When the legend fades, the dream ends

The first two seasons of Le Bureau des légendes were incredible. The third had not been filmed when I last saw the show and I have only just got around to watching it.

Unfortunately, it does not deliver.

While not at all bad for a TV production, its values have fallen substantially. What was once an intense psychological drama demanding little empathy for its characters has become almost soap operatic in some respects. With the exception of Agent Malotru—portrayed at significant personal sacrifice by Mathieu Kassovitz—the legends of the DGSE have become too fallible and incompetent. For two whole seasons they impressed us, but they now do anything but. At times I wondered if René Artois might do a better job.

The profiles of some characters have even been compromised in order to deliver cheap emotional conflict. Céline (Pauline Étienne) is a prime example of this: Originally so cold and intense in pursuit of professionalism, she is now sometimes indistinguishable from a petty adolescent in a teen drama. Not her fault. She is a fantastic actress. She has merely been dealt bad cards by the writers.

I don’t regret watching season three. Despite my criticism, it is not appalling. It’s just nowhere near as good as seasons one and two—and the contrast in quality is really the problem. Being shunted from something so amazing to something so ordinary is a very jarring experience.

Season four is already airing in France and I have decided that I will not be watching. For a story that will be continued, season three provides a surprising degree of closure… so while I don’t know where the road will end for Malotru, it terminates here for me.