Watch Les Petits Meurtes D'Agatha Christie
- 2009
- 1 Season
Les Petits Meurtres D'Agatha Christie is a French television series that premiered on France 2 in 2009. Based on the novels of Agatha Christie, the show features detective stories set in the 1950s and 1960s in various French locations, such as Paris, Brittany, or the French Riviera.
Each episode, which lasts approximately 90 minutes, tells a self-contained mystery, with a focus on the human relationships and emotions that drive the characters to commit crimes or solve them. While the main characters are recurring, each episode introduces a new set of suspects and motivations, puzzling the audience until the final reveal.
In the first two seasons, Pauline (Blandine Bellavoir) is the main protagonist, a young journalist with a curious mind that often leads her to investigate crimes alongside her friend and police officer Capitaine Laurence ( Samuel Labarthe). They have a playful dynamic that balances Laurence's traditionalism with Pauline's boldness, and often engage in banter about their respective roles in society.
Some of the cases they tackle in the first two seasons include a murder at a masked ball, a death during a writing workshop, or a classic locked-room mystery. The show's strength lies in the attention to period details, vivid cinematography, and the use of Agatha Christie's signature twists and turns to keep the audience guessing.
In the third and fourth seasons, the setting and characters change, with Alice Avril (Ãlodie Frenck) taking over as the new amateur detective, teamed up with the gruff and haunted inspector Swan Laurence (Samuel Labarthe reprising his role from the first two seasons). Alice is a fashion journalist with a sharp sense of observation and a vulnerability that contrasts with her glamorous lifestyle.
The mysteries in these seasons are darker and more psychological, dealing with themes such as family secrets, war traumas, and political conspiracies. The show also deepens its exploration of the characters' private lives, revealing their past and present struggles and romantic entanglements.
Les Petits Meurtres D'Agatha Christie is a rare example of a successful adaptation of a beloved literary canon in a foreign language and culture. It manages to retain the essence of Christie's work while adding a French twist of humor, sensuality, and social commentary.
The show has enjoyed high viewership and critical acclaim, winning the Golden Fipa for Best Series and Best Actor in a Series at the 2019 Canneseries festival. Its popularity has also led to spinoff novels, comic books, and a board game.
Overall, Les Petits Meurtres D'Agatha Christie is a stylish, intelligent, and entertaining tribute to the Queen of Crime, and a testament to the global appeal of her legacy.
