Norman Price's Favourite Discovery of 2011
Braquo is a French crime series, showing on FX the channel that introduced The Wire to British TV. It is very exciting while raising the moral question of how far should the police go to solve crimes. Should they use the violent methods of the crooks they are attempting to catch, and should their loyalties be to their fellow cops or the law?The four person squad at the centre of the series is a disparate group lead by Eddy, a grizzled veteran living on a houseboat on the Seine. Then there is Walter, a bald gambling addict whose wife is a chronic alcoholic unable to look after their children. Theo, a young violent coke addict who has a way with women. And Roxanne, who manages to look extremely sexy while alternating between a bad hair day, and a very bad hair day.
The squad are supported by their ex-boss and his crew, and opposed by nasty Internal Affairs cops, who are trying to catch them at the various crimes they are forced to commit to solve their numerous problems. When the cops are trying their hand at murder, robbery, drug dealing, kidnapping and blackmail you know that you are probably watching something French.
Perhaps not everyone's cup of tea but I am enjoying every episode.
Braquo will be available on R2 DVD just in time for Valentine's Day (6 February) at around £30.
You can read Norman's Euro Crime reviews here.
Discover French crime writers available in English, here.
Thanks, Karen and Norman - This is a series that I don't know, but it sounds intriguing.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Norman. Like Karen I have been recording this series but have not yet watched it. I wonder when the last episode is aired, the TV guide does not give much of a clue?
ReplyDeleteI think there may be one more - 8 in total.
ReplyDeleteThanks, that makes sense as they usually schedule autumn/winter series to be finished by xmas. Finally catching up on Killing 2 by the way, enjoying it though the police only follow up leads in series not in parallel!
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