Mongeville

We just found this series and are deeply impressed with the script, acting, and photography. We know the Bordeaux area well and although many episodes extend further south, east, and north, the Bordeaux roots and scenery prevail. The lieutenant in the first 3 episodes Marie Moute was dark and thoughtful, but then a new lieutenant was introduced - Gaella Bona - and the series became much more fun. Each episode shows the quality of Francis Perrin as Judge Antoine Mongeville -- a famous French actor. There is a nice blend of comedy and suspense which we love in all mysteries. If you are a Francophile you shouldn't miss this series. We consider it a high class mystery series.

It doesn't surprise me that as I write this, there are no reviews of Mongeville. Playing on MHz right now, it's a difficult series to sum up. First, each episode is around an hour and a half, which makes each one a kind of mini-movie. Second, the first three episodes are quite different than any that come afterward. Initially, the main characters are Axelle Ferrano, a female lieutenant on the Bordeaux police force, and Antoine Mongeville, a retired judge. She is a serious, somewhat moody character, who exudes a subtle sex appeal. He is an aging, investigative judge who is still sharp, and still wants to keep his nose in the game. They bond over the fact that they have both suffered great losses in their lives, and form a very effective investigative team, which sometimes seems father-daughterish in nature, and sometimes even has a hint of romance about it. For three episodes it is a somber and quite engaging series.

However, after those three episodes, the actress, who plays Ferrano (Marie Moute) left for greener pastures, even though her story was completely unresolved.

So in the second season Ferrano/Moute was replaced by a new character, a female detective, who could be called "perky, bubbly, fresh, humorous," you get the idea. All of a sudden what I had thought was a serious detective drama became something that could be labeled "breezy, charming, light." "Prime Suspect" had become "Midsomer Murders."

I like my female detectives hardcore, like Laure Berthaud in Spiral. I don't want to see female detectives arriving at the crime scene tripping over their high heels and carrying big handbags. To make matters worse, Mongeville didn't even pay the original character the respect of offering a good explanation for why she left. At any rate, if you like light and charming, you might thoroughly enjoy Mongeville. For me, however, after episode three it lacked the gravitas needed to keep my attention.

Falling in love with this series. I originally watch the first two episodes and stopped watching. Few months later start watching again. It is 2 different shows with different actors, style and purpose. Forget first three episodes. Mongeville has a wife, a lost daughter with a partner who has issues too. Serious with serious background music. I think they started out as French version of swedish noir where the protagonists have secondary problems that takes away from the focus of the murder mystery, with bosses that are always yelling at their cops.

Starting with episode four, Mongeville teams up with a new actress and the show is funny and lighthearted. If you like the New Zealand detective show of Brokenwood Murders, this is the French versions with goofy secondary characters: I can't get enough of Stephane, the grisly looking lockpick, who comes to the rescue on his scooter with his antique leather bullet shaped bag. He should be in every episode.

Super chemistry between the two main protagonist. Love the fact that Montville knows every important person in Bordeaux, and that the female cop is sharp enough to recognize this and use it in her investigation, rather than fight against his "meddling." In season two they've added 2 episodes with a another male detective, a friend/college buddy of Monteville with funny situations and good chemistry.

I love watching Montville with his quirks and hobbies: birdwatching, cooking lovely French dinners, his love of classical music and his Jaguar. He is a very lovable eccentric, rich, older man. I'd like the fact that there is strong chemistry, but no romance. The two protagonists work together without any stupid clichés or romance.... just coworkers of equal standing.