Agatha Christies Criminal Games is a total delight despite the fact any relation to reality is purely coincidental. How many Police Inspectors have a beautiful, huge private office with a private secretary who bears a passing resemblance to Marilyn Monroe? None in the many other TV series I've seen. (Sorry, I don't know any Police Inspectors personally.)
Basically, this French series adapts Agatha Christies mysteries to fit three characters wholly made up for the series. Thus Piorot, Marple, et. Al. Are replaced by Inspector Swan Laurence (Samuel Labarthe), a rather somber, often insufferable, caricature of a 1950s male chauvinist. If he was the only major character there is no way I would have called the series delightful. Luckily there are two major female characters who give the show its sparkle. First off, Blandine Bellavoir as Alice Avril, a newspaper advice columnist turned reporter, who manages to insinuate herself into every case Laurence is investigating, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose. If that challenges reality so does her frequent barging into his office at all times a day, seemingly having free reign at Police Headquarters, something even in France would seem out of bounds to a reporter. But, make no mistake, those scenes and her and Laurence's frequent bickering help make the series endearing. Certainly Ms. Bellavoir performance as Alice Avril is the highlight of the show. Then there's Elodie Frenck as Laurence's secretary, also a caricature, in her case, that of a dumb blonde. Her role got bigger as the series progressed and soon she too became endearing. Both actresses deserve accolades for lifting the series above the norm.
The mysteries are nicely adapted to fit these characters. Though light-hearted, and at times almost a semi-comedy, be warned some of the murder scenes can be gruesome. If you, like me, love mysteries, this series can be addictive.
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Basically, this French series adapts Agatha Christies mysteries to fit three characters wholly made up for the series. Thus Piorot, Marple, et. Al. Are replaced by Inspector Swan Laurence (Samuel Labarthe), a rather somber, often insufferable, caricature of a 1950s male chauvinist. If he was the only major character there is no way I would have called the series delightful. Luckily there are two major female characters who give the show its sparkle. First off, Blandine Bellavoir as Alice Avril, a newspaper advice columnist turned reporter, who manages to insinuate herself into every case Laurence is investigating, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose. If that challenges reality so does her frequent barging into his office at all times a day, seemingly having free reign at Police Headquarters, something even in France would seem out of bounds to a reporter. But, make no mistake, those scenes and her and Laurence's frequent bickering help make the series endearing. Certainly Ms. Bellavoir performance as Alice Avril is the highlight of the show. Then there's Elodie Frenck as Laurence's secretary, also a caricature, in her case, that of a dumb blonde. Her role got bigger as the series progressed and soon she too became endearing. Both actresses deserve accolades for lifting the series above the norm.
The mysteries are nicely adapted to fit these characters. Though light-hearted, and at times almost a semi-comedy, be warned some of the murder scenes can be gruesome. If you, like me, love mysteries, this series can be addictive.
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