Fear by the Lake

Sorry to say that I couldn't get on with the third series at all, having quite enjoyed the previous 2. I found it rather rambling and hard to follow and only watched it till the end because I'd already invested so much time in it.

Time again I wouldn't bother

Somewhere in here there is the bones of a good drama/thriller but this isn't it. A potentially good and very topical story line is let down by a risible plot and wooden acting by the two principal characters.

If you were ever contemplating committing a crime I'd suggest you head to France as this series would have you believe the French cops are a bunch of bumbling inept clowns. Some of the scenes where suspects manage to evade capture defy belief.

An added problem is the two lead characters couldn't act to save their lives. As lead police officers they lack any credibility. Add in a public prosecutor who wouldn't look out of place on the set of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and who in the middle of a major pandemic is only interested in locating her runaway adopted daughter and you have a plot that stretches the viewer's patience and intelligence.

If you've watched the two earlier series you will probably want to catch this but you won't be missing much if you decide not to bother.

This came out in January 2020. Who would gave believe we would have been living it four months later? Interesting to see how the script writers dealt with the threat of a pandemic and the contrast between fiction and fact. It was only six episodes. Would that the real thing was over as soon.

This, the third 'By the Lake' series, sees protagonists Lise Stocker and Clovis Bouvier investigating when a man crashes a speedboat into a jetty. He is dead and appears to have been suffering from an unknown disease. Shortly afterwards Clovis gets a call from his ex... her new boyfriend is ill. It is the same deadly disease. It is soon identified as a strain of Ebola; not wanting to cause a panic the authorities attempt to find the source of the disease and any connection between the two men without alerting the public. At the same time a mother reports that her ex-husband has failed to return their daughter after a routine visit and she is unable to contact either of them.

I enjoyed this series; its theme of a virus outbreak is perfectly timed for these times... and the fact that Covid-19 is far less serious than Ebola should leave viewers feeling relieved that we aren't dealing with such a deadly outbreak! The story is well told with a sense of mystery about how the disease appeared in this relatively quiet corner of France as well as the drama of seeing who will succumb to the disease and how it will ultimately be brought under control. It does of course rely on some convenient coincidences but that can be excused as they help drive the plot and add to the tension. Similarly things do get quite melodramatic towards the end and the resolution seems rather fast. Overall a solid thriller.

These comments are based on watching the series in French with English subtitles.

The first 2 "by the lake" series vanished and killer were far better than this! The story line is pretty weak and not very believable! I was very excited when I found a 3rd series was out after really enjoying the first 2 but alas is by far the worst of the 3...watch the 1st 2 but leave the 3rd..you won't miss much!