The Break

After trying several series on Netflix that didn't appeal to me, I decided to give the recently added La Trêve ('The Break') a try.

The first episode seemed like an exploration of the characters by the actors and creators, and it felt good. My curiosity was awakened and I looked forward to the next episode.

La Trêve turned out to get better with every episode. The brooding atmosphere and intriguing characters started to crawl under my skin. The main actor - Yoann Blanc - established an admirable performance. His character gets more and more intense as the series progresses. But just about every actor shines in La Trêve.

The story development is gripping, with several plot twists that leave the series relatively unpredictable until the end. I loved the aerial shots of the beautiful Ardennes scenery, adding a sense of mystery to the story. The atmospheric soundtrack really completes the dark, slightly surreal impression of La Trêve.

What I loved most is the dark, fatalistic tone that effectively surfaces more and more throughout the series, giving you an uncanny feeling of inevitable, impending doom as Yoann gets closer to solving the murder case, unveiling the hidden, twisted secrets of several village inhabitants.

If I'd have to say something negative about La Trêve, I'd reluctantly admit that some of the plot twists were a bit far-fetched. But the plot twists also kept the story thrilling. I'm also sad to confess that in my humble opinion, season two could not live up to the excellence of season one.

La Trêve (season one) is a fine example of what is labeled as New Belgian Noir. An interesting, dark blend of elements from Twin Peaks, True Detective and Broadchurch.

Love how interesting those full of forest and small town crimes episodes could be and characters and so on. I love how after seeing hundreds of good crime series there is still another one that could take your breath away. Gripping to say the least .. also..a good crime series do let you keep guessing who' s done it to the last second ...it has got it all! Very good Belgium series!

I enjoyed the series thoroughly, completeing it within a few days. I loved all the dark forest shots, some of the creepy dreams, the somewhat satisfying twists where justice is served. Lots of good characters and good plotlines, but Peeters gets to be exhausting and it doesn't feel like the people who are supposed to keep him in check but don't ever get checked for it. I loved Driss' character. I loved how fully fleshed out he was, how present in each episode rather than becoming the dead black guy. The very final twist is my only disappointment - didn't make sense, served too abruptly...

I like crime/ drama/ thrillers very much. And I do love Europpean take on that area of tv, however, I didn't expect what I have experienced while watching that one. It was deeply disturbing, with some graphic scenes and pretty much depicting human filth in all possible forms. It was very depressing in that extent. And although I watched it awaiting the solution for the whole time - right until the very end, I wouldn't return to re-watch it because I felt exhausted, as if I was in that small town, at the time of those events. For those wo will think "So it's not worth watching" I say - that only proves how good the story is written and executed. Yoann Blanc's acting is a-ma-zing, he presented the rapid mental deterioration in a very beliavable way. His growing suspiciousness is shared by the viewers, although you do realize that he overdoses time and time again and that pills push him over the edge. But you still keep on watching to see whether he was right, what will happen with him... I highly recommend, however - bear in mind that it's not a relaxing tv show for Sunday binge-watching.

Being a fan of Nordic and UK crime dramas, I try, from time to time, to widen my horizons and watch works with similar approach coming from other countries. A couple of times I have also come across Belgian related series and liked them rather lot.

True, they have all been Flemish ones. La trêve is the first one made in Wallonia, thus the basic language in French and the venues are so different from cities like Antwerp or Ghent... As I realised soon that the makers have liked Nordic Noir, I began to share the common feelings very soon, regardless of unknown performers and unvisited areas. The characters seemed realistic, I did not figure out the wrongdoer, the twists were there and not over-sophisticated; it is evident that a small community has its own secrets as well.

Well, the pace was not even as the last episodes started to sum up the events perhaps too hastily, after rather slow progression before, and the parallel psychiatrist interview revealed some moments too soon. Nevertheless, La trêve is a thrilling series, unless you like constant chases and cops having cute appearance and fancy cars...