“l3P” – TV series review

The French crime drama miniseries “l3P” is rather unusual in its premise and structure. Before you get into a sci-fi frame of mind, this ISN’T about a relative of C-3PO or R2-D2. The title is the name of the police psychiatric clinic, run by eccentric shrink Matthias Bernhardt (Marc Lavoine). He usually seems distracted from the given moment by other thoughts, and is further bothered by recurring visions and blackouts that may be due to undiagnosed brain damage, for which he remains firmly in denial. Each case brings him crimes to be solved with police captain Nathalie Fontaine (Barbara Schulz), who vacillates among irritation and resentment of the doc, respect for his skills and a semi-maternal fondness for him personally.

The series is six 50-minute episodes, with each main case being a two-parter. The first involves a string of murders of the homeless by a gang of clowns (literally – that’s how the roving thugs are dressed). The second is unraveling the mystery of an amnesic woman – who she is, and how she wound up there. The former question is complicated by two men claiming to be her fiancé, and another calling himself her husband. All three know her by different names. The third story offers the highest body count, involving several strangulations with knotted silken material as the weapon of choice.

Lavoine’s Matthias looks rather like a tall Al Franken with a default bearing of having his mind occupied somewhere different from whatever is going on around him. He’s brilliant, insightful and gentle with patients, witnesses and the bevy of young docs working under him. Nathalie’s baseline attitude is one of annoyance, whether at work or home. There’s not much levity in her life or the scripts.

The appeal of this series lies in the intricacy of the stories more than any close bonding with the characters. There’s more to respect than like about them. This 2022 trio of cases is called a miniseries, but feels like more is yet to come. There are no cliffhangers but these tales may have only scratched the surface of defining the players and their potential story arcs. I was engaged enough to hope for further offerings.

“l3P,” in French with English subtitles, streams on MHz Choice starting Tuesday, Apr. 7, 2025.

RATING: 3 out of 4 stars