Balthazar

"Balthazar" is instantly likeable and engaging because it takes serious, sometimes depressing material and treats it in a down to earth, humanistic manner.

This is embodied in the lager than life figure of Raphaël Balthazar (Tomer Sisley) a charming, eccentric, lead forensic pathologist with a broken heart. A man who has a murder mystery of his own to solve, in addition to those that come up each episode.

Its an intelligently written, well acted series, with a real depth of characterisation that I don't see often. These are real people who use humour to lighten the grim work they face, who have character quirks, flaws and not always perfect relationships.

Definitely one to watch if you like "quality" European crime drama.

Note: season two is not as good as season one and regrettably there's a dash of woke nonsense I personally could have done without.

7/10.