Baptiste
Season 1 & 2
An okay drama that had some pretence at Nordic Noir but in fact it was a tightly scripted murder mystery suspense thriller much like Prime Suspect or The Fall or even Salamander. I loved it as the red herrings and twists and turns of the plot unfolded before us.
It was stuffed with stars where to start with the brilliant acting tight script and a convincing and menacing atmosphere.
The introduction of policewoman Genevieve played by Jessica Raine half way through over complicated the drama and her role was just not convincing. The need to see the investigation through Baptiste's eyes needed to remain paramount.
It was worrying that Baptiste first made "friends" with a man with a decapitated head then a serial peeper and felt no qualms in using them. Also I see no need to comprehensively develop so many characters backstories as this added little. To much detail diffuses the narrative impetus.
After the plot developed the transsexual madam over 3 hours she was then murdered in the street as was the Rumanian gangster who was thrown off a balcony. This was a little frustrating after all the investment by the viewer.
Overall it was really good and I look forward to the next series.
Series 2
Quite frankly a disaster!
Instantly we had some dreadful cutting backwards and forwards in time for no other purpose than to confuse the viewer. Then a multiplicity of back stories that added little to the murder investigation.
Fiona Shaw really overworked the whole thing and the story rested on the most tenuous of connections. We had just scene after scenes observing a woman in grief acting out, Baptiste falling apart without any narrative impetus. Then we had some bizarre political points inserted raising immigration, nationalism and any states response to terrorism. It sagged beyond belief!
The absurd scenario of a far right group framing Islamic terrorists to add to the flames of nationalism is not a case for Baptiste, one man, but an entire security service.
Fiona Shaw's dialogue was total rubbish and when she interacted with her son it just became bizarre, I just find it incomprehensible they went ahead this muddled mess.
Overall this was a disaster and you shouldn't waste anytime watching this tripe!
Season 1 & 2
An okay drama that had some pretence at Nordic Noir but in fact it was a tightly scripted murder mystery suspense thriller much like Prime Suspect or The Fall or even Salamander. I loved it as the red herrings and twists and turns of the plot unfolded before us.
It was stuffed with stars where to start with the brilliant acting tight script and a convincing and menacing atmosphere.
The introduction of policewoman Genevieve played by Jessica Raine half way through over complicated the drama and her role was just not convincing. The need to see the investigation through Baptiste's eyes needed to remain paramount.
It was worrying that Baptiste first made "friends" with a man with a decapitated head then a serial peeper and felt no qualms in using them. Also I see no need to comprehensively develop so many characters backstories as this added little. To much detail diffuses the narrative impetus.
After the plot developed the transsexual madam over 3 hours she was then murdered in the street as was the Rumanian gangster who was thrown off a balcony. This was a little frustrating after all the investment by the viewer.
Overall it was really good and I look forward to the next series.
Series 2
Quite frankly a disaster!
Instantly we had some dreadful cutting backwards and forwards in time for no other purpose than to confuse the viewer. Then a multiplicity of back stories that added little to the murder investigation.
Fiona Shaw really overworked the whole thing and the story rested on the most tenuous of connections. We had just scene after scenes observing a woman in grief acting out, Baptiste falling apart without any narrative impetus. Then we had some bizarre political points inserted raising immigration, nationalism and any states response to terrorism. It sagged beyond belief!
The absurd scenario of a far right group framing Islamic terrorists to add to the flames of nationalism is not a case for Baptiste, one man, but an entire security service.
Fiona Shaw's dialogue was total rubbish and when she interacted with her son it just became bizarre, I just find it incomprehensible they went ahead this muddled mess.
Overall this was a disaster and you shouldn't waste anytime watching this tripe!