The Monsieur Spade series premiere begins with several quotes, acknowledging Samuel Spade (Clive Owen) as the greatest investigator who ever lived. This was the popular belief until he mysteriously disappeared from San Francisco. Despite the countless theories that followed his disappearance, the belief of his retirement in the South of France appears to be one of the more popular.
This story starts in 1955 in Bozouls, France, with Sam attempting to deliver a young Teresa (Ella Feraud/Cara Bossom) to her belligerent and untrusting grandmother, Audrey Saint-Andre (Carolina Silhol). Before he can even explain he’s there to deliver Teresa to Philippe Saint-Andre (Jonathan Zaccai), she pulls a rife on him. Almost instantly, he skillfully disarms her, unloads the rifle, and returns it. After she outright refuses to take the girl, Sam ends up in the office of Chief of Police, Patrice Michaud (Denis Menochet).
Speaking honestly with Patrice, Sam expands on his story by admitting that he and Brigid were brief lovers. The relationship came to an abrupt end when he put her in jail for 20 years. He would also be the one to get her out after she was diagnosed with a life-ending illness. Once paroled, she would live for 4 years, but supposedly recently died in an Istanbul train derailment. The meeting ends with Patrice suggesting Sam return to the States with Teresa.
The sudden arrival of a storm abruptly ends Sam and Teresa’s picnic in the country. Much later that evening, a near encounter with a fallen tree results in a stalled engine that brings their trip to an end. Conditions are not only much better the next morning, but nearly as soon as he wakes, Gabrielle (Chiara Mastroianni) drives with offers to return Sam and Teresa to the village. There is a bit of back-and-forth flirting before the timeline jumps 8 years.
Still living in Bozouls, France, Sam visits the gravesite of Gabrielle Spade (1903-1961). During his very short Visit, he learns about the return of Philippe from a widow named, Huchet (Fannie Lineros).
Sam visits Dr. Simon Pouchol (Vincent Nemeth) who continually jokes with him while checking his prostate. While he appears in perfect health in this area, he is told he’s in the early stages of emphysema.
After gathering some groceries at the local market, Sam visits a convent where he meets a young new nun (Cecile Combredet) who immediately recognizes him by name. Sam quickly finds Teresa in the convent but appears hesitant to approach. His ensuing conversation with Mother Superior (Martine Schambacher) explains why.
It’s also alluded to that he’s been financially compensating the convent for Teresa’s care when he gives Mother Superior a hefty envelope. Their friendly conversation nearly turns hostile when he learns that both Philippe and Audrey have developed a new interest in Terea’s well-being. It turns out Teresa is nearing the age where she can access a huge trust left by her mother.
Sam returns home to unpack his groceries and share a bit of quirky back-and-forth banter with housemaid, Helena Thibaut (Clotilde Mollet) who teases him about not using his French more often. Before he retires to the den, he becomes serious and tells her to start locking the doors.
In the upstairs bedroom, while trying to sleep, he recalls the day that Gabrielle offered to pay him to help with Philippe’s blackmail. The memory reveals that Philippe learned Gabrielle’s husband, Jacques Larvaron (Jean-Pierre Lorit), was a Nazi collaborator. He doesn’t accept or deny the job, but he does mention that he still needs to deal with Teresa before he does anything. It’s not revealed at the time, but she claims to be working on a solution for that problem.
In the present, Sam is enjoying a nude swim when a young man by the name of George Fitzsimmons (Matthew Beard) shows up looking for Madame LaVarone (Gabrielle). It soon becomes clear that George is not only unknowing of Gabrielle’s death, but he also doesn’t know Sam is her husband. Ultimately, the young man reveals himself to be the son of landscape painter, Syngin Fitzsimmons. Although Sam doesn’t recognize the name, he does recall the landscape painting hanging in the library. Sam agrees to let George resume his father’s work, as long as he stays out of his way.
Later that evening, Sam admires the painting before starting dinner. He receives a lone visitor on a motorcycle who doesn’t bother announcing himself or removing his motorcycle helmet. He and Sam share an intense stare-down without so as much acknowledging each other.
Helena finds him sleeping off a night of drinking in an armchair and chides him over soiling the rug with wine. Without any explanation why, he asks her to have Henri (Oscar Lesage) come see him. Sam has a somewhat hostile encounter with Jean-Pierre Devereaux (Stanley Weber) when he later discovers him waiting on the motorcycle at the end of the road leading in and out of the property. Pierre denies visiting him last night but claims the bike is always available to his good friend Philippe. Much to Sam’s surprise, Jean-Pierre tries to convince him to buy out his half of the club while at the same time accusing him of sleeping with his wife, Marguerite (Peggy) Devereaux (Louise Bourgoin), at the same time. Sam denies any involvement with Marguerite and doesn’t take Jaen-Pierre’s offer seriously.
Sam’s next visit is to the club where it’s revealed that Jean-Pierre has a short temper and Sam isn’t sleeping with Marguerite. An envelope full of money and a discussion bout a busy night also allude to him already being a partner in the club. The encounter ends when she mentions his nightly visits to the cemetery and basically tells him that after 2 years he should be over Gabrielle.
Patrice joins Sam at an outdoor café, where he begins the conversation by mentioning Jean-Pierre and Marguerite’s latest fight. It’s soon apparent that Patrice’s visit has to do with the arrival of Philippe in town. Patrice clearly doesn’t buy Sam’s claims that there is nothing to worry about.
Returning home Sam narrowly avoids a collision with someone on a motorcycle. He arrives home to find Henri waiting for him. They discuss everything from the war to killing men and military life before Sam reveals the real reason he requested the visit. Sam wants Henri to use his connection with the General Secretary’s assistant to sneak a look at Philippe’s service file, particularly his time in Algeria. Henri makes it known that he is well aware of Philippe’s sordid past before agreeing to help.
Later that evening during dinner, Sam receives a troubling phone call from Philippe warning him to stay away from Teresa. After the threat, Sam overhears a struggle followed by a single gunshot that he reports to Patrice the following morning. Patrice feigns not taking the report seriously but ends the discussion by promising to put his best man on the case. Sam isn’t shy about his lack of faith in Patrice’s best man, Maurice Michaud (Frank Williams). After Sam’s departure, Patrice orders Maurice to look after the station while he visits the Lyon military facility.
Sam’s visit with Audrey is as quick as it is hostile. She denies any contact with Philippe but he appears to throw her for a loop when he mentions the letter to the convent. The encounter appears to leave him restless, leading him to return to grab a bottle of vintage wine and visit Marguerite. While discussing the Philippe phone call, a drunken and increasingly hostile Jaen-Pierre shows up. Sam goads him into taking a swing and easily sidesteps him. Sam uses Jean-Pierre’s own force to slam him face down on the table and hold him with his arm wrenched behind his back. After freeing him and before leaving, Sam tells him that he wasn’t a bad man when he wasn’t drinking.
Sam doesn’t make it through the front door before Teresa comes running the driveway covered in blood and beckoning for help. After getting her calm enough, she spins a tale about her father showing up at the convent with a gunshot wound. Although she claims to not know who or why he was shot, a Monk would show up after he left and argue with the Mother Superior. Sam doesn’t attempt to hide his suspicions that she is misleading him before he asks why she didn’t go to the police. Although she doesn’t identify the man, she claims to be afraid of one of the policemen.
After an unsuccessful call to the convent, Sam leaves Teresa with Helena and pays a visit in person. Other than the open front door, everything appears to be in order. A more thorough search inside leads him to a group of unharmed, young nuns, who claim to have been locked in the room by Mother Superior. The episode ends with him discovering several of the older nuns in what appears to be the designated worshiping area. They are all in their habits and some are on their knees in a prayer stance.
Monsieur Spade Review
I don’t know if it was the pressure of introducing all the characters or a poor attempt to build suspense, but the episode felt extremely long-winded. Perhaps it was the need to feel a specific timeslot. Whatever the situation, the majority of these scenes could have been left out completely. Sometimes less truly is more and that could have easily been the case here. Other than that, I found the show enjoyable, the characters intriguing, and the setting serene.
As far as noir gumshoe detectives go, it’ll be hard to find another with such formidable potential. Although I don’t feel as much acting is required, Clive Owens’s interactions, mannerisms, and quirky quips are an addition to the Spade persona. I particularly enjoy his friendly banter with Helena and find myself intrigued to see how things play out from here. The pilot episode deserves a 6 out of 10.
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