Three Pines is a TV adaptation of the "Chief Inspector Gamache" book series by author Louise Penny. It’s a detective series set in Three Pines, a small town with a beautiful scenery, where a surprising amount of murders are committed. Set in Quebec, Canada, the show opens with a demonstration by a group of people demanding attention and justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women. In Canada, just like in America, the odds of an Indigenous woman going missing or being murdered are much higher than for a non-Indigenous woman. Only a small percentage of these cases get resolved. The main storyline of the show is the missing Indigenous teenager Blue Two-Rivers. The police pay no attention to her case and even get annoyed with the people demanding attention for this. This is where Chief Inspector Armand Gamache (Alfred Molina, Maya and the Three) steps in. Unlike his colleagues, he responds with compassion and kindness to the Indigenous people. He promises Blue's family to find her and solve the case.
In addition to this main story, there are four separate murder cases. Each case is covered in two episodes. All these murders take place in the idyllic town of Three Pines. The various residents of this city return throughout the season. From the first introduction to these sometimes eccentric residents, you already get the feeling that they have something to hide. Or could it be that they are just not that keen on outsiders?
From the first introduction to these sometimes eccentric residents, you already get the feeling that they have something to hide.
It's up to Gamache and his team, detectives Jean-Guy Beauvoir (Rossif Sutherland, Reign) and Isabelle Lacoste (Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers), to solve both the murder cases and Blue's missing person case. They are aided by the young and awkward police officer Yvette Nichol (Sarah Booth).
With each episode, we get to know the residents better and discover that almost everyone has a secret. But who is, or are, actually guilty? That’s not always the one person who behaves most suspiciously at first glance. It remains interesting to find out with Gamache and his team who the perpetrator is and what his or her motive is. You don't have to wait too long in suspense since each chapter consists of only two episodes and the culprit is exposed in the second episode. Personally, I find this a very pleasant aspect of the show; the pace remains good and it does not become too tedious.
In the last episode of the season, of course, another murder case is solved, but we also find out what happened to Blue. It’s heartbreaking for her family, but also very intense for Gamache. Not only do the residents of Three Pines have their secrets, but also someone very close to Gamache.
I haven't read the books myself, so I don't know how faithful the story and characters in the show are to the ones in Louise Penny's books. Overall, I thought it was a good show; not exceptionally great, but a decent story and good acting. In addition, I enjoyed the beautiful landscapes of Canadian Quebec. I definitely recommend fans of detective series to watch Three Pines.
The first season of Three Pines consists of 8 episodes and can be seen on Prime Video. At the time of writing, a season renewal has not been confirmed yet.
About the writer, Sharon Vermeesch
"Be careful not to get square eyes," Sharon has been told since childhood. Watching television shows for hours on end is nothing new to her. Sharon can completely lose herself in good storylines, she cries along with her favorite characters and dreams completely new episodes at night. Also, she knows all the latest news about actors, castings, cancellations / renewals and gossip ? After studying Journalism, Sharon chose the financially stable corporate job, but after craving some more creativity, she handed in her notice. 2023 has started for her without a job, but with a lot of dreams and time to figure out her next step. Oh and she is also writing a tvshow. You can watch this on one of the major streaming services next year (she hopes).
