Ep 8. Black Jack

Cherif is a French police procedural drama series that focuses on the life and work of Kader Cherif, a police captain in Lyon, France. With his unorthodox methods and sharp intellect, he solves complex crimes that stump his fellow officers. In season 1 episode 8, titled "Black Jack," Cherif and his team investigate a string of robberies that seem to be connected to a high stakes poker game.

The episode begins with a group of masked intruders breaking into a wealthy businessman's home and stealing his safe. The victim, a diamond dealer, reports the crime to the police, who become curious when they discover that the man is a regular in a secret poker game held by a notorious criminal, Black Jack. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that the victims of the robberies are all members of this poker game, and that the thefts are a way of stealing back funds that were once owed to Black Jack.

Cherif and his partner, Adeline Briard, immerse themselves in the world of poker to try and get closer to Black Jack, who remains a faceless enigma throughout most of the episode. They visit underground poker clubs and analyze the psychology of the game, attempting to predict the next move of the criminals. Meanwhile, their colleagues on the force are tasked with finding the stolen safe and figuring out how the robbers have managed to elude detection.

As the investigation progresses, the stakes become higher, and Cherif and Adeline find themselves taking bigger risks to try and solve the case. There are several twists and turns, as they follow leads that point to different suspects, but in the end, they manage to track down Black Jack and unravel the mystery behind the robberies. Along the way, they also discover some unexpected surprises about the victims and the criminals.

One of the strengths of "Black Jack" is the attention to detail in the poker scenes. The episode does an excellent job of conveying the tension of high stakes gambling, and the characters' reactions to winning or losing. The cinematography is also noteworthy, with many scenes shot from unusual angles or in unique locations, such as a poker game in an abandoned building.

Overall, "Black Jack" is a gripping and well-crafted episode that showcases the strengths of the Cherif series. Its complex plot and fascinating characters keep the viewer engaged from start to finish, and its exploration of the world of poker adds an exciting layer of intrigue. Fans of police procedurals and grittier crime dramas will find much to enjoy in this episode.