Une Affaire Privée

Was pleasantly surprised by this one. Popped up on my Amazon Prime suggestion. I liked the artistic film style, the lighting, the era and the fast paced story line. Character are engaging. Looking forward to seeing more. Took a bit getting used to it being dubbed in English because the audio didn't sync with mouth movement but not a deal breaker. Worth watching more. Jean Reno is always a pleasure to see in movies. Had not heard of the main female actress before but she's is very cute and believable in this role. It reminds me of Murder on the Orient Express style of movie. Will be back for more.

The story takes place at the end of the 1940s in Galicia, where a sassy upper-class girl with a taste for mystery, Marina Quiroga, together with her butler Hector, sets out to hunt down the serial killer who has been stalking the city for months. I say it's "cute" because it doesn't seem too serious, even though it's about murder and a serial killer. In the first episode our heroine Marina complains the man her mother would have her marry has a "unibrow." Monobrow first appeared in a novel in the late 1960's and Unibrow in 1981. Frida Kahlo, who died in 1954 is arguably the most famous person with a unibrow on this side of the world, died in 1954. What did they call hers? Her self portraits left it clearly represented. Anyway, I digress. This was enough to make me pause the episode and get more history than I could ever want about the unibrow. So far, it's a great occupant of my downtime. Enjoy!

The story is not bad and the ending is quite surprisingly tragic. My problem is that she is unbearable. She's a condensate of cliche': the rich spoilt brat who jumps to conclusions and recklessly endengers herself but is surrounded by men ready to catch her in the moment of danger. This kind of character is so tiresome I struggled to get through all 8 episodes and I confess I skipped some parts. It kept me going that I was curious to know who the killer was. And the last episode was rewarding. Jean Reno as a not in your face delicate gay butler is sweet. I still remember him as a gentle but ruthless assassin in Leon.

I enjoyed this show. Its fun quirky and charming. The start of the show is light but holds promise.

For those being too hard on the story or pace, bear in mind this is a period piece set in the 1940s when cops didn't have the technology and resources they do today. The lead character is no Theresa Lisbon so don't look for that. Instead she's the fun, not by the book, rule breaking version of Murdoch.

The only issue I had was the sudden bit of intensity at the conclusion. Considering the vibe throughout the show, even though its a serial killer series, I would have preferred something not quite so tragic. The show is set up for a second season and it has the potential for it.

Watch it over a weekend but in the original audio.. the English dubbing doesn't work the best which is unfortunately what Prime has set as defaults.

Great production with a bit of everything in it exciting, romantic, stylish great lead actress vulnerable and stylish some kind young anti-hero with an incredible talent as a detective mentored by a great Jean Reno.

A Private Affair ventures on a roller-coaster ride of fun and mysteries. And the rest of the characters in this TV series are also entertaining all the way. In addition to the artistry of the serie it,s a period tv series set in Galicia, Spain making it even more interesting for the audience because of the cultural aspect with which this story is told, this series is interesting from that social and class point of view because it,s still resonate in a lot of countries. The characters trying to find a sense of social justice is subtly pointed out in a traditionalist society.

Great production and cast Jean Reno is really entertaining and great as Hector the sidekick in the story. Great international TV series.