Maigret Sets A Trap

Whilst I enjoy crime drama, and period drama, it normally takes me a long time to get involved and to enjoy such things. However when faced with the great Rowan Atkinson revamping the classic and iconic Jules Maigret; how could I resist?

Broadly speaking I was pleasantly intrigued by it all. And I want to clear something up right away - this tosh that's been circulating about Atkinson only being able to do comedy is infernal idiocy. The man is a great actor, full stop. Yes he has a track record of excelling at making us laugh, but that still required deep investment and superb embodiment of character, which he does equally well in serious roles. It's the same sort of thing that infuriates me when some refer to people like the late great Ronnie Barker as "just a comic actor" or even "just a comedian". No, just no. Yes, again Barker was great at making folk laugh (and there is surely nothing wrong with that) but that is not the be all and end all. He was a superb actor, and he used his acting talents to entertain millions for decades, and that's an end of it. 

I feel the same respect and courtesy should only be shown to Rowan Atkinson, who I feel embodied this new iteration of Maigret very well.

In fact, to my mind he carried what for now has only been a one-off drama for ITV. Yes, the scenery was beautiful, the period pieces and motifs were sublime, and the tone was very well set throughout. But in terms of presence and performance; there was no doubt from start to finish that Rowan Atkinson was the star of the show.

At times I feel he got a little lost in the writing which carried the story off just, but lacked both finesse and punch for me in equal measure. Regardless his unique blend of understated charisma, and an odd but pleasing sort of focused, contemplative nonchalance actually did his character and the story justice.

Rowan Atkinson was backed up by a solid enough cast, the highlights of which for me included the ever charming Mark Heap and the radiant presence of Rebecca Night. Yet when the story did fall flat, or flounder for too long, and when the overall effect was lacking, more often than not it was the sublime presence of Atkinson as Maigret that saved the day.

As a one off, it was a good watch for me, and Maigret in his new form even has potential to go on. ITV I think have been clever, because if they started to churn out episodes with the pace and intensity of something like Prime Suspect or A Touch of Frost (some of their previous greatest crime hits) then I think Maigret might have quickly lost its edge. But by just tantalizing audiences with this new crime caper, and the wonderful Atkinson as Maigret, they may have just about set us up perfectly for the next promised installment.