end up one step behind. I guess now I've been used to #nordicnoir where female characters are more interesting, complex and less "helpless that needs saving", I'm having a hard time watching and caring for female roles who fall back on the old stereotypes.

Got everything you'd hoped never to see again. Rogue female cop teams up with psychiatrist to solve murders based around mythology. The plot appears to have been constructed by writing teams in secure adjacent rooms, putting scribbled notes under the door to be amalgamated at a later date. I confess to watching out of sheer bemusement and by ep4 was looking for anything that made me laugh and there was plenty of it. How the leads got involved in this God only knows but they must have had a giggle themselves at the end of the days shooting. I've watched most of Walter Presents, good bad and indifferent. Philamonia the worst, which I loathed although it had some intent to produce decent television but Le Pasager doesn't bother with that. I didn't loathe it, once I recognised it's comedic value I loved it. The 1 score is because it is truly appalling and reckless tv making and doesn't deserve a 2. Enjoy.