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A smart, unconventional and empathetic leadership. This is what Marianne Vauban did in the French dramedy, Marian (or Marian, one of a kind for English viewers).
Set in Marseille, France, Marianne (Marillo Berry) is a judge, a judge who leads with her heart for those involved in her life and the cases she’s solving, but she also won’t be trifled with. In fact, he has no qualms about how he chooses to live his life, preferring to be alone, his companion a ferret named Cyrano and his vintage blue Citroen 2CV a supporting character in many ways as it is a contributing touch to a glimpse of his personality that cares well for what he loves.
Season two aired this past April and May, and all six episodes along with six episodes from season one are available on MHzChoice. Each episode, running about sixty minutes in length, involved two cases, one a major crime (usually a murder) and the other a civil case, which he addressed directly to the two opposing parties in his office at the Palais de Justice. The latter is the more comical conflict of the two and is resolved in a creative way that, through Marianne’s mediation, an aha offers that she applies to solve the former case.
What makes the series endearing is its dramatic nature – Marian’s humor is dry and whipsmart, often prompting her twenty-year-old assistant to laugh, especially when the defendant or plaintiff in a civil case can’t take her aside. Captain Pastor provides a likable and love-sick foil to Marian’s independent and no-nonsense approach to both life and every field. They solve the case together when he gets advice from her about his love life.
I’m thoroughly enjoying this series, and after finishing watching the second season, I’ve become even more of a fan of Marian for both her independence and intelligence as well as her huge heart, as demonstrated in the second season by her care for raising Zachary, a young boy who crossed her path during a previous case from the first season.
The second season trailer made me laugh out loud (shown below). It gives a proper peek into his character and the series. And just as an aside, season two is by far the best of the two. Watch the full series now MHz Choice. Cross my fingers that there will be a season three.
~ Explore more little joy In TSLL’s archives here.
~ Explore more French-inspired Petit Plaisirs here.
