REVIEW: ‘Baptiste,’ now available on DVD from PBS
Image courtesy of PBS / Provided by official site.
Fans of The Missing, starring Tchéky Karyo as Detective Julien Baptiste, should rejoice that PBS’ Masterpiece: Mystery! in the United States has picked up the rights to the new spinoff series Baptiste, still starring Karyo and with the same creative team in place. Disregard the name change, and this new series is essentially a third season of The Missing (perhaps the jump from Starz to PBS prompted the change).
This time around, the French detective is settled with his wife and daughter’s family in the continental environs of Amsterdam. It doesn’t take long in this six-episode season for Baptiste’s idea of peaceful living to be shattered. He’s in semi-retirement, technically speaking, but is any missing-persons detective truly retired?
He is called in by Martha Horchner (Barbara Sarafian), a higher-up in the Amsterdam police, who works alongside her son, Niels Horchner (Boris Van Severen), also a detective on the force. They are investigating the weird goings-on of Edward Stratton (Tom Hollander), a British man in town who is looking for a sex worker gone missing. Edward seems like he is holding back a few secrets, and it’s up to Baptiste to figure out whether he’s trustworthy and whether they can find the young woman.
Eventually Baptiste must investigate the depths of the local sex worker industry, coming into contact with Kim Vogel (Talisa Garcia), and a Romanian organized crime syndicate whose local emissary is Constantin (Alec Secăreanu). The detective’s own family also plays a pivotal role, especially his wife Celia Baptiste (Anastasia Hille).
The intrigue and tension of the series is palpable, and TV viewers will find themselves dipping into new episodes quickly (honestly, this binge-worthy show can be enjoyed in one day, if need be). Each episode culminates in a new twist and turn that reinvigorates this complicated puzzle, and characters are always straddling the line between good and evil.
The acting is excellent from the accomplished ensemble. There’s a lot to enjoy from Hille, who has perfected the role of Celia over three seasons. She is Julien’s conscience in many ways, and she fears for his life and his safety. Yet, she also trusts her husband and knows that his lifelong quest to find missing people ultimately brings solace and perhaps closure to many families.
Garcia is also a great addition to the cast. Ditto for Clare Calbraith as Genevieve Taylor, an Interpol officer who has been working against the Romanian crime syndicate for years.
Although Van Severen and Sarafian are able enough actors, their side story with Baptiste seems far-fetched and gets in the way of the main narrative. It’s never dealt with in an honest manner, and when the six episodes are finished, there are still many unanswered questions. Enough said, otherwise too many spoilers will abound.
Then there’s Karyo and Hollander, two exquisite actors who are such a joy to watch together on screen. Karyo knows this detective character through and through, now having played him on many episodes of television. He portrays Baptiste as methodical, good-hearted, driven and unwavering. He likes to talk to everyone, whether they ultimately prove to be the bad guy or are simply another rung on the ladder to solving the case.
Hollander, a frequent presence on London stages, has a fascinating character to play. He constantly teeter-totters between benevolence and bad karma, imbuing the character of Edward Stratton with such mystery and pain that the audience cannot take its eyes off him. Of all the characters on the show — perhaps even Baptiste — he receives the greatest arc, and Hollander is up for the challenge.
Baptiste is a wonderful thrill ride with dark subject matter, and one can only hope that this central character has many more cases to solve.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The first season of Baptiste, starring Tchéky Karyo, is now available on DVD from PBS. Click here for more information.
