Spiral 4

[YouMakeMeWannaLaLa]

Starting tonight at 9pm BBC Four. Double episode!

[pigsinmud]

Set to record!

[diddl]

I´m recording also.

Am currently watching Series 1 online.

[teejwood]

Nice to see series 4 starting in a lovely calm way, nothing gruesome at all

[teejwood]

Nice to see how it's all going to go horribly wrong this early in the series

[teejwood]

Crap - completely unoriginal posting there - will have more for next week's commentary...

[YouMakeMeWannaLaLa]

Brilliant stuff. It's so gripping. I love Laure (but not half as much as Pierre ).

Missing Roban, though!

[fussychica]

We call her Dirty Laure in this house as she doesn't seem to wear clean/different clothes much.
Also call Josephine Karlsson - ginger, for obvious reasons - how un PC we are
Think Roban is back next week

Love it - dark, gripping and foreign - everything I want from a crime drama.

[fussychica]

Oh and you can catch Pierre in Mr Selfridge if you need an extra fix

[YouMakeMeWannaLaLa]

"dark, gripping and foreign" fussychica, that's how I like my men!

Pierre somehow isn't sexy when he's fussing about window displays and speaking english!

[diddl]

Well I´ve just watched Series 1.

Anyone know where I might be able to find 2&3 online?

[choceyes]

I love Spiral! Thought I was the only one watching it. It's just as good as The Killing etc, infact the writing is better IMO, and I prefer the character relationships in Spiral.

Oh yeah..and the lovely Gregory Fitoussi!

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Usual tensions, can Laure get off the hook, what is Gilou getting himself into? No Raban yet, he is a strange character but a 'goodie' and necessary civilising influence.

Like the slow simmer between Josephine and Pierre, him commenting on her new blue dress. Attractive couple.

The thing is I can't imagine Pierre wearing anything other than a black suit and tie, white shirt.. Not a jeans and sweatshirt guy. Is that a problem? Non!

[Dylanlovesbaez]

I can't freaking believe it. I got sooooo excited tonight thinking new series of spiral-yaaaaay! Then I discover it bloody started last week while I was watching series 3 on DVD-nooooooo!

[YouMakeMeWannaLaLa]

dylan

Can't wait for tonight's episodes. Hope Gilou isn't going to do anything stupid...though you know he will!

[Dylanlovesbaez]

I bloody love gilou oh and Pierre. Right, I'm staying away until I catch up. Enjoy.

[diddl]

Dylan, I´m watching series 3 atm as well.

Where are you up to?

I´ve just watched Ep7.

[Dylanlovesbaez]

Diddl, finished series 3 last sat! Would you believe it. Ooooh it's fantastic. I think I want to be laure, I love her like I love Lund!

[diddl]

I think I´ll be finished tomorrow & then ready to watch Series 4.

Although I´m finding it a bit tedious-the red headed lawyer stealing from her client, the prostitute running away & caught straight away, Pierre stupid enough to let the young boy stay.

Bit predictable.

Oh & Gilou pisses me right off!

[YouMakeMeWannaLaLa]

Oooh Tintin nooo! Hope he's ok!

Bloody 'ell, got a bit steamy between Josephine and Pierre there! French filth; love it!

Glad to see Roban back!

Love love love it!

[YouMakeMeWannaLaLa]

I think that Herville is dodgy too. Maybe he's connected to those Sarhouise brothers, that's why he likes Gilou so much?

And some more corruption to come out with Roban's rape case.

Exciting stuff.

[teejwood]

Wow - no let up this week. Roban back - yeah! And was v impressed with Pierre's performance in front of Wagner - hoping that Laure is off the hook at last!

Can't believe what they've done to Tintin though and when do you think the brothers are going to ask Gilou what they're getting for their tens of thousands of euros?!

Interesting to see that Josephine has a completely messed up background - that tough as nails schtick had to come from somewhere. Over previous series, we've seen where most of the main characters have come from and the things that have driven them to where they are now - Roban, Laure, Gilou, Pierre - so it's good to see that spotlight turned on Josephine and we get to see her story.

Herville - mmm - what is he up to? I thought perhaps trying to get one over on CID - professional rivalry or career ambition - but am wondering if there is another agenda? Looking forward to next week, and hoping that all is not lost for Tintin

[polyhymnia]

Does any kind person want to summarise - for benefit of someone just starting on Spiral with Series 4 and loving it but not having the time to watch the other three series at moment - 'the things that have driven' the main characters to where they are now/ key facts about their pasts.

Just a sentence or two for each character would be great!

[Wolfgirl]

Evening ladies. Just seen that Spiral 4 has started, so trying to do catch up on Iplayer. But... eps. 2 seems to be missing. Can anyone advise where I can see it? Many thanks Wolfie.

xx

[MaitreKarlsson]

Hi Polyhmnia
Will do my best but am sure others have better memories..

Capitaine Laure Berthaud - totally driven cop, very loyal to her crew. Sometimes bends the rules to get what she instinctively knows is the right result. In series 2 fell in love with an undercover agent - ended badly. Current relationship good - started in series 3.

Gilles or Gilou - great copper but a bit too fond of prostitutes & drugs - often makes mistakes which Laure has to cover up, eg shooting a drug dealer in the crotch when he wasn't supposed to have been in the house. Has lots of sources etc in the 'underworld'.

Judge Roban - very fair and honest prosecutor who is almost obsessive at getting to the truth of his cases ( French justice system is inquisitorial, not adversarial, so judge has very far-reaching investigative powers). His cases usually run as a sideline to the main cop investigation. In series 3 he found corruption in a Paris suburb which led to the mayor - was warned to back off by mayor's high-ranking powerful friends but didn't. End result was he got taken off his job after his stagiare committed suicide (was caught between the two sides). A good friend of Laure and Pierre.

Pierre - used to be a prosecuting lawyer, now turned criminal defender ie now independent instead of acting for the State. Is now working in partnership with Josephine Karlsson. Upstanding & moral, but she's gradually getting to him..

Josephine Karlsson - criminal defender, pretty amoral and ends up with very nasty clients/mentors. Her mentor was Szabo - mega unscrupulous, friend-of-crooks defender. She's escaped his clutches and set up as an independent lawyer. In series 3 tried to go a bit straighter but always ends up dragged back in to the shady side.

HTH, sorry for any errors everyone else...

[teejwood]

Good synopsis Maitre! but Polyhymnia tbf you do need to watch the previous series to find out the nuances of how they have ended up taking those paths - to give any more detail will just spoil it when you do come to watch series 1-3! The 1-3 box set is £22 on Amazon at the mo - bargain for so many hours of great drama.

Wolfie it looks like ep 2 is back on iPlayer at the mo?