The Crimson Rivers

'The Crimson Rivers' is a French detective series about a pair of police officers who specialize in investigating crimes with a religious, or occult, dimension. Little explanation is provided as to their mandate, while their methods involve disregarding correct procedure, being rude to their colleagues, explaining nothing to anyone, but, almost unfailingly, being right in the end. An accurate "police procedural" this is not, and neither is it filmed or written with particular artistry. And yet I liked the programme, as its gruff hero and heroine work their way through a succession of grim cases spread out over a grey-tinged France that feels rather different from the country in the tourist guides. They each have their own motivations for carrying out their mission; their behaviour at least partly explained by their view of their work as a necessary yet Sisyphean labour. In an age where we seem overwhelmed by clean Scandi-noir or gruesome serial killer stories, 'The Crimson Rivers' offers us a refreshingly different take.

I liked this crime drama. The acting is good, and I liked the main characters. The murder mysteries are very interesting, and I was never able to guess who the guilty parties were, or their motives for committing the crimes. The detectives are French national police. Which means they investigate crimes in various parts of France. I liked the first season of the two that were available, the best. I think the female detective's character is treated better in the first season than it is in the second. In the second season, her "issues" are used as plot devices, that I think better writing would not have used to further the plots. I think one of the main flaws in the series, is the use of certain tropes. Detectives going off individually on their own, rather than working as a team. This gives the writers an opportunity to add drama and violence to scenes. I would like to see more of this series if more seasons are produced.

I like this show and it's actors a lot! However, I feel really sorry for the actress playing Camille. How many times is she going to walk into another trap, or have her weapon taken from her for doing something idiotic so Niemans has to come save her because she is a bumbling idiot. If I was the actress I would have to a few words with the writers. I would tell them that no one is this stupid, all the time, and also happens to be a cop.

That being said, I do actually like the actress, she is just doing her job, and well! The atmosphere is really nice too. I like seeing the cool little towns and countryside.

Anyway, that's it.

I am struggling to think of a lot that is positive. It feels like there are the bones of a good drama lurking somewhere in the shadows, but the execution is completely wayward.

A burgeoning relationship between the two main characters may have sparked some interest, but sadly, the dialogue remained quite colourless and too matter-of-fact throughout.

And while an attempt has been made to lift the excitement levels with very shocking crimes, it is simply the case that ghoulish and bizarre murders are no longer that much of a novelty in modern television.

Delaunay (the lady cop) is wonderfully cool, but her back-story doesn't quite fit the demeanour. A less confident character, who perhaps suffers night terrors, might have been more convincing for the role. Her brazen sexual fling in episode 1 and everyday lack of concern for her estranged child, suggest that the irresponsible wild child still forms part of her make-up. Is it really likely that such a person would have become a dedicated and meticulous detective? It's a stretch.

Indeed, believability issues are never far away. Clues usually arrive by way of coincidence, or good fortune, and rarely from hard work. Local knowledge, reluctant witnesses who suddenly crack, handy passing experts and libraries that specialize in curious local mythologies, produce more than their fair share of easy-to-come-by leads. On a superficial level, it is reasonably fast paced and moderately entertaining, but don't expect it to live long in the memory.

After viewing the first 3 episodes of Season 2, I decided to abandon the rest. It had been more of the same. An over-reliance on sinister and grisly happenings, at the expense of any semblance of character development. - 6.9/10.

Crimson Rivers on Channel 4 (UK & RoI). French detectives investigating strange murders. Cross between Criminal Minds and The X-Files. Detective Commissaire Pierre Niemans from the crimson Rivers films is back with a young sidekick, former student Camille Delaunay. So far (four episodesin) there's Horror with ritual murder, a curse going back centuries, nazi dogs, Cults.

Pretty good, set in the dark isolated backwoods of France.