Maigret

I greatly enjoyed these four offerings featuring Simenon’s Inspector Maigret. I have watched older versions and they are fine, but this take on Maigret really captured my attention. I like the atmosphere and mood of the shows, as well as the dialogue and interaction between the characters. There is a slight difference in quality, but I have re-watched them all. Note that the episodes are 90 minutes long, so it is like watching four movies, so plan your viewing time accordingly.

Atkinson's acting is what I call restrained, especially noticeable if you are used to his comedy. It is appropriate for this character, I think. But there is more to his performance than merely holding himself back. When he moves and talks in this measured way, changes in his facial expression can speak volumes. I liked all four shows, but the three with the screenplays written by Stewart Harcourt were superb, with crisp dialogue and careful building of the plots.

I like that Maigret has such a strong marriage. I get tired of police procedural adding drama by having dysfunction in the lead cop's relationship, due to their obsessive dedication to their job, or having an wife get involved with another man (with the usual double standard of he himself having had an affair first). I mean, it may be accurate in real life, but at some point it seems overused.

In addition to Maigret’s wife, the supporting characters are also strong, from his officers to the interesting and knowledgeable forensics specialist, who you may remember as the postal worker in Lark Rise to Candleford.

In particular I will highlight the episode called Maigret’s Dead Man, which is not only my favorite, but also the best police procedural I have seen in a long time. I liked Atkinson's performance, as usual, plus how Maigret's wife gets involved in the case. Also, Maigret's relationship with his team and the inspector from another jurisdiction is handled well. It was cool when his sergeant, I believe it was, correctly predicted that Maigret was hooked by the case and would take it on. Finally, near the end there is a short aspeech given by Maigret to the killer about his victim that is one of the most memorable brief monologues from a movie I have seen in a long time.

I am sure I will watch them again.