User reviews

I have watched three movies so far. I found out so many things as an american I didn't know , like Europeans don't put ice in their beer.I didn't even want to get up to pee, It was that interesting. Everyone has a back story and Funniest part was her at the spa with her braids and tina blecher hat singing in the pool with the waterfall drinking beer.While the uptight owners look like they want to die. They kind of give away who did it too easy. I would like to know where this is filmed? They cut off the end credits.She mentioned france and Switzerland , but no one looks very swiss? It kind of reminds me of Belgium? .

Initially I was going to give it eight stars because of the uniqueness of our weird French female detective, and in the beginning it was her refreshing idiosyncrasy of puns, sarcasms, offbeat humor & her strutting about that captures you. But, as each episode commenced she became repetitively and annoyingly tiresome. Showing few inhibitions are lead detective is often abrupt, antagonistic, rude, impolite, interrupts by talking over people. All a part of her identity to set her apart from other detective shows.

Nothing too unique about each episode's crime. Usual body in the beginning with a quick wrap up at the end w/least expected villain. One thing interesting was her frequent injections (name dropping) of a range of American shows, artists, musicians into conversations. We see her with a different assistant for most episodes which to me makes forming a connection with the series harder.

Note: I think what the writers wanted in Marleau is that she is the antithesis to the formula fare found in most crime/detective series. She is not the most attractive; she doesn't have romantic or departmental issues' subplots; she does everything contrary, e.g a suspect asks why they're being questioned & she replies sarcastically, "It's usually the least expected." referring to how most crime series end. Her digs & references to American culture, especially film, are subtle & often pass unnoticed or evoke a "Huh!" response.

/refers to all Seasons/

I was referred to this Series when I was again eager to widen my horizons and watch something beyond Scandinavian and UK series... At first, I missed the pilot, and it turned out to be good - otherwise I would have apparently not continued (Pilot is protracted, one case spread over two 1.5-hour episodes, with Marleau yet not as conspicuous as later).

But Season 1 already started to unravel in a pleasant manner: wonderful Masiero (previously unknown to me) as Capitaine Marleau, and then several famous actors in supporting roles - G. Depardieu, Abril, in later seasons - Arestrup, Suchet, Adjani... Most of the episodes take place in North-Eastern France (almost Belgium :); btw, Masiero herself was born there), thus not in Paris or the Mediterranean region where French series tend to run...

True, most cases are not interesting in classical sense of crime, the pace is rather slow, plus I wonder if a police inspector with such a personality, manners and outfit can be employed in a modern Western police force, but thanks to most performances the Series is not mediocre and I even felt some void when the final episode ended. So, Capitaine Marleau is definitely my highest rated peculiar crime series...

I am not familiar with Corinne Masiero but she has created a character for the ages. I cannot think of Hercule Poirot without David Suchet and now Corinne Masiero has brought another character to life: Captain Marleau.

Marleau is a brilliant captain in the French Police but is as idiosyncratic as can be. She looks like a homeless person and the beat up winter hunting cap she is never without adds to the characterization. We frequently find her lopping alone in a sort of duck run as she jogs before receiving a call that a body has been discovered and it appears to be murder.

She is frequently added by one of her two assistants who she keeps confused by her quirky but honest demeanor. When dealing with suspects she is completely non PC. They tend to underestimate her which keeps them feeling cocky. We know that she will solve the mystery and bring the perpetrator to justice.

Marleau has odd connection with a few other colleagues, usually pathologists who are as individual as she is. The series is fun to watch and Marleau has enough allusions to American TV to make you chuckle as she will tell a suspect she is no Columbo. There are allusions to matters French but these wont distract an American viewer. You may have to read the subtitles but they are clear and easy to read.

Currently this is running on Mhz, so you will a subscription.

This is the most unlikely and most eccentric police procedural. The mysteries of the murders though, are not the point of the series. For an audience needing the subtitles to follow the dialogue, pensman's review gives a good account. Marleau is a quirky, eccentric police captain, with an irreverent, yet empathetic demeanor. Under the deadpan jokes, she demonstrates an astute understanding of human nature, and that makes her going through suspects and clues enjoyable to watch. A French version of the UK classic series 'Midsomer Murders', if you like: going through the foibles of rural French upper-middle class, one murder at a time, with a few twists and turns on the way.It's good enough to watch on this account only. Et si vous parlez français, il y a un bonus! (And if you speak French, there's a free gift!) Well, you need to speak French and you need to be old enough to catch cultural references that broadly range from the 60's to the 90's. Corinne Masiero as the lead delivers deadpan observations and puns in a style that reminds me strongly of the succulent dialogues of Michel Audiard's body of work as a screen writer, extending from the 1950s to the 1980s. It's been a long time I laughed that much and that often watching a police procedural, not because the sleuthing is ridiculous but because it's delivered brilliantly. As pensman's review notes, Marleau will acknowledge she's no Columbo: if you understand her deadpan delivery, she's arguably funnier.

Capitaine Marleau is simply hilarious. She is a mile a minute and if you are not French you often miss all the subtleties of what she says. The writers are amazing and show they know French culture and history very well. Who else would connect the concept of « humanity » described by the priest in one of the episodes with Jean Jaurès French politician who created the newspaper L'Humanité? That allows her to connects things very fast, it fit her character to a T. I really love seeing the main character not looking like Marilyn Monroe! How refreshing and unique.

A simply delightful show. Capitaine Marleau posseses the assured exuberance of a grown-up Pippi Longstocking, deliberately and frivolously rubbing people up the wrong way at first, only to win them over later and catch the criminal.

The show is up there with the Poirot's, Ms. Marple, Fr. Brown, Rosemary & Thyme, Shakespeare & Hathaway. An excellent evening's entertainment.

The subtitles are excellent and the spoken French is easy to follow. Great for learning the language and learning new phrases.

We watch on Samsung TV Plus - MHz Now channel.

This series is really horrible, The actors are very bad, the scenes even worse. History is to be thrown in the trash. Too many vulgar scenes and swear words. I do not understand the cinematic object

Such a wonderful mystery series with great comedy interwoven. Capitaine Marleau is portrayed as a combo between Columbo and a French truck driver. A natural talent. The series moves among many charming villages in France from Alsace to the Perigord region -- never Paris or big cities. Subtitles are generally accurate.

This is just... embarrassing. Legendary actress stuck in typical "smart women are quirky and wear hats" drivel.

This is a wonderfully hilarious, fast paced and fun mystery series. Captain Marleau will make you laugh out loud whilst she is tirelessly solving murder mysteries. Her confidence in her crime solving skills, social prowess, and highly charged bursts of femininity will keep you engaged and rooting for her to win the day, and she always does. It is a great way to spend an hour unravelling clues and enjoying regular plot twists alongside the amazing Captain Marleau!

It's clever & funny, with in-depth storylines, good characters, great acting (some famous actors), each episode is different and always has a psychological twist. The main character is brilliant, if you like Columbo, you'll love this show. I watch a lot of international series and this one I go back to all the time, I keep the MHZ channel because of it! It's not so dark & gory that you're questioning what you're letting in your life, yet edgey enough to be interesting and leaves you with good thoughts as there's always some compassionate quality. I can't wait for season 4!! And many more!

I cannot wait to see season 3 and 4 (hopefully coming soon). I was hooked on it from the moment we meet her. She's absolutely endearing and quick as lightening. We need more shows starring women like Marleau!!

We await each years new season of La Capitaine , huddled round our tv in snowy Canada ,wearing our trapper hats just like her .

Whatever the superlative to iconoclastic is ...that's Captain Marleau. Her shambolic appearance and obvious lack of concern about it lulls her suspects into underestimating her , a la Peter Faulk in Colombo .. alas his trench coat did not convert to a sleeping bag!

As all tv detectives have a right to a distinctive vehicle , hers is a sometimes reluctant Land ranger. Marleau is a Land ranger herself , a roving one woman show picking up new sidekicks in each episode, with a few " experts/buddies" that she calls on. The shows must have a tourism board sponsorship , stunning scenery and locations across France.

I buy each years DVD and we watch them over Christmas ..sadly covid seems to have slowed production and we may be watching re runs .

A series of a character , more than series of stories. A pure eccentric captain, surprising, amusing, efficient, sarcastic, ironic, hard worker, using cultural references in seductive and efficient manner. That makes Capitaine Marleau the series of Corinne Maiero and , in the first seasons, it is a precious virtue. In the last ones, the smell of mannerism becomes not real great. But, sure, a smart series, wise broken of cliches and a character fascinating in profound senses.