This was good enough to watch virtually back to back over thirty six hours. I'll describe the major flaw first - the actual perp was not introduced into the story until the final episodes, making it impossible to use one's investigative skills to work out who it was. As soon as he came into the frame, it was obvious who was committing the gruesome murders and why.
The series unflinchingly portrayed a France of thirty years ago as well as the present day. There was so much racist hatred back then even decades after Algerian independence. But one thing was emphasised and I think it's important - the hatred came from right-wing "anciens combattants" and not from actual "pieds noirs" who had lived there for decades or had families there stretching back generations. I know many of the latter category and they are normal, decent people, often speaking Arabic in street markets with Algerian immigrants.
The series also spoke about the unbridled powers of local French mayors and the influence they wielded which led almost inevitably to corruption on a grand scale. And it also outlined the personal dilemmas of ordinary people in trying to overcome these obstacles.
A "woke" epilogue apart, this series was totally appropriate for the times. Good acting, believable personalities, true-to-life situations.
There won't be another season which is a shame; the series was self contained. I recommend this wholeheartedly.
