[Spoiler-free review] The amazing Audrey Fleurot (Spiral, A French Village) is back in HPI. The 8 x 52-minute second season of French private channel TF1's record-breaking comedy/crime drama concludes brilliantly with episodes 7 & 8.
Created by Alice Chegaray-Breugnot and Nicolas Jean — two of the creators of La Mante — with Stéphane Carrié (1), HPI established itself as a ratings phenomenon in France and Belgium during spring 2021 when its first 8 x 52 minute season broke historic records (2) and ranked amongst the most watched dramas in Europe. Sold in 90 countries, the series confirmed its status with the second season. Audrey Fleurot shines as Morgane Alvaro, a mother of three (from two different fathers) with a disdain for authority and a 160 I.Q. that makes her HPI (Haut Potentiel Intellectuel). She was a cleaning lady at the commissariat de Lille until Commissaire Céline Hazan noticed her abilities and offered her a consultant job in the team of Commandant Adam Karadec. The no-nonsense cop tries to adapt his style of policing to the red tornado, as genius as she's uncontrollable.
The actors alongside Audrey Fleurot are excellent: Mehdi Nebbou, who worked for Steven Spielberg or Ridley Scott and appeared on German TV in Allmen and Tatort and in the U.S. drama Homeland, plays Adam Karadec. Céline Hazan is played by Marie Denarnaud (La malédiction du volcan). The other regulars are Bruno Sanches (Gilles Vandraud), Bérangère McNeese (Daphné Forestier), Cypriane Gardin (Théa) (3), Noé Vandevoorde (Eliott), Cédric Chevalme (Ludovic Mullier) and Christopher Bayemi (Luther) as Dr. Bonnemain. Clotilde Hesme (Lupin) joins them as Commandant Roxane Ascher, of the internal affairs. HPI does its own take on Knives Out with 55 kilos. The body of Hélène Lecoq, the recently deceased owner of a frozen food company, has been stolen and there's a statue in her coffin. The woman was terminally ill so why did someone strangle her? Karadec
and Morgane investigate in the luxurious manor of the Lecoq family, all
suspects in a real game of Cluedo. The commandant tries to guess the
plans for his birthday party.
This gem was written by Émilie Clamart-Marsollat (Caïn, Une chance de trop), Nicolas Jean, Marion Carnel, Julien Anscutter and Alice Chegaray-Breugnot. The end of the episode is incredible. With Niels Dubost (Father Clément), Francis Leplay (Pierre Lecoq), Agnès Tassel (Hélène Lecoq), Nicolas Moreau (Olivier Marchand), etc. With the participation of Rufus as Henri. This season, the creative forces behind HPI bring back the Romain Destat story. Romain, Morgane's boyfriend and Théa's father, went missing 16 years ago. Initially, Morgane accepted to work for Céline only if she found out what happened to him. This looked like the arc of the first season until filming was interrupted because of COVID. Serendipity, the magnificent finale of this second season, masterfully fixes the way Romain's fate was handled last year (4). Patrick Chesnais guest stars as Serge Alvaro,
Morgane's card counting father and a crook with a 161 HQ.
Both the character and the actor are a fantastic addition to the series.
Fans of the Laurence/Avril/Marlène era of Les petits meurtres d'Agatha Christie will be happy to see François Godart and Dominique Thomas. Olivier Bonjour plays Le Belge. With the participation of Michèle Moretti as Agnès Alvaro. Written by Julien Anscutter, Stéphane Carrié and Alice Chegaray-Breugnot. Story arc by Alice Chegaray-Breugnot, Julien Anscutter and Stéphane Carrié. Episodes 7 & 8 directed by Djibril Glissant. Produced by Septembre Productions and Itinéraire Productions with TF1 and the participation of Salto (the French streaming service). Co-produced by Be-Films, RTBF (Télévision belge), Umedia, Pictanovo and RTS Radio Télévision Suisse. Filmed with the support of Région Hauts-de-France. Jean Nainchrik, Anthony Lancret and Pierre Laugier are the line producers. Patrice Onfray exec produces. Produced by Anthony Lancret, Pierre Laugier and Bérengère Legrand.
Music by Yannis Dumoutiers. Cinematography by Isarr Eiriksson. Editing by Pascal Jauffres (55 kilos), Olga Penot (Serendipity). Casting by Christophe Moulin. Main title design by Brett & Cie (Crimes parfaits). Graphic animations by La Brigade du Titre. Visual effects by Super 35 Productions and Umedia. Supported by the Tax Shelter du Gouvernement Fédéral de Belgique and the investors of the Tax Shelter, with uFund. High Intellectual Potential (the international title of HPI) is distributed by Newen Connect. Seasons 1 & 2 are available on Salto. Season 1 is available on DVD thanks to UGC. 55 kilos was shown last thursday on TF1 and Serendipity will air this week.
[Spoiler-free review] The amazing Audrey Fleurot (Spiral, A French Village) is back in HPI. The 8 x 52-minute second season of French private channel TF1's record-breaking comedy/crime drama concludes brilliantly with episodes 7 & 8.
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