Baron Noir

Baron Noir
GenrePolitical drama
Written byEric Benzekri
Jean-Baptiste Delafon
Directed byZiad Doueiri
Antoine Chevrollier
StarringKad Merad
Niels Arestrup
Anna Mouglalis
Hugo Becker
Astrid Whettnall
ComposerEvgueni & Sacha Galperine
Country of originFrance
Original languageFrench
No. of series3
No. of episodes24 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducerThomas Bourguignon
CinematographyTommaso Fiorilli
EditorsSarah Anderson
Camille Toubkis
Running time52-55 minutes
Production companyKwaï
Original release
NetworkCanal+
Release8 February 2016 (2016-02-08) –
2 March 2020 (2020-03-02)

Baron Noir (screened as Republican Gangsters in some markets) is a French political drama television series which premiered on Canal+ on 8 February 2016. The series was developed by Eric Benzekri [fr] and Jean-Baptiste Delafon [fr].

Premise

Baron Noir is the political and judicial saga of Philippe Rickwaert, member of Parliament and mayor of Dunkerque, who is driven by an irrepressible thirst for personal revenge. Between rounds of the presidential election, he sees his future collapse when his mentor, the leftist candidate, sacrifices him to save his campaign. Determined to reinvent his career, Rickwaert uses cunning and connections to win political fights against those who betrayed him, creating a new alliance with the closest adviser of his enemy. Formidable but uncontrollable, conflicted between truth and lies, cultivating friendships in all strata of society (including within the police and organized crime), Philippe Rickwaert's life dissolves into a fascinating organised chaos. Rickwaert takes the fight to his opponents - and to his own demons - at every opportunity.

Cast

Main

Recurring

  • Laurent Spielvogel as Armand Chambolle
  • Jade Phan-Gia as Françoise Levasseur
  • Lubna Gourion as Salomé Rickwaert
  • Scali Delpeyrat as Martin Borde
  • Philippe Résimont as Daniel Kalhenberg
  • Eric Caruso as Laurent Mirmont
  • Erika Sainte as Fanny Alvergne
  • Maryne Bertieaux as Alison

Guest

Season 1
  • Michel Voïta as Jean-Marc Auzanet
  • Jean-Pierre Martins as Bruno Rickwaert
  • Michel Muller as Gérard Balleroy
  • Mahdi Belemlih as Medhi Fateni
  • Patrick Rocca as Alain Chistera
  • Alban Aumard as Sylvain Buisine
  • Yannick Morzelle as Bruce Rickwaert
  • Rémy Stiel as Jordan Rickwaert
  • Marie Lanchas as Elodie Jacquemot
  • Alain Pointier as Jean-Pierre Barthélémy
  • Stéphane Ropa as Boris Valentin
  • Phénix Brossard as Sébastien
  • Damien Jouillerot as Toph
  • Alain Pronnier as Eddy
  • Jean-Erns Marie-Louise as Ménadier
  • Brigitte Froment as Maryse
  • Léon Plazol as Théo
  • Sébastien Beuret as Arthur
Season 3

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
18February 8, 2016 (2016-02-08)February 29, 2016 (2016-02-29)
28February 22, 2018 (2018-02-22)February 12, 2018 (2018-02-12)
38February 10, 2020 (2020-02-10)March 2, 2020 (2020-03-02)

Season 1 (2016)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateFrance viewers
(millions)
11"Jupiter"UnknownUnknownFebruary 8, 2016 (2016-02-08)N/A
22"1932"UnknownUnknownFebruary 8, 2016 (2016-02-08)N/A
33"Solférino"UnknownUnknownFebruary 15, 2016 (2016-02-15)N/A
44"Bleu"UnknownUnknownFebruary 15, 2016 (2016-02-15)N/A
55"Grenelle"UnknownUnknownFebruary 22, 2016 (2016-02-22)N/A
66"Shutdown"UnknownUnknownFebruary 22, 2016 (2016-02-22)N/A
77"Pianoforte"UnknownUnknownFebruary 29, 2016 (2016-02-29)N/A
88"Pardon"UnknownUnknownFebruary 29, 2016 (2016-02-29)N/A

Season 2 (2018)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateFrance viewers
(millions)
91"Twins"UnknownUnknownJanuary 22, 2018 (2018-01-22)N/A
102"Tourniquet"UnknownUnknownJanuary 22, 2018 (2018-01-22)N/A
113"Haram"UnknownUnknownJanuary 29, 2018 (2018-01-29)N/A
124"Conversion"UnknownUnknownJanuary 29, 2018 (2018-01-29)N/A
135"Chouquette"UnknownUnknownFebruary 5, 2018 (2018-02-05)N/A
146"Remontada"UnknownUnknownFebruary 5, 2018 (2018-02-05)N/A
157"Diprotodon"UnknownUnknownFebruary 12, 2018 (2018-02-12)N/A
168"Sorpasso"UnknownUnknownFebruary 12, 2018 (2018-02-12)N/A

Season 3 (2020)

No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [1]Directed byWritten byOriginal release date [1]France viewers
(millions)
171"Check up"UnknownUnknownFebruary 10, 2020 (2020-02-10)N/A
182"Diaspora"UnknownUnknownFebruary 10, 2020 (2020-02-10)N/A
193"#MeToo"UnknownUnknownFebruary 17, 2020 (2020-02-17)N/A
204"Inventaire"UnknownUnknownFebruary 17, 2020 (2020-02-17)N/A
215"Satanas"UnknownUnknownFebruary 24, 2020 (2020-02-24)N/A
226"Oui"UnknownUnknownFebruary 24, 2020 (2020-02-24)N/A
237"Brüder"UnknownUnknownMarch 2, 2020 (2020-03-02)N/A
248"Ahou!"UnknownUnknownMarch 2, 2020 (2020-03-02)N/A

Development and production

On 29 February 2016, Eric Benzekri, the writer of the series announced that the season 2 will be shot during the next presidential and it was aired in 2018.[2] Season 3 debuted in February 2020.[3]

Reception

The TV Series was very well received by French critics.[4] Le Monde, L'Obs, Les Inrockuptibles, Metro International, Paris Match and Télérama gave the first season 4 out of 5 stars.[5][6][7][8][9][10] L'Express and Libération gave 3.5 out of 5 stars.[11][12]

Accolades

Year Awards Category Recipient Result
2016 ACS Award Best TV Series Canal+ Nominated
Best Writer Eric Benzekri & Jean-Baptiste Delafon Nominated
Best Director Ziad Doueiri Nominated
Best Actor Niels Arestrup Nominated
Best Actor Kad Merad Won
Best Actress Anna Mouglalis Nominated
Best Production Kwaï Nominated
2017 Globes de Cristal Award Best TV Series Eric Benzekri & Jean-Baptiste Delafon Nominated
Trophées du Film Français Best Writer-Producer Thomas Bourguignon, Eric Benzekri & Jean-Baptiste Delafon Won
45th International Emmy Awards Best Actor Kad Merad Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b "Baron Noir – Listings". Next Episode. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Baron Noir : la saison 2 sera tournée "au moment de la présidentielle"" (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  3. ^ "IMDb: Baron Noir Episode List". Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Critiques presse Baron Noir" (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  5. ^ Sérisier, Pierre. "Baron Noir – La politique qu'on mérite" (in French). Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  6. ^ ""Baron noir" sur Canal Plus : une série politique meilleure que "House of Cards"" (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  7. ^ Joyard, Olivier (2 February 2016). "Les Inrocks - "Baron noir", la première série politique de Canal+" (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  8. ^ Hoballah, Rania (8 February 2016). "Avec "Baron Noir", Kad Merad se lance en politique" (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  9. ^ ""Baron Noir" sur canal+ Kad Merad se lance en politique" (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  10. ^ "Fipa 2016 : on a vu "Baron noir", la nouvelle série de Canal+" (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  11. ^ "Quatre raisons de regarder "Baron Noir", la nouvelle série de Canal+" (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  12. ^ "Série "Baron noir" : quoi, magouille ?" (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2016.