I have watched several seasons of the second incarnation of Les petits meurtres d'Agatha Christie (or as it is known in the U. S. as: Agatha Christie's Criminal Games). All of the episodes evidently refer back to a specific Agatha Christie mystery (not being very familiar with Agatha Christie, I cannot testify to how faithfully the episodes follow the original mysteries).
The show is situated in France in the late 1950s.
Chief Inspector Laurence (Samuel Labarthe) is a handsome, debonair 1950's male. He drives his beloved sports car to the scene of every crime and interrogation.
Marlene (Elodie Frenck) is the chief inspector's loyal blond secretary, who is gaga over her boss.
And Alice Avril (Blandine Bellavoir) is the red headed crime reporter, a thorn in the chief inspector's side, but useful. Alice is also Marlene's ever loyal and sympathetic friend.
This is a light hearted mystery series, often played as much for laughs as for mystery. The character of Marlene can be especially delightful in several episodes. And an annoyed Alice can often fun to watch. The chief inspector is the weak link of this trio, his pomposity and stubbornness typically played for laughs, but often is just off putting. It doesn't help that it is always the Chief Inspector who solves the murder, thus feeding his self-importance.
For myself, Criminal Games was fun to watch for the first season or two. After that, everything became too predictable. The humor was the same every episode--the inspector is snooty, Marlene is ditsy, and Alice is clever, but nosy and usually gets into trouble. The mysteries themselves are usually puzzling, but tend to be drowned out by the eccentric behavior of everyone--suspects and regular cast members.
To give Criminal Games its due, pretty much every episode does have its amusing moments, which seems to be what producers are most aiming at providing to viewers.
The show is situated in France in the late 1950s.
Chief Inspector Laurence (Samuel Labarthe) is a handsome, debonair 1950's male. He drives his beloved sports car to the scene of every crime and interrogation.
Marlene (Elodie Frenck) is the chief inspector's loyal blond secretary, who is gaga over her boss.
And Alice Avril (Blandine Bellavoir) is the red headed crime reporter, a thorn in the chief inspector's side, but useful. Alice is also Marlene's ever loyal and sympathetic friend.
This is a light hearted mystery series, often played as much for laughs as for mystery. The character of Marlene can be especially delightful in several episodes. And an annoyed Alice can often fun to watch. The chief inspector is the weak link of this trio, his pomposity and stubbornness typically played for laughs, but often is just off putting. It doesn't help that it is always the Chief Inspector who solves the murder, thus feeding his self-importance.
For myself, Criminal Games was fun to watch for the first season or two. After that, everything became too predictable. The humor was the same every episode--the inspector is snooty, Marlene is ditsy, and Alice is clever, but nosy and usually gets into trouble. The mysteries themselves are usually puzzling, but tend to be drowned out by the eccentric behavior of everyone--suspects and regular cast members.
To give Criminal Games its due, pretty much every episode does have its amusing moments, which seems to be what producers are most aiming at providing to viewers.