BBC viewers have discovered a 'raunchy and dangerous' historical murder mystery series that is keeping them glued to the screen. Paris Police 1910 was recently made available on the streamer and fans have immediately declared it a must-see.
It is actually the third series of the French-made production. While it made its debut back in 2021, all previous episodes are also available on iPlayer at no extra cost meaning there is no better time for audiences to catch up on the series.
Series Overview and Setting
Each series is set around five years apart beginning with Paris Police 1900, followed by Paris Police 1905 and the more recent Paris Police 1910. Its debut sees the introduction of young and ambitious Police Inspector Antoine Jouin who finds himself embroiled in his first murder case.
Set among the backdrop of turmoil within the French Republic, Jouin is forced to uncover the mystery surrounding a suitcase recovered from the Seine. Meanwhile the more recent series sees a woman discovered bound and gagged.
Critical and Fan Praise
The bodies of both her husband and mother are found nearby. Viewers are reintroduced to Jouin who is suspicious of her witness statement and must discover the truth of what really happened.
Paris Police is something of an undiscovered gem but fans of the genres of both period drama and crime thrillers have lavished it with praise and urged others to check it out. Back when it first aired, one review called it: "A classy, raunchy Parisian noir. . . A promising mixture of high intrigue and low cunning."
Another verdict, this time focused on the third series, dubbed it "a suitably grimy, dramatic and often downright outrageous." The critic added: "It remains a totally engrossing and brilliantly crafted period piece."
"Its flawed, multi-dimensional characters, turbulent politics, gender identity and place, and grimy depiction of early-20th-century France create something resembling a graphic novel brought vividly to life: immersive, depraved, atmospheric and extremely compelling."
Viewer Reactions and Availability
A different write up labelled it 'dangerous' and said: "For anyone who loves historical crime fiction, Paris Police is a sensory treat with an intriguing and often terrifying story at its heart. It’s packed with period accuracy, political finagling, brutal violence, mystery and – yes – plenty of French eccentricity. Paris Police will have you glued to the screen."
Fans are just as enthusiastic as one posted online: "fabulous performances, amazing attention to detail and great scripts all add up to a classic series." Another admitted: "When I watched this I had no idea that it was inspired by real events, many of which are kept in this fictionalised version."
The story starts well and kept me gripped from the start. The cast do a fine job bringing their characters to life and the sepia tinged colour palette creates a great atmosphere. I'd definitely recommend this to fans of historic European drama.
Paris Police 1910 is streaming on BBC iPlayer.
