Glacé

We've got a series with a good plot, but (too many) weak sub plots. The acting is good overall, but weakened by the sub plots and the constant tissues in Servaz hand.

The filming, environment and atmosphere are above average. By the way, where are the French cars? What's with the Subaro and Volvo?! Not credible.

They thought they would get a second season, that never happened, hence the illogical behaviors in the finale and the bad ending!

My wife and I liked the first couple of episodes, but the last four were incredible slow-moving. Every detective series has to mix pure detective work with some personal background. The characters in this series have way too much personal baggage, which isn't very interesting. We were glad when it ended.

This French series in set in the Pyrenees Mountains; and opens with a strange case involving the killing and decapitation of a valuable horse. Captain Martin Servaz is put in charge of the case. The only clue is a hair found on the horse's head. There is a DNA match. This only raises more questions than answers as it came from Julian Alois Hirtmann, a man who is an inmate at a secure psychiatric facility... a man who Martin sent there for murdering a number of women. In the facility a young, woman doctor is keen to work with Hirtmann. Inevitably it isn't long before the first human victim is found. As the death toll rises Martin, and his partner, Irène Ziegler, work to link the victims to each other and to Hirtmann.

I found this to be a solid and enjoyably mystery. Many questions are posed and these are gradually answered as the series progresses. As seems common in these relatively short French mystery series it is set in a fairly remote, scenic corner of the country; the fact that it takes place in winter adds to the atmosphere. There is a good sense of tension and a few fairly shocking scenes, especially towards the end. The actual finale is perhaps a little predictable and appears to set things up for a second season although it looks like that won't happen given that it is a few years since this was made. The cast does a solid job bringing their characters to life. Overall a solid story despite a few clichés, I'd recommend it to fans of French crime dramas.

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

I didn't feel too invested in these characters, they lacked depth and motivation. The lead investigators had no chemistry and the master manipulating bad guy didn't feel wicked enough. The storylines were well developed and the cinematography beautifully dark.

The brilliant quality of lighting, camera and direction in the first 2 episodes slides into overly complex plotting, hacked editing, and character failures. The last episode is truly awful. I suppose the budget ran out, all spent early in the series. That hackneyed ending was infuriating and insulting, just to continue the Hirtman-Lecter into another season; a very cowardly producer, sadly.

Watch the first 2 episodes, then pretend a good ending, and drop it. Or, get your teeth-pulling pliers out.

Ugh. What a waste of potential.