History Series / LeBureauDesLegendes

* CheckpointBluff: [[spoiler: The Russian Mole attempts this when spiriting Malotru out of ISIS-controlled territory. It almost works, but ultimately backfires.]]

* TheMole: Including a character titled The [[spoiler:Russian]] Mole (La taupe [[spoiler:Russe]])

* LeaveNoWitnesses - Malotru tells [[spoiler:The Russian Mole that he will continue to expose him to every ISIS soldier unless The Mole helps Malotru escape.]]

** Marina rejects the potential code name Pachyderm

While settings include North Africa, the Middle East, and Russia, much of the "action" takes place in the offices of the DGSE. Think more le Carré than Bond.

* SpySpeak: It's an espionage show, so it's suffused with this.

* TheHandler: The clandestines regularly contact their Paris-based handlers

* TheHandler: The clandenstines regularly contact their Paris-based handlers

* MeaningfulEcho: In 1.1, Malotru reads a note from Nadia regarding their affair (per English subtitles):
It wasn't easy. It wasn't rational. It wasn't moral. It had no future. But I'll cherish these moments for the rest of my days.
In 2.10, he leaves a note for her (per English subtitles):
It wasn't comfortable. It wasn't reasonable. It wasn't moral. It had no future. But I'll treasure our relationship for the rest of my life.

* César aka Sylvain Ellenstein (who is another actual DGSE employee), code name Pacemaker, [[spoiler:FSB code name Bugsy Malone]]

* CodeName: Reportedly, the clandestine agents' code names are based on expletives used by comic series Adventures of Tintin character Captain Haddock. When Malotru returns to Paris, Henri leaves a note addressed to Malotru propped between a wine bottle and a Captain Haddock figurine.

** Malotru: Remember when you said I run from punishment?
** Marie-Jeanne: Yes
** Malotru: I've had my share, haven't I?
** Marie-Jeanne: Yes
** Malotru: And there's more to come.

* PrisonerExchange: Often including the classic scene of participants crossing over in an arranged meeting place

* ManlyTears: Raymond displays these [[spoiler:When Cyclone is rescued]].

* ClassifiedInformation: Characters repeatedly tell each other, if you don't know, you're not supposed to know. Various documentation is marked classified. Just try to work out exactly knows what.

* Colonel Marc Lauré, code name MAG (Moule à gaufres - waffle iron)

DGSE Agents:

''Le Bureau des Légendes'' (''The Bureau'' in English-speaking markets) is an espionage thriller from French premium channel Canal+. It explores the workings of the Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE), France's foreign intelligence agency, corresponding to the USA's Central Intelligence Agency and the UK's MI 6, for example. The focus is on the titular Le Bureau des Légendes, the department responsible for clandestine operatives in foreign countries, including creating their "légendes", fictional backstories and cover identities.

''LeBureauDesLegendes'' (The Bureau in English-speaking markets) is an espionage thriller from French premium channel Canal+. It explores the workings of the Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE), France's foreign intelligence agency, corresponding to the USA's Central Intelligence Agency and the UK's MI 6, for example. The focus is on the titular Le Bureau des Légendes, the department responsible for clandestine operatives in foreign countries, including creating their "légendes", fictional backstories and cover identities.

''Le Bureau des Légendes'' (The Bureau in English-speaking markets) is an espionage thriller from French premium channel Canal+. It explores the workings of the Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE), France's foreign intelligence agency, corresponding to the USA's Central Intelligence Agency and the UK's MI 6, for example. The focus is on the titular Le Bureau des Légendes, the department responsible for clandestine operatives in foreign countries, including creating their "légendes", fictional backstories and cover identities.

Le Bureau des Légendes (The Bureau in English-speaking markets) is an espionage thriller from French premium channel Canal+. It explores the workings of the Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE), France's foreign intelligence agency, corresponding to the USA's Central Intelligence Agency and the UK's MI 6, for example. The focus is on the titular Le Bureau des Légendes, the department responsible for clandestine operatives in foreign countries, including creating their "légendes", fictional backstories and cover identities.

* TrackingDevice: too many to list, GPS trackers have been installed in hotel key cards, underwear, shoes...

* TreacheryCoverUp: Much of the plot starting in series 2 comes from Malotru's attempts to cover up his [[spoiler:working with the CIA]].

** In series two, [[spoiler:The GPS in Raymond's boot allows the DGSE to track his location, but its discovery leads to his foot being amputated by ISIS commander with the DGSE code name Chevalier (his ISIS name is Deep Blue referencing his love of chess.).]]

* CodeName: reportedly, the clandestine agents' code names are based on expletives used by comic series Adventures of Tintin character Captain Haddock. When Malotru returns to Paris, Henri leaves a note addressed to Malotru propped between a wine bottle and a Captain Haddock figurine.

* DeadDrop: a physical dead drop is used when spying on hackers, who presumably would be able to uncover any virtual communication
* DeepCoverAgent: the "clandestines", for whom the legends of the title are created, are expected to spend years under their assumed identity in locations strategically important to France.

* FakingAndEntering: Mossad arranges a burglary [[spoiler:at Marina's supervisor's home]] so that she will use her office desktop instead of her laptop.

*** [[spoiler:First, becomes a mole for the CIA while working for the DGSE]]
*** [[spoiler:Then, works for the FSB, eventually becoming a mole for the DGSE]]
*** [[spoiler:Finally, returns to the FSB but is coaxed into forcing his handler to work for the DGSE]]

** Malotru is aware his [[spoiler:Russian]] apartment is bugged.

* PubliclyDiscussingTheSecret: a lot of surprisingly candid conversations take place in the staff cafeteria.

* ClassifiedInformation: characters repeatedly tell each other, if you don't know, you're not supposed to know. Various documentation is marked classified. Just try to work out exactly knows what.

* CheckpointBluff: [[spoiler: The Russian Mole attempts this when spiriting Malotru out of ISIS-controled territory. It almost works, but ultimately backfires.]]

** Pacemaker turns the tables on [[spoiler:his FSB handlers]], who are observing him via webcam, by flipping the camera view so they see themselves instead
** Malotru is aware his [[spoiler:Russian]] apartment is bugged
* IncrediblyObviousTail: Mossad tailing Marina

* KilledtoUpholdTheMasquerade: [[spoiler:The Russian Mole must kill his fellow ISIS interrogator when Malotru exposes The Mole during an interrogation session.]]

** And Mission Control Rejoiced: [[spoiler:When Cyclone is rescued]], the room erupts with cheers, applause and some tears.
* TheMole, including a character titled The [[spoiler:Russian]] Mole (La taupe [[spoiler:Russe]])
** [[spoiler:Dr. Lauren Balmes is a mole planted in the DGSE by the CIA]]
** [[spoiler:Pacemaker is a mole planted in the FSB by the DGSE]]
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone? - Mille Sabords's actions after discovering who "Pain in the Ass" is are predicated on this.

** Handler Raymond Sisteron successfully puts the moves on no fewer than [i]three[i] coworkers, and has affairs with two of them, [[spoiler: Celine from the Syria bureau]] and [[spoiler:Liz Bernstein from DSec (internal security service within the DGSE)]].
* PrisonerExchange, often including the classic scene of participants crossing over in an arranged meeting place
** An exchange of [[Sabrina Boumaza (code name Mother Teresa)]] with [[Raymond Sisteron]] is quickly arranged after [[his]] kidnapping.
** The CIA offers to exchange an [[Iranian agent for Marina after she is imprisoned in Iran. However, for political reasons, a faction of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (Pasdaran) arranges for her assassination instead. It becomes moot once she escapes and is rescued]].

* TheSchlubPubSeductionDeduction: Jonas feels this is why he was targeted by [[Vicky, who is probably an FSB agent]].
* SinisterSurveillance - the FSB Fourth Directorate (internal security for the FSB) appears to have the entire city of Moscow covered with surveillance cameras and is able to use face recognition to identity everyone caught on camera. In addition, they track Malotru's location with a GPS device.

* StoicWoobie - Malotru, and how. The man takes an unbelievable number of hits, and keeps on going. See TraumaCongaLine.

* TraumaCongaLine - Malotru starts the show being separated from Nadia, the love of his life. His relationship with his daughter has been strained by his six-year absence while undercover. And it only gets worse.

* TreacheryCover-Up - much of the plot starting in series 2 comes from Malotru's attempts to cover up his [[spoiler:working with the CIA]].
* Tricked-OutShoes: both examples of implanted GPS trackers end badly

* WildGooseChase examples: