Streaming series review - Deadly Tropics: Season 6

Deadly Tropics (Tropiques criminels): Season Six ***1/2 (out of 5) One of my favorite light police procedurals returns with another eight-episode season in idyllic Martinique. Well, it’s less than a paradise for those who get murdered or suspected in each hourlong challenge for detectives Melissa (Sonia Rolland), Gaelle (Beatrice de la Boulaye), Aurelien (Julien Beramis) and their amusingly ditzy forensics expert, Phil (Valentin Papadouf). As usual, the crimes are well-written, leaving the whodunnit answer to the end after dangling several plausible perp and motive possibilities. Although I watched Season 5, I somehow neglected to cover it, so here’s the link to my Season 4 review for a refresher course

https://patch.com/missouri/clayton-richmondheights/streaming-series-review-deadly-tropics-season-4

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This season spends somewhat more time on subplots than previously – especially romantic ups and downs for the three principals. Normally, I’d downgrade a show for that, but these three are so likable that the shifted balance between sleuthing and sidebars passes muster, even for your curmudgeonly correspondent. Gaelle relishes her cavalier tomboy bearing that masks her dogged determination and concern for others. Svelte, elegant by-the-book Melissa offers the Odd Couple counterpoint such series so often rely upon. Phil still provides most of the comic relief, but shares the assignment with Gaelle and others.

For a booster shot of dramatic tension, their grudgingly tolerant boss, Etcheverry (Stephan Wojtowicz) is laid up for a while. In episode 5, his replacement enters the picture. That’s Commissioner Thibault Lebrac (Edourd Montoute), who raises the bar to loathsome new heights for assholery in the top dog’s chair. Not just for the series, but for the genre. He’s a blowhard jerk with an agenda, dating back to when Gaelle was in his unit (he’d appeared once in Season 3, for those keeping score at home).

The plot details don’t matter much. The show’s allure lies in the characters, culture (especially Carnival scenes in Episode 8) and scenery. In one episode, an internet influencer is the victim. Many may not consider offing one of them a crime, but the team must regard it as a case to be solved. In Episode 2, Melissa’s beau Arnaud (Guillaume Gabriel) wakes up next to the corpse of an old girlfriend who’d suddenly shown up on the island. We assume it’s a frame-up, but the incident does nothing to further the cause of a budding romance.

At the risk of granting my chauvinism the light of day, my favorite episode is the first. Melissa must go undercover as a pole dancer when one of the performers is murdered, providing a couple of unexpected exotic minutes on the stage. No naughty bits exposed, but it’s still a memorable moment. Several episodes also up the ante on action levels in their climactic confrontations. A few minor plot points are left open, but since Season 7 is airing now abroad, we shouldn’t have to wait very long for the next batch of treats with our tropical friends.

(Deadly Tropics: Season Six, mostly in French with subtitles, streams on MHz Choice as of 4/21/26)