Three Pines

Sorry but this series is just a train wreck. It simply has no idea what it wants to be or say. It isn't a tongue in cheek murder mystery. It sure isn't a serious crime drama. Zero character development. Silly dialogue. All over the map on genre and story lines. Should be a Murder She Wrote or Brokenwood and instead you just get, well, nothing really. No fun, no emotion, no suspense, no drama, no likable characters, nothing. Either give me a serious come drama with characters with depth that I learn/want to care about or give me a TV schtick 90 minute murder mystery. My wife tells me the books are quite good? Maybe the book author should learn to write a screenplay.

I have read every Louise Penny book, except for the most recent,which has just been delivered. Alfred Molina is just perfect as Gamache. As the series goes on I am assuming that the rest of the characters will be more fully developed. What I have seen so far I loved. The storyline of missing Indigenous women is so topical right now and I loved seeing Tantoo Cardinal again. She's marvellous! Clara and Ruth were just perfect, as was Lacoste. I was disappointed that Beauvoir didn't have much to do but hope he has a bigger part in shows to come. The scenery was gorgeous! I am anxiously looking forward to seeing more!

Just starting to watch Three Pines. If you are a fan of Louise Penny's series you will love it! The story includes the Indigenous story of missing women, so very timely for Canada. The setting in the Eastern Townships at Christmas time is beautiful. I've spent a lot of time in that area so I know very it well. I have read every Inspector Gamache book by Louise Penny so I may be a little partial but I think anyone would love this series. I am pleased that many of the actors in this series are Canadian. Tattoo Cardinal especially is an icon in Canada. Donald Sutherland's son Rosisif plays a major role.

Never heard of the books ( more into sci fi ) or this show but wow it was good. Molina shines in the lead role and as others have said plays a decent, moral, considerate and kind detective who's not drowning himself with a bottle, has gone rogue or is grieving a dead wife or all the other usual tropes in a crime show. Helped by a likable cast, beautiful scenery and a quick pace. The show will have a new case every two episodes and not drag it out for slog of eight or ten episodes which many shows try and fail to keep the interest. Admittedly I did guess the killer before the first ep was over but that didn't detract from the fun. The recent show Echo 3 threw in the towel by the fourth ep. Terrific beginning and can't wait for more.

I haven't read the books. This hooked me. Beautiful filming and pace, well put together. Good characters, and I am anticipating the episode releases every week. I suppose the only far fetched thing is so many deaths in a tiny place. But perhaps the bad energy from the history of the place is being used in the story to explain it. Can't wait for more! Weird reviews from folks. It wasn't amateur nor badly written like those reviewers said, the characters don't come across as American... they say Alfred Molina's character did schooling in England, which helps with his accent. The other characters come across Canadian. The First Nations thread was done well.

Haven't read the book, and if you're the same I suggest ignoring the reviews bombing it based on that because it's not uncommon for tv/movie adaptations to fail to live up to their book's grandeur or reader's expectations. There's almost always someone saying it's not as good as the book. So from someone who hasn't read it, I think it's off to a great start. The most notable thing is that this seems like a really well made series, might not be the most mind boggling story off the bar but everything seems to be done right and has no specific weak points for me. This might sound dumb because, of course most shows are done by professionals, but this feels like it was really made by professionals. I like the story because it feels believable, nothing eccentric yet I'm still drawn to it. I think the best part about the show is the characters and actors playing them; they feel like real people in a real town with real cases, so it's easy to draw you in. Any show can be good, but I think truly great shows are those that manage to get you immersed in them, were you feel like you're in the show, a part of it and their lives. This goes for any genre too, romance, drama and "based on true story" flicks are the obvious ones, but even fantasy or sci-fi and horror. Might not have the craziest story or characters or prismatics visuals, might not even be a 10/10 star show/movie like this one(for me); but when a show fully submerges you that you only think about what you're watching and don't even subconsciously check your phone or anything, that's a good show. Feels like a decent small town murder mystery, sorta reminds me of Mare Of Easttown. I wouldn't say it's one for everyone, if you're looking for a bullets flying sort of rush search elsewhere, but if you're looking for a good drama to watch this is a pretty good option.

Just watched the first 2 episodes and I'm hooked. Great acting, great storyline. Important message about the apathy regarding missing, endangered and murdered indigenous people. The scenery is literally breathtaking and so immersive, the winter setting is so perfect for a viewing during the holidays. Yes, the content is dark but it's done incredibly well. Seems like each 2 episodes will be a little plot of its own and I love that idea. Alfred Molina is fantastic as always, his character has some really beautiful dialogue in this show and he delivers it all perfectly. Can't wait to see all the other episodes!

Bad writing, non-sense plot, no likable character or story, this is just plainly poorly executed. The scenes doesn't have any connection and no development, it feels everything is happening randomly. The premise is nice but man it's so bad, I don't see any point in continuing watching after these 2 episodes. I don't get it, this seems to be a big production, so how can they mess up this big? How come nobody see the flaws of this show? And I'm not even mentioning that they are in Québec and barely anyone speaks French, and even when they do it's not the Québec's French (there's only one scene with that), I'm just sad that they are missing such a good opportunity to talk about an important and sensitive subject.

It is okay, occasionally quite compelling. Great setting and it's fun to see Montreal featured in a major production. Having just spent a couple weeks in Montreal, the French Canadian elements are underplayed which is unfortunate. The tone is remarkably uneven. Comedy is broad but themes are heavy while not given much nuance either. My biggest gripe is how politically correct this show tries to be. The acting is hit or miss. Some characters dialogue is purely ideological and comes off as not only preachy but contrived. Indigenous characters are always depicted as stern, serious, angry and righteous. Indigenous peoples are not all angry left wing activists and Canadas political divide is not as black and white as portrayed.

THREE PINES features murders on the absurd level of MIDSOMER MURDERS and the quirky, easy-to-type small town characters to boot. There's even a weird lady with a duck, plus the bumbling newbie police officer (really broadly played here). All of which would be fine if THREE PINES knew enough to keep its tongue in cheek. But most of the actors play is straight. Then bizarrely, jarringly, a social justice plot is inelegantly tacked on slowly down one plot and adding nothing but a vague feeling of lip service. Hilary Swank's ALASKA DAILY is no masterpiece, but it pays much better and more sensical attention to missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW). Here, it's as if someone in a meeting (either a lawyer or an intern) insisted they had to shoehorn this in. Hugely slumming, Alfred Molina hits his marks, but the tectonic-level tonal shifts here give him no support.