This story, shown as a four-part miniseries here in the UK, is centred on Alexis Marceau, a Dunkirk dockworker for was set on fire, shot, and left for dead after reporting on his friend Victor Fontanel's criminal activities. Everybody, including his wife and child believe he is dead, and after plastic surgery, which left him looking quite different, he is working in the docks of Turin under the name Matthias Leblanc. Then he is approached by Judge Delphine Baron who blackmails him into returning to Dunkirk to further investigate his old friend who has expanded his operation in the years since Alexis left. He knows that if his real identity is discovered he will be killed and things are further complicated when he discovers that Victor is now living with his wife and his son is involved in drugs and looks likely to follow in Victor's footsteps. To maintain his cover Alexis must get involved in Victor's criminal activities; this means committing some very serious crimes.
This is a gritty thriller; there is a constant feeling that Alexis/Matthias could be exposed at any time. Victor is a particularly threatening antagonist; he is clearly a psychopath and distinctly emotionally unstable. This threat level increases dramatically when Victor hears that Alexis is still alive. As the end approaches it is far from clear whether key characters will survive let alone have a happy ending. The setting and near constant overcast weather conditions only serve to add to the downbeat feel to the series. The cast does a fine job; Bruno Debrandt impresses as Matthias, a conflicted and slightly ambiguous character, and Aurélien Recoing is genuinely frightening as Victor. Overall I'd certainly recommend this gritty crime drama to fans of the genre.
These comments are based on watching the series in French with English subtitles.
This is a gritty thriller; there is a constant feeling that Alexis/Matthias could be exposed at any time. Victor is a particularly threatening antagonist; he is clearly a psychopath and distinctly emotionally unstable. This threat level increases dramatically when Victor hears that Alexis is still alive. As the end approaches it is far from clear whether key characters will survive let alone have a happy ending. The setting and near constant overcast weather conditions only serve to add to the downbeat feel to the series. The cast does a fine job; Bruno Debrandt impresses as Matthias, a conflicted and slightly ambiguous character, and Aurélien Recoing is genuinely frightening as Victor. Overall I'd certainly recommend this gritty crime drama to fans of the genre.
These comments are based on watching the series in French with English subtitles.