Panda and Lola (who sound more like they belong in a kid’s TV show than a Walter Presents series) return for a second season of comedic crime capers set on the glorious French coast.
If you want to avoid all spoilers, stop reading this article now.
If you watched the first season, you will know that Panda (Julien Doré) is a policeman who became disillusioned with the force – not least because he’s a pacifist who likes to chill in his hammock at his beach-side bar – but found himself drawn back to fighting crime with his more conventional work partner, Lola (Ophélia Kolb).
At the end of the first season, Panda and Lola had a romantic coming together, despite the fact that she’s due to get married soon. Now in S2, they’re trying to cope with the embarrassment of their fling and get on with their (very different) lives.
Each of the six episodes is a stand-alone case, and the opening episode of S2 features a mermaid troupe at the local aquarium. It should probably explain that they’re not “real” mermaids, but people dressed in mermaid suits who entertain visitors to the aquarium. One of the mermaids has been found dead in the pool and suspicions initially falls on an old flame of Panda’s who was friends with the dead woman and who had a criminal record. But soon suspicion shifts to others, including the mermaid’s husband and other members of the group.
One of the main attractions of this show is that Panda is a very likable character. He’s a bit of a long-haired hippy on the surface but blessed with a razor-sharp intellect – and Doré plays him very well. Doré is an interesting chap in his own right – he’s best known in France as a singer/songwriter than as an actor. He has numerous #1 albums to his name.
The script is excellent, too. It’s funny, engaging, and the interplay between the characters is very entertaining. It’s a real feel-good show, largely helped by the beach setting and appealing cast of characters.
The obvious comparison would be the likes of ‘Death In Paradise' or its various spin-offs, but I personally enjoy ‘Panda' more. I think the writing is sharper, and both Doré and Kolb are excellent in the lead roles. And whilst watching the first season gives come context to the characters, it’s not essential because each episode is a one-off.
If you’re in the mood for a bit of escapism and lightweight Gallic fun in the sun, you could do a lot worse than immerse yourself in this. ‘Panda' – a bit like the bear of the same name – is a very amiable distraction.
Walter Presents: ‘Panda' Season 2 launched on More 4 on 1st May. Episodes available on Walter Presents via C4 Streaming each week.
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