Streaming Series Review - Cherif

Cherif: Season Four ***½ (out of 5) (NR) {Author's note: Season One of this subtitled French TV crime series was reviewed here on 3/1/22. Scroll down through this feature for that first impression}.

Though I wasn’t able to review Seasons 2 & 3, resuming with this fourth season didn’t cause me to feel too far out of the loop. Much of the original cast was still in place. Apparently, the dangled romance between Captain Cherif (Abdelhafid Metalsi) and his partner Adeline (Carole Bianic) almost came to fruition before she suddenly left Lyon, returning to Paris with a beau, and rejoining her original department. This season opens with her even more abrupt return (without the beau) after seven months of complete silence, and a new bug up her backside that she’s unwilling to discuss. With anyone.

Cherif has moved on to a new girlfriend, but the connection between him and Adeline is still percolating professionally, if not romantically. New crimes to solve take priority, and, as before, they face a string of entertaining, well-written challenges. During the season, we gradually learn what happened in Paris and the reason for Adeline’s secrecy as a running thread along with each episode’s crime du jour.

As before, Cherif maintains his roguish knowing smile while investigating and catching the criminals. He provides the show’s considerable levity with clever ploys and traps, usually attributing his key tactics to a variety of American crime series such as Columbo, Moonlighting, Hart to Hart, etc. He even cites the episode numbers with a twinkle in his eye as he lays out or consummates each stratagem. Most installments follow universal light procedurals’ structure, but Episode Four puts our hero into a state of confusion, finding himself in a Groundhog Day scenario. Another subplot flows from the return of his father - a career criminal of the non-violent ilk. The pair also unravel an actual killing that occurred during an upscale murder mystery role-play party.

Cherif would be just another pleasant, binge-worthy diversion but for the abundant charm of its title character. The dude rolls though life as if he's a step or two ahead of everyone else, then uses his street smarts in the best of possible ways for all concerned. The contrast with Adeline’s resting skeptic face, makes an odd couple that works for their department and their viewers.

I’m obliged to warn you that this 10-episode season ends with a cliffhanger, but it’s relatively forgivable, since two more seasons have already run in France, and are sure to follow here. Shortly.

(Cherif: Season Four, alternatively titled Captain Sharif, mostly in French with subtitles, streams on MHz Choice as of 6/7/22)