Syndrome [E]

Watching an old film provokes murderous impulses. At least this wasn't supernatural like other programmes and films where videos are an agent of evil.

The story took us through the gamut of mad and evil scientists, altered people, unbelievable situations over its six episodes. On the way, two dysfunctional cops, both with mental health problems, try to unravel a vast, multi-continent conspiracy. Of course, somehow the police psychiatrist hasn't noticed their deficiencies or signed them fit for work in spite of them. Either option is absurd.

Abroad, Moroccans speak in perfect French, not a hint of Arabic. In Canada, I could understand the locals - somehow the Montréal accent was modified for TF1 viewers. The kids from various different countries must have been educated at the Institut Français rather than the local slum schools of their poor neighbourhoods what with their perfect diction.

Really, these inconsistencies detracted enormously from the series. The plot was weak, in any case, and wasn't helped by the anomalies outlined.

I watched to the end but was not satisfied. I'd advise against starting on this.

There do not appear to be many reviews for this. I will add mine, though I am currently half way through. I have seen enough to pass my opinion.

It's a quality production, no mistake. Someone has criticized various plot points and minor inconsistencies, i.e. Accents.

Get past these, and a few cliches, and you won't be disappointed. I've seen a couple of continuity goofs, things in the wrong hand, etc; these are trivial.

The two leads appear formulaic, with their demons, etc - but these add to the drama. The casting is very good, throughout the team (the crime squad).

The storyline hints at The Manchurian Candidate, or even the Bourne series, quite early on. Film and fiction buffs will find some character names amusing; Moreau and Bergeron are giveaways!

Make no mistake, it has some very unpleasant themes, and scenes; if one knows this territory, this is to be expected.

Whatever transpires, the performances of Decker and Elbaz would be worth revisiting.

Lucie is so braindead that her being a cop is beyond lame. Watch spiral instead gor a french cop show... SHARKO SHOULD BE OFF THE FORCE as he is mentally unstable.

Kind of a waste of filming the little girl that he sees that's dead I mean that's so Cliché it's been played over and over and so many different shows and the guy himself to put him with the really bad mistake and so unrealistic they're both cases belong together, but they don't belong in the police force that's for sure And all the other cops just put up with it I would it's far-fetched. It's just ridiculous.

Sharko it's an old washed up French cop with a big nose mental ill and shouldn't be a cop and Lucy is like clueless. Her acting is very wooden and she looks like a deer in headlights all the time. That's her signature look I guess.

Sure it's mildly entertaining but I wouldn't recommend watching it. There's so many better shows in this.

Just about everything about this series is top quality - script, charaterisation, acting, storyline... The "noir" feel gives it a rare quality - amongst hundreds of police procedurals, this one is genuinely different.

The cast - including a moody and pensive Emmanuelle Béart - clearly love the whole thing, with superb timing of the dry comic lines and some outstanding acting from Jennifer Decker as the tortured victim who's also a cop and Vincent Elbaz -who gets my vote for the "Coolest Policeman in French series" award.

It looks like a 2nd series is either planned, or has been made, but this 1st one is a real cracker!