"Witnesses," a Gripping French TV Thriller on Netflix
May 7, 2015 | Foreign TV, French TV, Netflix | 20 |
(July 2017 update: Witnesses season 2 is available on Netflix. Here is our review. The season 1 review is below.)
Witnesses is a police procedural thriller along the lines of The Fall, Hinterland, and Broadchurch. Newly released from France, it is currently one of the best TV shows on Netflix. It stands out in an overworked genre with a unique plot, crisp directing, stylish camerawork, psychological tension, and moments of genuine suspense. All of this makes the six episodes of Witnesses worthy of a spot at the top of your Netflix TV shows list.
Marie Dompnier stars as Sandra Winckler, who leads the investigation into an unusual series of graverobbings that take place along the north coast of France. Recently deceased, excavated corpses are set up in model homes as if they lived there. A picture left at the latest crime scene requires the return of retired policeman Paul Maisonneuve, played by Thierry Lhermitte, who left the force due to tragic, personal events.
Winckler and Maisonneuve
Winckler is a particularly sharp detective, missing almost nothing and, seemingly, a step ahead of the rest of her squad. At home, she has insomnia, and we see her compulsively cleaning her house in the middle of the night. Winckler was trained by years ago by Maisonneuve; unspoken tension between them periodically surfaces. Initially, it seems the investigation is a competition between the two.
Maisonneuve is distant and aloof, slow to reveal information, and it appears he may have things to hide. Winckler senses this and is determined to find out the whole story. Is personal animosity or the desire to do good police work driving her?
Unlike the gritty Spiral, another French cop show on Netflix well worth your time, Witnesses has a cool, contemporary sheen. Scenes are often artistically staged, one-point perspectives down streets, treed allées, and hallways. Aerial shots feature chalk cliffs with the coastal city nestled in a green, rural landscape. The views set the mood. Even in the modern suburbs, there is a sense of remoteness and isolation.
There are also brief hints of supernatural forces or apparitions, as well as a soundtrack and a few scenes that flirt with horror movie territory, but never quite cross over. The dark and somber mood, sharp script, intriguing characters and a plot that advances at a steady pace will keep your attention through every minute of the six, one-hour episodes.
Witnesses was created and directed by Herve Hadmar. The 2014 French TV series was an instant hit and has already aired in England and Australia. Witnesses season 2 is scheduled to air in France later in 2015. Get ready to binge watch and put season 1 at the top of your Netflix streaming list.
February 2017 update: The long awaited season 2 of Witnesses will air in France in spring, 2017. We do not yet know when it will be available in the US.
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karo pones on May 22, 2015 at 12:58 pm
Good series, with a beautiful and intelligent police woman.
chetthomas on May 22, 2015 at 1:58 pm
Steven B on January 1, 2016 at 4:34 pm
I think–no, I know I an in love with her
Tina m on August 4, 2015 at 11:32 am
I want to watch season 2 now even if I have to move to France
chetthomas on August 4, 2015 at 2:15 pm
Ha ha – I'm with you!
rhona on October 9, 2015 at 2:11 pm
I just want to move in with her!
chetthomas on January 2, 2016 at 8:33 am
And who wouldn't? 😉
Alice on October 13, 2015 at 11:34 pm
Yes this was a great series hope season 2 is close to being released in the USA
Genevieve on March 28, 2016 at 7:19 pm
I keep feeling that I have seen a version of this show dubbed in English. Am I dreaming or has someone else had this experience?.
chetthomas on March 29, 2016 at 1:16 pm
I don't know! Has anyone else had this dream?
Amy on July 5, 2016 at 11:34 am
Stupid. She uses her phone for a light but doesn't call for back up before going underground or in the tunnel. Bad writing. Not even watching the end of this series. Ridiculous.
Suzy8track on July 6, 2017 at 4:50 pm
I just finished Season 2 on Netflix and was very annoyed at how stupid she was! So many bad decisions, that made me want to scream at her! Also the ending was a bit unsatisfying. What was the ,motivation of these horrible characters? You never really get a clear answer. Still, even with these flaws, it was a rather creepy mystery.
Alexis on July 10, 2017 at 1:59 pm
I agree, there's no explanation how Gloria, Atticus and geir are involved, what the meaning of Atticus saying the ' children want to be free' when they are living in squalor; it actually makes no sense at all and though the characters are all mad, still, what is the motive? However, bizarre. BTW, I searched for a drug causing PERMANENT AND TOTAL amnesia and there is none.
Patjoy on August 4, 2017 at 3:00 pm
Agree with you – haven't watched the end yet but I will have to to find out whodunnit. This could have been a great series but the absurd plot twists just take away so much from the story. First season, she takes a wounded girl in a tunnel and then watches her die. Why didn't she phone for help?? Second season, really?? How many laws did she break aiding and abetting the mother who is supposed to be under house arrest?? Such a creative story just diminished by unbelievable antics. I wonder what the writers were injesting.
Jacalyn on July 9, 2017 at 7:08 pm
I loved the show and found it gripping, but there was a little continuity problem in that Catherine's child was said to be a boy in the beginning, but ended up being a girl at the end!
L on July 12, 2017 at 11:03 pm
So glad you said that! That drove me crazy!!! It was a boy all throughout and then suddenly a girl??? And they couldn't fix that ..
Janita on August 16, 2018 at 11:29 pm
Oh my gosh I thought I was losing my mind!!! Why on earth would she suddenly be a girl when the mom had been saying "he" all season? I thought she was trying to trick him or something different then they never corrected it!
Martin Edelson on July 2, 2018 at 10:04 pm
I agree that the plots were contrived but I appreciated the acting. Just about every speaking role was populated by a competent actor. Yes, the heroine is beautiful, but better yet, she is intelligent, honest, and interesting. Her lovers … not so much but the actors who portrayed them did a very creditable job. Even the children did well. All in all, if you like far-out stories and enjoy watching good performances you'll "suspend disbelief" sufficiently to watch the series … both seasons.
I'm hoping for a Season 3.
chetthomas on July 3, 2018 at 8:10 am
Good comments! Thanks, and we are also hoping for Witnesses season 3.
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