“Public Enemy” Season One TV series review

I believe “Public Enemy: Season One” is the first Belgian crime series I’ve covered, and it’s a pretty good intro to the country’s production of police procedurals. Chloe (Stephanie Blanchoud) is a big-city detective who has run afoul of the brass. That’s why she’s assigned to escort a serial child killer, Guy Beranger (Angelo Bison), who has served 20 of his 30-year sentence, to his parole placement – novitiate to the monks at a small-town monastery. She also has to stick around for quite a while to oversee security. Chloe is probably the worst choice for the gig for reasons we gradually learn during the season.

The village locals are up in arms about having this notorious scumbag in their midst; many of the monks are equally displeased. The villagers fear for the safety of their children. A few, primarily publican Patrick (Philippe Jeusette), have another reason – big plans for a tourist-attracting development that Guy’s presence threatens. Ain’t nobody gonna be comin’ to hang out at a resort with him in the vicinity. It would seem as appealing as taking ice-carving lessons from O.J.

Shortly after Guy’s arrival, a young girl disappears. Everyone assumes he’s back to his old sadism, though the logistics cast doubt. During the season a couple of further events along those lines further stir the pot. Throughout, Bison’s Guy evokes comparisons to Hannibal Lecter. Not for his dietary preferences, but for the calm, controlled intellect that keeps his culpability ambiguous while manipulating others via mind games.

The first four episodes are slow sledding, and Chloe is a less engaging protagonist than average for the genre. But the pace of the plot and the level of physical action pick up nicely the rest of the way. The other principals with significant story arcs are local detective Michael (Jean-Claude Dubiez) and the young monk in charge of Guy’s acclimation to their cloistered life, Lucas (Paul Galliano). Both add noteworthy value to the product. Bison, and Vincent Londez as his psycho son, deliver superb and varied forms of villainy.

Despite the tedium of the early going, the nine credited writers have crafted a suspenseful season with a surprising denouement (Well, surprising to me, who hopes not to be the only one that didn’t see it coming.). More seasons have aired abroad, and will surely join this fine start in streaming on our side of the Atlantic.

“Public Enemy,” mostly in French with English subtitles, begins streaming on MHz Choice starting Tuesday, Mar. 18.

RATING: 3 out of 4 stars