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Amazon.co.uk Review
If you’re looking for an unpredictable small screen thriller to sink your teeth into, then you sometimes have to look beyond the television output of the UK and the US. To France, in this case, as three series of the highly acclaimed TV show Spiral have been brought together in this single box set. And, along with The Killing, it’s an international television treat that’s aching to be discovered.
The show goes under the name of Engrenages in its native France, and it’s a police drama series starring Caroline Proust and Gregory Fitoussi. Known as Spiral when it was broadcast in the UK, what’s drawn people to the show has been how intelligently it treats its viewers. You’re not spoon fed everything here, as instead, the writers offer you enough, but aren’t afraid to let you do some of the work. The conventional Hollywood approach to such subject matter is absolutely nowhere to be seen.
It’s gripping drama, made all the better by it being set in another country, and thus dealing with a different way of accomplishing things. For an English viewer, that certainly helps make Spiral interesting. But it’s the sheer quality of the three series you get here, and the willingness to stray from convention, that make this boxset worth the money. It’s gritty, unpredictable drama, and with further series ordered in France, it’s great to hear that there’s more of it to come. --Jon Foster
DVD Description
Contains all episodes from both series of this critically acclaimed drama.
Series One: A badly beaten body of a young Romanian woman is discovered on a Parisian rubbish dump. Her identity and past life are gradually uncovered as the various parts of the French Justice System investigate her death. However, it becomes apparent that her story ties to a network of touching the very people charged with uncovering the truth about her.
Series Two: A burned corpse is found in the boot of a car, a seemingly isolated case of urban violence. However, the case grows in complexity and danger, each new piece of evidence unearths a duplicitous world of international trafficking, informers, double lives and arms dealing. An audacious plan to strike at the heart of the crime network means that the slightest slip will result in certain death.
Series One: A badly beaten body of a young Romanian woman is discovered on a Parisian rubbish dump. Her identity and past life are gradually uncovered as the various parts of the French Justice System investigate her death. However, it becomes apparent that her story ties to a network of touching the very people charged with uncovering the truth about her.
Series Two: A burned corpse is found in the boot of a car, a seemingly isolated case of urban violence. However, the case grows in complexity and danger, each new piece of evidence unearths a duplicitous world of international trafficking, informers, double lives and arms dealing. An audacious plan to strike at the heart of the crime network means that the slightest slip will result in certain death.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Started watching Series 3 when it started on BBC4 recently but, thought it wasn't doing much to introduce the main characters. Then the penny dropped, this must be the latest series, so I googled it and, lo and behold, this was Series 3. Still suffering withdrawal symptoms since The Killing, I hurriedly sent of for Spiral Series 1 & 2. Absolutely brilliant, couldn't watch them fast enough. Terrific characters and really nitty, gritty story lines. First class, hope there's more to come
179 of 186 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Wow! What can I say about this series except that it is riveting! From the first episode to the last I had a very hard time being able to stop between the episodes. Unlike the formulated American dramas like 24 which leave you with artificial cliff hangers at the end of each episode this series gives you only limited information every 50 minutes and your brain has to do the work and connect the dots.
That in itself shows you how intelligent the writers are and that in itself hooks the viewer in to want to (if possible) do a marathon of all episodes all the way to the end.
Refreshing to see something not set in the UK or the US. IE: we are transported to France and NOT just to look at the Eiffel Tower.
It is gritty and the viewer feels the grit. The cops, the low life characters and even the white collar crime bosses all come across rightly so as real people you can identify with... and you get up close and personal with all of them. You absorb their lives, their problems and their mind sets. It is done impeccably.
The actors are first rate and the story moves at a marathon pace; you really can feel exhausted after watching each episode.
As the French do a lot of talking there is a lot to take in with the subtitles (as the language of course is in French) but I didn't find that an issue at all. Yes; I did have to pause and "rewind" maybe a single time in each episode but that was just to ensure I got the right combination of dots connected with the clues.
A brilliant series. A brilliant cast. Extremely well done and definitely a keeper for anyone with a dvd collection. I look forward to re watching later down the road.
That in itself shows you how intelligent the writers are and that in itself hooks the viewer in to want to (if possible) do a marathon of all episodes all the way to the end.
Refreshing to see something not set in the UK or the US. IE: we are transported to France and NOT just to look at the Eiffel Tower.
It is gritty and the viewer feels the grit. The cops, the low life characters and even the white collar crime bosses all come across rightly so as real people you can identify with... and you get up close and personal with all of them. You absorb their lives, their problems and their mind sets. It is done impeccably.
The actors are first rate and the story moves at a marathon pace; you really can feel exhausted after watching each episode.
As the French do a lot of talking there is a lot to take in with the subtitles (as the language of course is in French) but I didn't find that an issue at all. Yes; I did have to pause and "rewind" maybe a single time in each episode but that was just to ensure I got the right combination of dots connected with the clues.
A brilliant series. A brilliant cast. Extremely well done and definitely a keeper for anyone with a dvd collection. I look forward to re watching later down the road.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
After being thoroughly disappointed with The Killing - so grim - I was reluctant to give this as go. That was totally unfair. And totally unfair of the Beeb to bury it on Four like an embaressing penpal they have over on an exchange visit, while they're airing such dross on One and Two - The Shadow Line I'm looking at you!
It looks fabulous, in an understated and cool way, and, as another reviewer has commented, it has a grittiness which is so much more authentic than in many British shows. Also a nice change not to be patronised by the writers and left to read between the lines yourself.
Loved it, will almost certainly rewatch it, and would recommend it heartily to anyone who enjoys high quality crime drama.
It looks fabulous, in an understated and cool way, and, as another reviewer has commented, it has a grittiness which is so much more authentic than in many British shows. Also a nice change not to be patronised by the writers and left to read between the lines yourself.
Loved it, will almost certainly rewatch it, and would recommend it heartily to anyone who enjoys high quality crime drama.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Another great series broadcast by the BBC.
Just when it seemed that Sky Atlantic was getting all the best serial dramas, the BBC have been putting out great Swedish /Danish productions along with Channel 4. Read more
Published 9 days ago by 3cultures
Best thing I've seen in years
This is the best tv show I've seen in a long time, thoroughly deserving of all the other 5 star reviews. For £15,99, getting all 3 series on dvd is an absolute bargain.
Published 12 days ago by Steve Roach
Spiral series 1 to 3
A good price for the first three series of this excellent series.
Excellent for those who missed it when it was on TV
Excellent for those who missed it when it was on TV
Published 15 days ago by Graham Wilson
Stylish French Crime Drama
It's not The Killing but it is a fine crime drama series with a compelling storyline and quite complex, flawed characters. Read more
Published 18 days ago by Brian M. Thomson
Why can't the makers of British tv produce something this good?
Started watching this last summer when they televised it on BBC 3. Was so good ordered series 1& 2 immediately. It has pace, a great story and great characters. Read more
Published 19 days ago by Alexandra Von Kisenberg
You can turn off the subtitles!
I shan't debate the pros and cons set out in the other reviews, I'll just add that if, like me, you wish that French films and TV were routinely available with optional subtitles,... Read more
Published 19 days ago by GWW
Spiral series 1 to 3
A really good story line . Fantastic viewing , watched two episodes every night till I finished it . Read more
Published 1 month ago by L Smith
Great
Great, gritty policier. It is fast paced, in fact so fast paced that sometimes it is hard to follow the translations (and I do read pretty fast). Several intertwined stories. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jackal
Better than any current US or UK Cop Show
The French have made some great gangster/police films over the years and it looks like they are now producing a TV cop show to match. Read more
Published 1 month ago by steve b
Really pleased!!
Cant ever fault Amazon, i find them to be helpful and have never had a problem. Im really enjoying this series, i was a big fan of the killing so when the 2nd series finished i... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Hopefully helpful!! :-)
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