Paris Police 1905 (2022– ) User Reviews

More gritty period drama in turn of the twentieth century Paris

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 12 March 2023]

This sequel is, unsurprisingly, set five years after the events of 'Paris Police 1900'. Detective Antoine Jouin's new case involves the death of a man found shot in the Bois de Boulogne, an area frequented by those seeking sexual company, female or male. He has been shot four times in the head but surprisingly it is thought it might be a suicide. In the city there is a clampdown on prostitution; a woman is picked up and protests that her baby is alone at home. In what follows we see the seedier side of Parisian life, at both higher and lower echelons of society.

I thought this was a solid sequel. While it isn't essential to have seen 'Paris Police 1900' it certainly does help as that introduces certain key characters. The story is interesting, as are the characters. The series captures the feel of the era with some atmospheric camera work and period references; I particularly enjoyed the senior officer in his new car... pure 'Mr Toad'! The cast did an impressive job bringing the characters to life. Overall I'd certainly recommend this, especially to anybody who enjoyed the previous series.

These comments are based on watching the series in French with English subtitles.

It takes a whilst to engage with this but don't give up on it.

[1930s_Time_Machine · 6/10 · 21 April 2023]

Not as exciting as the first series but just as engrossing. The pace is sub-glacial but something inside you forces you to keep watching. After you've sat through what seems several thousand hours you realise why you've been sucked into this world.... because you are actually in that incredibly different and pretty horrible world. This is the next best thing to a time machine

It doesn't do what so many period dramas do these days - have 21st century people with 21st century attitudes in costume. Of course we can't know for sure but the people in this behave and think like people in 1905 probably did. Violence, corruption, the acceptance of gaping inequality is not criticised like we would now, it's just normal, it's accepted.

There are a couple of reasons you might be put off by this. As I've mentioned, it's not as exciting as the first series and at times gives the impression that nothing happens - is it boring? Maybe it is but somehow fascinating at the same time. The other criticism is that nobody ever smiles - ever! This has to be one of the most miserable things I've ever watched... but there's something special about it which keeps you glued.

Great characters but plot collapses at the end

[tonymcmahon-41199 · 8/10 · 13 April 2023]

This was a slow burn in the first two episodes but then took off with deliciously horrible characters and the actors clearly enjoying getting their teeth into it.

Then in episode six, it just speeded to a very unsatisfactory conclusion. Very plot point was hastily addressed with no real tension or sense of reveal - and no final dramatic pinch point when all could be lost. Really deflating considering how much promise it has.

You were left wondering what happened to the chap who was found dead in the Bois de Boulogne in episode one? There was no sense of going back to that crime with a definitive answer. And why were we wasting time with the pathologist trying to invent a solution for traffic problems in Paris - how did that relate to the overall plot?

Briilliant continuation of a historical TV series.

[thesaurusuk · 9/10 · 7 March 2023]

Paris Police 1900 was an excellent series, mixing fiction with actual history. Paris Police 1905 is equally gripping with great story and compelling performances. Don't expect fast action but the intrigue is intricate. The series is dark and uncompromising but it's not an easy viewing so be warned. There's plenty of blood and mayhem throughout. Corruption, greed and plain stupidity also plays it part. At the same time it's an exciting time in Paris with first women lawyers, motor cars craze and police reforms, which would eventually make the force as we know it today. Although it's not necessary I would strongly recommend to watch the Paris Police 1900 first.

Season 2 of this brilliant drama continues the gripping ride!

[calibanw · 9/10 · 25 June 2023]

So coming off the back of that amazing season 1, I wasn't sure I was going to warm as much to season 2 after the first episode. Season 2 starts slower but then revs up and the last few episodes are amongst the show's best. Replacing the political backdrop of season 1's antisemitism, this season zeroes in on a corrupt vice squad and the blackmail of sex workers and their clients. This backdrop provides another gritty context for the human drama to play out between police, politicians, the church and the bourgeoisie. Nearly all of the characters from season 1 have returned 5 years later, and this season continues the excellent script and engaging characterisations as well as that gorgeous cinematography and set design. The oppressive sexual politics of early twentieth century life is on full display and the descent into the corrupt netherworld is a gripping ride! Recommended!

Turn of century French Noir still gripping ... just requires a little more patience!

[matthewhaddrill · 7/10 · 10 April 2023]

The sequel to Fabien Nury's period French Noir 'Paris Police 1900' is more of a slowburn than the first series. You don't get to know the important details of 'Paris 1905' until the final episode, so a bit more patience is needed. I kept thinking to myself "Well, I'm enjoying this, but is it really as good as the first one?". I'm not sure. I still love its attention to period detail, real life historic events, amazing sets and props, great filming technique, gripping drama and action, a credit to everybody involved in its production and a work of art you could say! But the subject matter of the second series is a bit obscure (also sleazy, but I guess that's the point, Paris social underbelly etc?), and, as another reviewer has pointed out, the writers occasionally fall into explaining language which suggests some sort of confusion in the plot. Most of the characters that we grew to love in the first series are still there, retired Prefect of Police Louis Lépine ("the little man with the big stick") played by Marc Barbé is now bereaved as his wife died of Sepsis, and is joined by his daughter Louise (Mathilde Weil), maverick officer Joseph Fiersi (Thibault Evrard) is adjusting to retired life, and, of course, it's still hard to resist the secret love between detective Antoine Jouin (Jérémie Laheurte), now 'happily' married, supposedly, and lawyer Jeanne Chauvin (Eugénie Derouand). Among other things, of course, lots of interesting stories continue to be woven into the main plotline. That said, I found it hard to get totally into 'Paris Police 1905', but held on until it came good in the end, patience! Good that BBC Four and iPlayer have made the Canal+ series available in the UK. I hope the makers decide to continue, as I'm sure there are loads more events they could feature around the turn of the century in Paris.

I think this, and the 1900 version are brilliant

[florrieattheflics · 10/10 · 19 March 2023]

This is unique in giving me the feeling that I am watching, not a period drama, but action filmed at the time. The creators must have started with actual footage from the time then built on it to give us a macabre version of actual events twisted and hacked beyond the possible. I keep on expecting to see Monsieur Proust lurking in the shadows. I might add that I am a fan of Frank Tallis's Liebermann novels set in Vienna at the same period, and I so wish the Paris Police team had had the job of bringing them to television. Will there be a Paris Police 2010? And the horrors of 1915? I am sure they would be well worth waiting for!

Stylish, somewhat graphic, but bewildering

[davidallenxyz · 3/10 · 13 March 2023]

Undoubtedly this is a very high quality production, elegantly filmed and with careful details that transport the viewer back by over a century. Unlike a lot of dramas which try to modernise the characters to suit modern attitudes, this stays true to the morality of the era.

There are some surprisingly brutal scenes (not necessarily for the squeamish, which you'll realise from the opening scene), and a couple of slightly suggestive sexual moments.

But scratch beneath the surface and across the first 5 episodes there is no actual story development. I won't include spoilers, but many of the events that happen and which you assume will be important in the future simply aren't followed up. The acting is dry and the episodes are slow. Characters undergo trauma and then appear fully recovered shortly afterwards. Extremely unlikely friendships are formed to enable future events to happen.

The writers clearly knew this was a mess because the sixth (and final) episode includes two scenes where minor characters explain exactly what has happened in simple language. And the ridiculous thing is, half of the characters and locations mentioned in the exposition had barely been included in the previous 5 episodes.

A disappointment.

PS I did not realise this was a "sequel" to Paris Police 1900, and had not seen the original series. Many of the cast are the same, but this story appears to stand on its own. It just isn't a good story.

Ca Marche Tres Lentement

[blogward · 2/10 · 4 March 2023]

Rich on period detail, PP1905 is about middle-aged French actors strutting their stuff in dark clothes. It would seem that very little actualy happened in Paris in 1905, beyond people chatting over meals and drinks. Art Nouveau was trending, and the motor car was yet to take over, and it snowed.

One or two people got murdered, and some sex workers were taken into custody, under protest. The police of 1905 were naturally completely honest.

I dread to think how tedious this series would be without English subtitles, otherwise I would have no clue as to what was going on. You may have gathered by now that very little was going on, even if the sense of period is very good. But 1905 was no less full of ennui than 2023.

Looking for suspense? Ca n'est pas ici.

Scénario ennuyeux...rouleau des yeux

[Hntr3 · 3/10 · 7 January 2024]

My criticism is not with the excellent visuals, recreation of turn of the century Paris or the quality of acting. This script was plodding and superficial. I understand the story was set in a time where social attitudes were vastly different from the era we are now in, however, as it is a fictional creation of the 21st century we could have been introduced to at least one sympathetic non-heterosexual character in order to challenge tired stereotypes of a bygone era, non? Pourquoi pas? The continual use of the archaic slurs 'invert' and 'pederast' without any critique or challenge became grating. Outdated conscious (or unconscious) heterosexual bias of the script was problematic. A stoic, hyper-violent heterosexual masculinity has positive outcomes for the protagonist and more than one other male character. This is strangely contrasted with examples of highly emotional, weak and cowardly so-called pederasts who end up dead, diseased or disgraced. Quel plaisir? Non. I enjoyed season one PP1900 and had high expectations for season two but found the graphic violence and overall meanness of the script dull and disappointing. Pas amusé. Saison 3, non merci.