A relatively good thriller, the suspense was not killing me but I did stay on board and followed it thru. What exasperated me, to be franc, was the character of the lead female detective who is totally incoherent for a cop. I really thought portraying the lead woman as a really damaged, unstable woman did not make the story stronger. I found it hard to believe in a trained detective that would disregard her skills and get subdued by her emotions so that her investigation would always end up one step behind. I guess now I've been used to #nordicnoir where female characters are more interesting, complex and less "helpless that needs saving", I'm having a hard time watching and caring for female roles who fall back on the old stereotypes.
12 Reviews
Not bad
joannabogulak13 September 2020
Watchable but weak French thriller
beach_fl22 January 2020
The Passenger starts with a very workable plotline, but doesn't seem to put enough work into delivering its possibility. A watchable series, it's held back by lazy, sloppy writing, leading the episodes with happy coincidences, lucky breaks, repeated way too easy escapes, and incredibly convenient chance encounters.
The series tries to present high intrigue by dragging the story all over France for no apparent reason, and the characters seem to get around with lightning speed. But instead of adding depth or grandeur to the events (a la Bourne's world hopping), it just comes across as unnecessary.
Some expected red herrings along the way... a little sex thrown in... not a bad way to spend a few hours, all in all.
Rubbish
joannabogulak13 September 2020
A challenging watch, even for a French drama fanatic
BaronVonKolisch9 April 2022
A very well respected cast, and the performance of Agogué, with all of her statuesque, gallic nonchalence certainly catches the eye.
Unfortunately, her romance with Anglade's character is not convincing in the least; not on a physical, emotional, or even an intellectual level.
In brief, the story is bold, intriguing and ambitious, but the execution is so burdened by clichés, procedural flaws and gross improbabilities, that it simply fails to pull you in. - 5.8/10.
Unfortunately, her romance with Anglade's character is not convincing in the least; not on a physical, emotional, or even an intellectual level.
In brief, the story is bold, intriguing and ambitious, but the execution is so burdened by clichés, procedural flaws and gross improbabilities, that it simply fails to pull you in. - 5.8/10.
Implausible but highly watchable
altereggo1232 March 2021
At the outset, this seemed like it might be a thoughtful psychological murder mystery, but it quickly degenerated into a fast-paced action film, with an assassination, SWAT team assault, shootout in a warehouse, or narrow escape in almost every scene. Lots of cliches--omniscient villains, a cop who won't give up despite being held back by her superiors, a genius forensic analyst in the lab. Alas, it all goes too far, and even a psychological thriller shouldn't have this many mental health clinics and disturbed people harboring deep secrets. It's really excessive. Anyone relying on this movie would think that the nation of France consists mainly of leafy retreats for the mentally enfeebled.
I don't regret watching, but perhaps it's just as well that there isn't a season 2.
I don't regret watching, but perhaps it's just as well that there isn't a season 2.
The Passenger
Tweekums19 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This French six part crime drama follows Anaïs Chatelet, a police captain based in Bordeaux, as she investigates a series of strange crimes. People have been murdered and their bodies posed in a way that references classical mythology. The first body to turn up is a man who's head has been replaced by that of a bull; a reference to the Minotaur. Early clues lead her to a man being treated at a local mental hospital; he has no idea who he is and is plagued by a strange dream. Anaïs works, somewhat unwillingly, with Mathias Freire, the psychologist treating the man. They think they have found out who he is but it emerges that identity is false as well; it would appear he has many identities but nobody can tell which is real. Soon afterwards he is murdered by men who appear to be linked to a company Anaïs's father helped found. Things turn even more sinister when it emerges that Mathias is having similar dreams and similar memory problems
he has no idea who he really is and starts to fear that he may be the killer. The investigation takes them around France as more cases linked to the mythological killings. Before the case is solved they will both find themselves in grave danger.
Given the subject matter this is inevitably a little far-fetched that doesn't matter though as it was gripping from the start. I was constantly wondering where the story was going and going into the last episode I was as unsure about Mathias's guilt or innocence as he was. That isn't the only mystery; we also have the question as to why people are having the same dream and memory problems and the motive of those behind it. I liked the performances of Raphaëlle Agogué and Jean-Hugues Anglade as protagonists Anaïs and Mathias. The rest of the cast seemed pretty good too. The ending finishes the 'Mythical Killer' story line but leaves plenty of details unresolved which leave the possibility open for a second series I would certainly watch if more became available here.
These comments are based on watching the series in French with English subtitles.
Given the subject matter this is inevitably a little far-fetched that doesn't matter though as it was gripping from the start. I was constantly wondering where the story was going and going into the last episode I was as unsure about Mathias's guilt or innocence as he was. That isn't the only mystery; we also have the question as to why people are having the same dream and memory problems and the motive of those behind it. I liked the performances of Raphaëlle Agogué and Jean-Hugues Anglade as protagonists Anaïs and Mathias. The rest of the cast seemed pretty good too. The ending finishes the 'Mythical Killer' story line but leaves plenty of details unresolved which leave the possibility open for a second series I would certainly watch if more became available here.
These comments are based on watching the series in French with English subtitles.
Avoid
Denis_Griffen15 October 2020
A huge disappointment particularly given Anglade appearing in the lead male role. Given his exemplary track record I was expecting great things but this is one of the poorest French series I've ever watched. Most of the plot and scenes stretch credibility to the absolute limits including several miraculous escapes for the 2 leads from supposed professional assassins firing a fusillade of bullets from heavy weapons. The operation and behaviour of the French police is also laughable.....they come across as lazy incompetent clowns. One to be avoided.
Poor
creer-720-46153729 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The trouble with this series is it has good production values and decent acting so the first episode draws you in. There's a silly bit in the second or third episode where some guys start blasting everyone with sub machine guns - yet nobody bats an eyelid - ah of course this happens a lot in in France.
You hope the silly bit is an exception but the nonsense builds and builds.
Later it turns out it's former French Foreign Legion guys, in fact they're everywhere - plotting and being evil - so normal behaviour.
The guy who ends up the number two character is so detached it's bizarre.
The story goes from silly to downright ludicrous in the last episode - an evil professor appears from nowhere. His villa is a fancy French trad pad at the front - yet walk round the back and it's a decaying 19th century industrial complex on the docks - oh but lovely to film in. The director did an OK job but the writer should have been sacked - if they'd made a standard cop series it could have worked. The obsession with stupid twists drives me mad. Merde.
Later it turns out it's former French Foreign Legion guys, in fact they're everywhere - plotting and being evil - so normal behaviour.
The guy who ends up the number two character is so detached it's bizarre.
The story goes from silly to downright ludicrous in the last episode - an evil professor appears from nowhere. His villa is a fancy French trad pad at the front - yet walk round the back and it's a decaying 19th century industrial complex on the docks - oh but lovely to film in. The director did an OK job but the writer should have been sacked - if they'd made a standard cop series it could have worked. The obsession with stupid twists drives me mad. Merde.
Very funny
jbpalframan31 December 2020
Got everything you'd hoped never to see again. Rogue female cop teams up with psychiatrist to solve murders based around mythology.
The plot appears to have been constructed by writing teams in secure adjacent rooms, putting scribbled notes under the door to be amalgamated at a later date.
I confess to watching out of sheer bemusement and by ep4 was looking for anything that made me laugh and there was plenty of it. How the leads got involved in this God only knows but they must have had a giggle themselves at the end of the days shooting. I've watched most of Walter Presents, good bad and indifferent. Philamonia the worst, which I loathed although it had some intent to produce decent television but Le Pasager doesn't bother with that. I didn't loathe it, once I recognised it's comedic value I loved it.
The 1 score is because it is truly appalling and reckless tv making and doesn't deserve a 2. Enjoy.
Amateur
jwpicton11 December 2020
Just finished episode one and the number of situations that digress from standard practice in real life just kept coming one after the other. If the plot, pace and narrative was a bit more punchy and stimulating they could be forgiven for such artistic licence. But its not, its slow, low grade, and embarrassing to know it was produced by some fellow humans. If it was made by some over enthusiastic students - then that would explain it.
And she cuffs the psychiatrist without formally arresting him - that's a rights violation and should not be shown so casually as though their about to have a pornhub sex session.
I mean REALLY?
Ridiculously bad
susemaher9 June 2021
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