Spiral s2 ep 8
I could be absolutely fair here and admit that this was very good. A bit melodramatic towards the end, but very good.
Upping the stakes for everyone concerned (including the viewer), Gilou and Fromentin tailed the Larbi drug convoy to Spain, Laure turned the tables on Shady Josephine, and Samy found himself at the mercy of Mus and his merry band of villains. Meanwhile, Judge Roban, uncharacteristically out of his depth, kept going on about not having the “letters rogatory” required to let the boys actually DO anything in Spain (Why didn’t you just GET the bloody ”letters rogatory” BEFORE they went to Spain, then?), which meant all hell broke loose during the last half of the show as the goodies searched madly for Samy and the baddies just went mad.
It was nail-biting stuff, and while it was always going to be difficult to meet the high expectations raised by last week’s brilliant episode, it very nearly managed to. Very nearly. Samy’s story was desperately tense, Laure’s sub-plot took us from triumph to terror and back again, and everything dashed headlong to the end in a manner reminiscent of the best episodes of 24.
But still, I was a bit disappointed. I feel a bit embarrassed about it but I was. Like I said, I could be absolutely fair here. I could accept that it fitted in with the story, and he’d served his purpose and he got a lovely scene with Laure for his pains, and yes, yes, whatever. But come on, fairness only goes so far. Pierre appeared (and was awesome) for about 5 minutes, and then we never saw him again? Seriously? The finale and we never saw him again? You betcha I’m disappointed. Sigh.
The thing that let it down for me was the very abrupt ending.
Ok, the very abrupt ending and the lack of quality Pierre time.
The ending bothered me a bit as well. It was so incongruously happy! Surely Mus would have killed Samy and tossed him in the sea, rather than bring him back to France where the cops would be sure to find him (dead or alive) at some point? I mean, I’m glad he didn’t, I like Samy (although not as much as Pierre), but it just seemed a bit too chirpy for Spiral. Especially after the crazy shooting in the police cell etc…
If this had been episode 5 or 6 then it would have been an exciting, high-quality episode, but as a finale, it didn’t really work. The ending was not only abrupt but was also far too pat considering the twists and turns of the previous episodes. It was also really unsatisfying that Pierre and Josephine were all done and dusted in the opening 15 minutes.
I don’t think you’re being churlish to feel disappointed, CJ!
I’m glad it wasn’t just me. Apparently they are making season 3 at the moment, but chances are we won’t get it for another 3 years again. Where am I supposed to get my Pierre fix, meantime? I draw the line at watching GI Joe again.
I’m certainly looking forward to season 3, even with the dodgy ending. I hope we don’t have to wait another 3 years!!
I didn’t know that Pierre was in GI Joe – not that I’ll ever watch it!! I’d like to see Josephine in something else where she plays a nice, smiling person.
He’s only in it for a few minutes, Sherby. Much like this episode……….
But what a glorious few minutes they must be for you!
Definitely the highlights of the movie
Hi, I recently finished the first season of Engrenages, and I liked the Pierre-Laure relationship so much that I’ve been reading your recaps to get an idea of what happens to that relationship in the second season. Before I commit to watching it!
Um, so can you tell me how things end between them? Are they dating other people this season? Are they together again by this final episode?
Hey K, welcome to Unpopcult. Are you sure you really want me to tell you? If not, look away NOW…
SPOILER: Pierre and Laure are not together, alas. They both date other people in this season, and do a fair bit of arguing with each other in quite a few eps. They do eventually make up and have a few nice scenes showing they are friends again, but no they don’t end up together. If anything, I thought their last scene together seemed to be Pierre giving Laure his blessing to move on and leave him behind. Sherby & Olive, do you agree?
Such a shame! But thanks for letting me know.
Hmmmm. Did we definitely establish that Laure was lying about having a long-term boyfriend??
K, was there any mention of Laure having a partner in season 1? We’ve all forgotten because it was on so long ago.
No, there was no partner in season one. She hooked up with someone before she slept with Pierre, and she gave some guy her number after she’d slept with Pierre. Defo single.
Thanks for the clarification, K, it certainly throws a different light on to some of Laure’s behaviour in season 2.
It would be interesting if you watched season 2, K, as it’s been so long since the rest of us saw it that it all seems a bit of a distant memory. Season 2 seems to be a lot less intricate and somewhat less grimy than the first, and it would be good to get your perspective.
I’ve finally got around to posting my thoughts on this episode: http://poursomegravyonme.co.uk/2009/11/15/stuff-i-watched-7th-nov-14th-nov-2009/ – it’s not been a good TV week for me.
I liked it. Thought it was quite gripping. But then I think Samy (or whatever his real name is) is hotter than Pierre.
Have you only just got around to watching it, Red?
Yes, I have a major Sky+ backlog. I’ve been away from home.
A Sky+ backlog can be both wonderful and daunting – it really depends on what you have on there!