Alex Hugo

Former Marseille police officer Alex Hugo trades the cut and thrust of city streets for a quieter, but no less dangerous, life in the countryside. After years spent chasing trouble in the urban maze, he finds that the shadows of his past still cling to him. In a village framed by rugged landscapes, Hugo tries to build a calm existence for himself and those around him, only to have old instincts pull him back into the thick of danger. He reads people and places with a seasoned eye, uncovering secrets that tense the border between civilian life and law enforcement. The result is a restrained, morally grey story about coping with violence. The tone stays understated even as tensions rise.

This French crime drama premiered in 2015 and is created by Franck Thilliez and Nicolas Tackian. Samuel Le Bihan stars as Alex Hugo, a former Marseille police officer, with a solid supporting cast that includes Mikaël Fitoussi and Fabien Baïardi.

Reception has been cautiously positive, with a loyal audience and a steady critical pulse that praises atmosphere and performances. Samuel Le Bihan carries the show with controlled intensity, while the writing threads together trauma, ethics, and the daily grind of living where danger hides in plain sight.

The setting in a tight knit village and the shift from urban to rural policing offers a lens on resilience and moral ambiguity. The show contributes to conversations about how veterans of violence cope after retirement and how communities respond to outsiders who bring their past into local life.

No major awards or nominations are documented for the show, which is instead praised for its mood and Samuel Le Bihan's restrained performance rather than industry accolades. Viewers often highlight the quiet confidence of the cast and the series steady, unshowy approach to crime drama.