“Cherif” Season 5 – TV Series Review

Season 5 of the light-hearted French TV police drama “Cherif” opens where Season 4 left off. Adeline (Carole Bianic) had been set up by her nemesis, Commandant Sylvie Delmas (Catherine Marchal) for a murder, with the evidence against her looking pretty solid. First order of business is for Captain Cherif (Abdelhafid Metasi) to whip up one of his off-the-wall game plans to save his partner. I won’t say how, but we all know he does.

My review of previous seasons of “Cherif” on this site was posted on June 6. Please scroll down through that review for background for this season.

As Season 5 progresses, Adeline’s ordeal throughout Season 4 has taken a toll. Despite her blossoming romance with Cherif, work is no longer the source of satisfaction it had always been. This leads to her departure, and puts Cherif into a funk. But a new homicide squad member, Roxane Le Goff (Aurore Erguy), arrives, who might fill the professional void, if not the personal one.

As before, each episode poses a new murder to be solved, with Cherif usually adapting clever ploys he’s memorized from American TV crime series. He gleefully cites the show and episode number when starting to spin those wheels. This season also sees more comical touches from flirting with the fourth wall almost as blatantly as in one of Cherif’s favorites, “Moonlighting.” Those in the know will particularly appreciate a return visit from his Grandmother’s spirit that allows him to read most women’s’ minds in Episode 4. But the year’s highlight comes in Episode 7, when a concussed Cherif hallucinates an amazing guest appearance from one who both annoys and helps our hero. ‘Nuff said about that.

As always, the scripts are solid on the crimes and the humor component. Many supporting cast members are given enough screen time to enhance the atmosphere and the stories. The introduction of the beautiful Roxane is handled particularly well by making her married with a couple of kids, so Cherif isn’t thrust into another will-they-won’t-they dance so soon after losing Adeline. Unlike the previous season, this one ends WITHOUT a serious cliffhanger, allowing fans to relax for the next month, or so, until we get the 6th and final season of this delightful series.

“Cherif,” Season Five, alternatively titled “Captain Cherif,” mostly in French with English subtitles, is available for streaming on MHz Choice beginning Tuesday, July 12.

RATING: 3.5 out of 4 stars