History Series / Engrenages

''Engrenages'' (literally "cogs" or "gears", but [[DoubleMeaningTitle with implications akin to "wheels within wheels" and "spiralling out of control"]]), known in English-speaking markets as ''Spiral'', is a French PoliceProcedural CrimeAndPunishmentSeries set in the less touristy parts of Paris. The three main protagonists play different roles in the French justice system: Capitaine Laure Berthaud represents the police, Maitre Pierre Clément is a prosecutor, and François Roban is an examining magistrate.

After first achieving high critical acclaim in its native France on Canal+, the show was aired (and eventually co-funded) by Creator/TheBBC in 2006, and has [[SleeperHit since developed]] a loyal international fanbase. In the UK at least seems to have [[FollowTheLeader paved the way]] for a great deal of imported European gritty cop dramas. The show has proved so successful that after the third season ''three'' more were ordered simultaneously.

* GoodGirlsAvoidAbortion: [[spoiler:Bertaud finally decides to stay pregnant in the fifth season, after going as far as booking an appointment. Then she ends up potentially losing the baby in the end of season cliffhanger.]]

* SanityBall: Gilou astonishingly takes it in the fifth season, where he is for once acting level-headedly and professionally while Laure and Fromentin are both falling apart.

* ViewerGenderConfusion: Much like Snoop in TheWire Karen in season 5 has a deep voice, dresses in baggy unisex clothing and displays few if any feminine traits.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Pierre when [[spoiler:some thugs threaten to kill him because Jorkal - Pierre's client - didn't pay them.]]

* CommanderContrarian: Herville, no matter what Laure does.

* CorruptCop: [[spoiler:Le Requin]]

** In season 5, where Roban and Karlsson team up to uncover a conspiracy to frame a semi-innocent man for the death of a policeman who was actually killed by other cops.

The first season deals with the murder of a Romanian prostitute that turns out to have heavy political connections. The second season covers an investigation into a group of North African gangsters. Both of these two seasons also have MysteryOfTheWeek elements, but the third season dumps this in favour of putting the three characters into separate plot arcs: Berthaud hunts a SerialKiller of prostitutes in Paris's former abbatoir district; Clément, disgusted with politics and corruption, attempts to set up as an independent lawyer; and Roban starts a quixotic investigation into a corrupt mayor with very high-level connections. The fourth season dives into the French debate over illegal immigration, with a far-left-wing terrorist group attacking people who they consider responsible for treating immigrants unjustly. The fifth season has the dead body of a mother and daughter discovered in a canal.

* NewSeasonNewName: The English marketing gave each season a subtitle starting with the third: the third is subtitled "The Butcher of La Villette" and the fourth "State of Terror".

* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Sami in the third season. Although that may explain how screwed up Berthaud is.
** [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] by the fact that Sami joined the team only for one mission (for [[ReverseMole obvious reasons]]), and that his job doesn't really allow him to enter a stable relationship, especially with [[MarriedToTheJob Laure]]
** And then [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] when [[spoiler:he came back in season 4 to join Laure's team]]

The first season deals with the murder of a Romanian prostitute that turns out to have heavy political connections. The second season covers an investigation into a group of North African gangsters. Both of these two seasons also have MysteryOfTheWeek elements, but the third season dumps this in favour of putting the three characters into separate plot arcs: Berthaud hunts a SerialKiller of prostitutes in Paris's former abbatoir district; Clément, disgusted with politics and corruption, attempts to set up as an independent lawyer; and Roban starts a quixotic investigation into a corrupt mayor with very high-level connections. The fourth season dives into the French debate over illegal immigration, with a far-left-wing terrorist group attacking people who they consider responsible for treating immigrants unjustly.

* EnemyMine: In season 4, when [[spoiler:Machard]] sides with Roban.

** When his friend Benoit wakes him up after their fight [[spoiler:when Clément learned that he knew Elina's sister]], "Truth" and "Reality" are written on Clément's shirt.

After first achieving high critical acclaim in its native France on Canal+, the show was aired (and eventually co-funded) by TheBBC in 2006, and has [[SleeperHit since developed]] a loyal international fanbase. In the UK at least seems to have [[FollowTheLeader paved the way]] for a great deal of imported European gritty cop dramas. The show has proved so successful that after the third season ''three'' more were ordered simultaneously.

After first achieving high critical acclaim in its native France on Canal+, the show was aired (and eventually co-funded) by TheBBC, and has [[SleeperHit since developed]] a loyal international fanbase. In the UK at least seems to have [[FollowTheLeader paved the way]] for a great deal of imported European gritty cop dramas. The show has proved so successful that after the third season ''three'' more were ordered simultaneously.

* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Arnaud]]. Also [[spoiler:Karlsson]], even if it doesn't work.

* {{Fanservice}}: It's a French work, so there's a fair amount of nudity. Berthaud herself even has a naked sex scene!

* IncorruptiblePurePureness: Roban is a more cynical version, advancing the cause of justice no matter what. If you get a speeding ticket in Paris, you *will* pay the fine, whether you are the LittlestCancerPatient or the president of France. He (almost) never schemes or bends rules unless it is in direct defense against interference with justice.

* ReassignedToAntarctica: After annoying his superiors once too often, Pierre is moved from presiding over criminal cases to traffic offences, a boring role that prompts him to resign.

* HotChickInABadassSuit: Karlsson, as the AffablyEvil [[EvilCounterpart Counterpart]] to [[SharpDressedMan Pierre]].

* MysteryOfTheWeek: Included in many episodes of the first two seasons, but dropped in the later ones, which had more than one SeasonArc instead.

* MysteryOfTheWeek: Included in many episodes of the first two seasons, but dropped in the later ones for more focus on the main plots.