The Purple Rivers -Season 3 - Blu-ray

Content: Actually, Pierre Niémans (Olivier Marchal) with his partner Camille Delaunay (Erika Sainte) just wanted to visit a former colleague and good friend of Niémans. But after they find the man dead and another body is found shortly thereafter, it becomes clear that someone is targeting the investigator's old team and killing the men by infecting them with the plague. A race against time begins to stop the plague, which was thought to have been eradicated, from spreading. It is not the only extraordinary murder case in which the two from the "Central Bureau of Violent Crimes" have to investigate: The discovery of two bodies tied together leads Niémans and Camille to a neopagan festival, where things are not quite as harmonious as they first appear. After this case, Camille actually wants to take a vacation, but becomes involved in a mysterious missing persons case, which soon leads Camille and Niémans on the trail of a serial killer who kills his victims according to the sequence of the zodiac signs. As if that weren't enough, the duo must then go undercover to investigate one of Europe's most dangerous prisons - where a dark secret from Niémans' past threatens to come to light...

The series adaptation of Jean-Christophe Grangé's bestseller "The Purple Rivers" enters its third round with four new cases, each presented in double episodes. What was planned as a mini-series has become a real hit with audiences, especially in France, which is why a fourth season has now even been confirmed. I admit that I have had a bit of a hard time with the series so far. I think it's much better than the disappointing second feature film. But it just doesn't come close to the first film - neither atmospherically, nor in terms of staging and suspense. Meanwhile, however, I see the series as completely independent and can therefore also recognize some of the strengths that are responsible for its popularity.

Despite this, there are still aspects that bother me again and again and ensure that the series for me is never more than good - but at times very good - average. In the new episodes, for example, Camille behaves so stupidly in pursuit of a suspect, which is simply not befitting of an experienced investigator. Such moments are then rather unintentionally funny, which of course comes at the expense of suspense. Another problem the series has to deal with from the very first episode is the presentation of the resolution of the respective cases. These are built up (sometimes too) slowly for about 88 minutes, often leaving only 2 to 3 minutes for the showdown. This does not seem at all balanced and is simply unsatisfactory for the viewers.

Despite this: Even if "Die purpurnen Flüsse" is not quite the big hit, the series offers on balance atmospherically dense crime fare with some interesting and quite exciting twists and turns, which is enhanced by the well-chosen locations and the sovereign acting actor duo. And who liked the first two seasons, to which these four new episodes (especially the first and the fourth) can be warmly recommended anyway. Worth seeing!

Image + Sound: The atmospheric images of the series are well accentuated thanks to the atmospheric color scheme and the high overall sharpness. In the darker scenes, there are minor point deductions in the detail presentation, but otherwise the picture quality leaves a really good impression. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix remains largely unspectacular, as - aside from a few sound effects and ambient noise - the dialogue and restrained soundtrack dominate the proceedings. Good!

Extras: Bonus material is unfortunately not.

Conclusion: "The Purple Rivers" goes in its series form with four new cases in the third round. Although there are still some weaknesses, but overall the series has qualitatively made a step forward. Neat suspense and atmospheric locations can then also override some weak points. The double Blu-ray presents the new episodes in good to very good picture and sound quality. Only on extras fans have to do without this time. Who already liked season 1 and 2, for which also applies here quite clearly: recommendable!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp