Capitaine Marleau

We await each years new season of La Capitaine , huddled round our tv in snowy Canada ,wearing our trapper hats just like her .

Whatever the superlative to iconoclastic is ...that's Captain Marleau. Her shambolic appearance and obvious lack of concern about it lulls her suspects into underestimating her , a la Peter Faulk in Colombo .. alas his trench coat did not convert to a sleeping bag!

As all tv detectives have a right to a distinctive vehicle , hers is a sometimes reluctant Land ranger. Marleau is a Land ranger herself , a roving one woman show picking up new sidekicks in each episode, with a few " experts/buddies" that she calls on. The shows must have a tourism board sponsorship , stunning scenery and locations across France.

I buy each years DVD and we watch them over Christmas ..sadly covid seems to have slowed production and we may be watching re runs .

This is the most unlikely and most eccentric police procedural. The mysteries of the murders though, are not the point of the series. For an audience needing the subtitles to follow the dialogue, pensman's review gives a good account. Marleau is a quirky, eccentric police captain, with an irreverent, yet empathetic demeanor. Under the deadpan jokes, she demonstrates an astute understanding of human nature, and that makes her going through suspects and clues enjoyable to watch. A French version of the UK classic series 'Midsomer Murders', if you like: going through the foibles of rural French upper-middle class, one murder at a time, with a few twists and turns on the way.It's good enough to watch on this account only. Et si vous parlez français, il y a un bonus! (And if you speak French, there's a free gift!) Well, you need to speak French and you need to be old enough to catch cultural references that broadly range from the 60's to the 90's. Corinne Masiero as the lead delivers deadpan observations and puns in a style that reminds me strongly of the succulent dialogues of Michel Audiard's body of work as a screen writer, extending from the 1950s to the 1980s. It's been a long time I laughed that much and that often watching a police procedural, not because the sleuthing is ridiculous but because it's delivered brilliantly. As pensman's review notes, Marleau will acknowledge she's no Columbo: if you understand her deadpan delivery, she's arguably funnier.

A series of a character , more than series of stories. A pure eccentric captain, surprising, amusing, efficient, sarcastic, ironic, hard worker, using cultural references in seductive and efficient manner. That makes Capitaine Marleau the series of Corinne Maiero and , in the first seasons, it is a precious virtue. In the last ones, the smell of mannerism becomes not real great. But, sure, a smart series, wise broken of cliches and a character fascinating in profound senses.

I cannot wait to see season 3 and 4 (hopefully coming soon). I was hooked on it from the moment we meet her. She's absolutely endearing and quick as lightening. We need more shows starring women like Marleau!!

I am not familiar with Corinne Masiero but she has created a character for the ages. I cannot think of Hercule Poirot without David Suchet and now Corinne Masiero has brought another character to life: Captain Marleau.

Marleau is a brilliant captain in the French Police but is as idiosyncratic as can be. She looks like a homeless person and the beat up winter hunting cap she is never without adds to the characterization. We frequently find her lopping alone in a sort of duck run as she jogs before receiving a call that a body has been discovered and it appears to be murder.

She is frequently added by one of her two assistants who she keeps confused by her quirky but honest demeanor. When dealing with suspects she is completely non PC. They tend to underestimate her which keeps them feeling cocky. We know that she will solve the mystery and bring the perpetrator to justice.

Marleau has odd connection with a few other colleagues, usually pathologists who are as individual as she is. The series is fun to watch and Marleau has enough allusions to American TV to make you chuckle as she will tell a suspect she is no Columbo. There are allusions to matters French but these wont distract an American viewer. You may have to read the subtitles but they are clear and easy to read.

Currently this is running on Mhz, so you will a subscription.