So Roban is exposed as Grand Lizard of the Bavarian Illuminati, being a direct descendant of sect founder Adam Weishaupt and thus the man who has pulled the political and legal strings since the beginning of all things Spiral. I was shocked.
The Afterword “Spiral” discussion (episodes 7 and 8) – once again I warn you, there will be spoilers. Lots of them, so make sure you’ve seen all episodes of Series 7 shown so far
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Even though these episodes were in many ways the paradigm of Spiral, with the themes of betrayal, deception and double-dealing I was greatly troubled by some of what we saw on Saturday night.
Dare I even suggest it? Has Spiral jumped the shark? I’m talking about the frankly ridiculous and unbelievable plot line involving Roban and the human embodiment of a frog, the former judge, Machard.
Let’s briefly recall all we’ve learned about their relationship over previous series. Roban has been a dogged and incorruptible judge chasing the evidence down whatever avenues it leads him and damn reputations and consequences, whereas Machard was a senior judge who was always inclined to bend with the prevailing political wind and happier to see the legal/judicial process served rather than ensuring the innocent go free and the guilty are appropriately punished. If things went to the contrary, as long as the political, administrative and legal processes were not harmed, he was perfectly at ease with any apparent miscarriage of justice, as long as it would not come back to bite him. Machard cultivated any persons whom he thought could advance his career and trod on those he regarded as lesser beings.
They despised each other and Machard never missed an opportunity to obstruct Roban or do him down. In the previous series we discovered Machard had a secret life, consorting with male prostitutes. Roban led an investigation into the death of a male prostitute and the trail led back to Machard, who was required to step down. (I think I’ve got that right, but please help out with any corrections or extra information that clarifies the picture).
So when Machard casually dropped into Roban’s office, because, it just so happened, he was in the building, rather than protest he was far too busy, he accepted Macard’s invitation to go for a drink. Later on he accepted an invitation to accompany him to a dinner party. This aspect of the story has been a load of bollocks so far. Why Roban didn’t just make his excuses and leave Machard behind beggared belief. But worse was to come.
He discovered the host of the dinner party was the dodgy business man Solignac, whom he was investigating as part of the money laundering ring. Why didn’t he just grab his coat, say “Putain de merde. Va te faire foutre” and walk out? It is just too stupid to entertain the thought the Roban we have known up until now would have actually stayed. It’s not as though he’s been presented to us as extremely parsimonious and thus would have done anything for a free meal. This was just extremely sloppy plotting by the scriptwriters and within the context of the Spiral universe, just not credible.
And so later on, inevitably, Roban found his investigation into money-laundering was now up shit creek and someone may be about to use his head for the paddle. And Machard could barely conceal his glee beneath his sneering contempt.
Now I’ve got that off my chest, I can go onto the good stuff.
Josephine is working for Edelman, dispensing perceptive advise to his clients but keen to regain her licence to practice. Edelman, hanging agreed to take on Lola’s case visits her in prison. It wasn’t clear to me why Lola was so uncooperative. She’s getting free advice from someone Josephine has recommended, in the knowledge Josephine will represent her once she can act as a lawyer again. From what we know of Lola, it’s not clear on what basis a case for an appeal would be made. I’m not familiar with French law, but surely they adopt the principle that you take your victim as you find him/her. She and her accomplice blackmailed a guy who committed suicide as a result – they have to suffer the consequence of their action bringing about the seat.
That aside, Josephine uncovers Edelman’s duplicity in lying about the date for her licence appeal. I don’t see what he hoped to gain – surely she would be more grateful to him for a speedy reinstatement rather than as he apparently planned, to keep her in limbo, while workings some sort of legal executive.
Saving the best until last – the continuing story of Laure and Gilou. I was in the dark over Laure’s objection – dumb insolence is I suppose the correct description – as to what handing the access codes over was about.
Gilou met up with Soizic and as well as getting information on her boss, Lebrion’s movements gets a slightly more than friendly kiss. This could be interesting.
Lebrion, who seems to be Best Buds with Beckriche, has deleted a file, discovered through cross referencing the hard-copies Laure had made with the computer record.
The file that connects the dearth of Herville and Wang to information that Lebrion had carelessly allowed to reach the MP Laure spotted last time out.
We didn’t really discover too much more about Fouad and Rayan’s mother except she’s in a relationship with a money-laundering gang associate. This egg has still to hatch, but I think it will be messy when it does.
The success and credibility of the Spiral series hangs in the balance. I’m pleased, from the point of view of coherent plotting, with the story from the police side, but I’m unhappy with Roban’s storyline. I’m not sure that it can be saved from the scriptwriters’ failure to proceed with that story that is consistent with the programme’s history. And that failure could ruin the future of this programme and take it to a point where a swift and merciful death would be welcome.
I thought Soizic actively kissed Gilou rather than the other way round. What is it about middle aged, sweaty, unwashed policemen that is irresistible to their young, gorgeous female juniors?
That’s what I said, that as well as getting information, he got a kiss. Which is why it is interesting, whereas had he made the move it would not be. Just rather sad.
I’ve only just realised that you lot are making all this shit up. Right?
I only make up the bit visible beneath the thread header, which is my response to the guy who claimed I was revealing spoilers when I posted about Episodes 1 and 2.
The rest is actualité, or at least the reality of the story. If that is not self-contradictory.
Good grief.
I can just about live with Roban’s mistake as The desperate action of someone facing an enforced retirement but surely the most leaden two minutes in the whole seven seasons of Spiral so far was the hitchhiker in the car? Spiral Sophisticates like what we’s are surely didn’t need to have Gilou’s point rammed down our throats in such an obvious way?
I guess you’ve hit on the real reason for picking him up.
I was asking myself where it took the story, as it was an otherwise unnecessary diversion. It didn’t advance the plot a millimetre.
My thinking was that he might be called as a witness in some disciplinary hearing against Gilou and Laure, to confirm that they had made an unauthorised trip to Le Havre, because I couldn’t see any reason for the viewer to be informed about picking him up.
I just thought it was just adding to the sexual tension between Laure and Gilou, which followed through in the hotel scenes from outside, and Laure’s brief visit to Gilou’s room. I agree, a bit clunky though.
The Rohan scenes I agree, though I guess he’s passionate, driven and in a hurry and made a mistake. But like you, I thought he would and certainly should have just turned around and walked out.
Did you notice the difference in shooting style and the colours? Spiral is always a washed out grey other than Josephine who always glows in technicolour. You could shoot most of it with a mobile phone. These episodes were a lush gold, with sweeping tracking shots and clever shots (eg the hotel with the floor to ceiling windows). I read somewhere they changed the cinematographer?
I’ll be honest: I’m finding it more convoluted and harder to follow. Maybe it’s because threads are related to developments in previous series that I watched a year or two ago – a common problem with long running TV dramas – or maybe the writers are getting increasingly tangled.
Biggest weakness is that I can’t believe Roban allowed himself to get stitched up so easily by Machard; he should have just walked away when he realised he had been taken to dinner with a guy under investigation.
But there’s still plenty of good stuff, especially in the changing dynamics within the police squad. There seems to be a growing tension between Gilour and new guy Ali, and it’s interesting that Beckriche seems torn between playing up to his superiors and supporting Gilour and Laure. And there’s always that sense that Laure is on the verge of another breakdown.
Like everybody else I was uneasy about M. le Juge’s behaviour, but he’s not really firing on all cylinders at the moment, is he? And what looked like the start of a promising relationship with the anaesthetist (can’t remember her name) seemed a touch unlikely too. But that seems to have been put on hold.
Good to see Karlsson is back sailing close to the wind though…
Very perceptive stuff, Carlmeister. I agree on the Roban business – he’s appearing to be a clapped-out incompetent in this series. Who can say if it’s a scriptwriting ploy and he’ll suddenly start firing on those cylinders and seeming to be a man who knows what he’s doing – or if the scriptwriters have just written him and themselves into a corner of mediocrity.
He’s been through the mill career, relationship and health wise. I hope he rises from the ashes, syncs in with Laure and nails the bad mecs.