Streaming series review - Cassandre: Season 7

Cassandre: Season Seven (*** out of 5) The amiable crew from this light French crime series returns with four more murder cases to solve in 90 minutes a pop. Not much has changed since my previous seasons’ reviews, and here’s a link to the last one from about four months ago:

https://patch.com/missouri/clayton-richmondheights/streaming-series-review-cassandre-season-six

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As to the crimes du jour, the first gives us extra eye candy, as the favored contestant in a beautry pageant, Nelly (Anaelle Duguet), is killed shortly before the competition. This is particularly upsetting for her domineering mother (Anne Caillon), who had invested her whole life in pushing Nelly to the success she had enjoyed in her own youth; and to look-alike younger sister Manon (also played by Duguet), who was mentally limited and totally devoted to big sis. She’s so emotionally fragile that mom keeps her from learning of Nelly’s fate for as long as possible. Special kudos to Duguet for an exceptional performance in both roles – especially as Manon. As to the eye candy part, they show rehearsals parading in evening gowns, but not the swimsuit competition, alas. Adjust libidos accordingly, folks.

The second, White Zone, covers the murder of the mayor in an isolated village torn by the rift between two factions. The title refers to an area without cell phone or wi-fi coverage. Many electromagnetic-hypersensitive folks have moved there to escape the signals that supposedly cause them severe headaches and other symptoms. The mayor was on their side, but an equally vocal group of locals is pushing hard for connection to the rest of the world via their phones and computers.

The third fits into the Me-Too era, as a champion swimmer is found dead – ironically in a lake. This leads to questions about the tactics and practices of her hard-ass, if not abusive - especially to the young women on his team - coach, providing the most cultural significance of this quartet. The last features the murder of a female sous chef in a highly-regarded restaurant, raising possibilities of sexism in such kitchens causing strife -perhaps enough jealousy to motivate one of those she’s passed up for the plum job to remove her from the group portraits.

On the personal story arcs side, Cassandre and Pascal dominate the proceedings, compared to the last season that spread the screen time more among all five members of the squad. The will they/ won’t they romance game escalates as both have new lovers they won’t tell the other about. When each happens to learn of the other’s relationships, they’re both jealous in ways everyone but them can see… or acknowledge. That’s rather amusing, though some may find it bordering on the ridiculous – especially if you binge the season. I’d advise spreading them out a bit, since each main story is a stand-alone case, with only the subplots progressing. It's sitll as enjoyable as it’s been throughout, with two more seasons (at least) to go.

(Cassandre: Season 7, in French with subtitles, streams on MHz Choice as of 7/7/26.)