La faille

This was without doubt one of the most debased and depraved series I have had the misfortune to watch. It did not start out so bad. There are 8 episodes. By Episode 5, I had had enough. It is merely an excuse to watch men abuse women, portray women in degrading and dehumanizing conditions, blame the women for their situation, and in most other ways offend viewers sensibilities. A creepy town and a creepy plot. And I thought Canada was a pretty nice country!

I have watched a crap ton of these kinds of shows and really like Nordic-Scandinavian noir procedurals because they tend to be more myopic, character driven, and tightly written-which this is. If you want overly dramatized twists so you can't guess the killer and wild plot beats with gorgeous, likable, actors for the partners, which 90% of these shows are, this is not for you.

This is for fans of the also pretty great Canadian show Cardinal, Midnight Sun, Mare of Easttown, Wisting. Personal, slow burn but well written shows. Not something as bombastic and shocking like Happy Valleys plot beats develop into or The Killing, The Bridge, Pagan Peak, with substantial sub plots. This is 8 episodes a season, much more tight.

The characters are flawed and realistic and the casting is subversive of type. Though, the leaders I would say are still quite attractive, the hotshot young one has a great character arc across the 3 seasons, and the relationship between the detective and him fits the show very well. The lead is only unlikable only if you don't like competent, confident and over 30. I don't need or want characters to be likable. I want them to be understandable and compelling in ways I haven't yet seen much of, or at all.

The writing is excellent. I always know who does the murder regardless of the plotting, it's just the way it is unless the show deliberately withholds information from the viewer. Instead, the red herrings and the investigation proceeds in such a way as to bring a very nice character arc and thematic crescendo, which is much preferable to me over a wild twist. Every character and every piece of dialogue is there for a purpose, even if you don't realize it until the last couple episodes, and even side characters are well written. They're dynamic, sometimes for descent queer rep, sometimes to hit a trope or to subvert it.

The acting delivers, though isn't academy award level, but far more serviceable than anything you'd be watching on mainstream. Very pleasantly surprised.

I had a feeling before even starting this one that I was going to like it a lot. Well I did, enough to watch all 8 episodes straight though with only small break.

Some will say it is predictable, and in some ways it could easily be seen that way, but it has enough red herrings to make it hard to work out. Plenty of suspects like any good whodunnit.

A good watch and the subtitles should not be a problem if you are not a French speaker.

If you are not hooked by the end of the first episode this is not a show for you.

8/10.

Season 1 The started off fine, but you need a big woolly jumper just to watch. It looked so cold and bleak.

It is set in Labrador, Northern Quebec in French with English subtitles.

This first season is set in the mining town of Fermont, north-eastern Quebec, Canada.

Fermont's major structural feature is popularly known as the Wall, which comprises self-contained residential, commercial, recreational and educational buildings.

In La Faille the main protagonist, detective sergeant Céline (Isabel Richer), is sent from provincial capital Quebec City to investigate the murder of a stripper-prostitute, inside the Wall. Assisting Céline is local uniformed policeman Alex (Alexandre Landry).

Céline encounters her estranged daughter Sophie (Maripier Morin) who is married to the mine-owner's son Lou (Jean-Philippe Perras).

I was expecting this to finish around episode 4, or 6 at the latest, but it was drawn out way too long to 8 episodes.

By the end it all got so contrived and bizarre that it was very difficult to work out what it was all about.

Especially, frustrating was not knowing what happened to Lou and whether he was culpable in one or more misdemeanours.

I enjoyed "The Wall" in part because Céline Trudeau is at the forefront of the action, a gutsy, mature, experienced woman often outpacing her younger male counterparts. The storylines are interesting, and the settings are beautiful. (Plus, the language is so melodic for us non-French speakers.)

Each season's major crime is different, allowing Céline to shine, whether it's dealing with a small northern mining community's murders and mishaps, an urban environmental conference marred by murder or a trip down memory lane among her homefolks that unearths family secrets - literally.

If I have one complaint, it's that the story arcs are about 25% too long and tend to drag a bit. Solid editing could pick up the pace, keep the storyline intact and still allow the plots to develop and the characters to shine.