Three Pines

Three Pines is a mystery television series starring Alfred Molina based on the novel series by Louise Penny, centered on Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. It premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 2 December 2022 with four murder mysteries, each spanning two episodes. In March 2023, it was announced that the series would not receive a second season, remaining a miniseries.

Premise

As reported by Peter White for Deadline Hollywood, Chief Inspector Armand

Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec [police force]... sees things that others do not: the light between the cracks, the mythic in the mundane, and the evil in the seemingly ordinary. As he investigates a spate of murders in Three Pines, a seemingly idyllic village [in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada], he discovers long-buried secrets and faces a few of his own ghosts.

In contrast to the books, the series includes a secondary storyline throughout the season, with Gamache investigating the disappearance of a young woman.

Cast

Main

• Alfred Molina as Chief Inspector Armand Gamache
• Rossif Sutherland as Jean-Guy Beauvoir
• Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers as Isabelle Lacoste
• Tantoo Cardinal as Bea Mayer
• Clare Coulter as Ruth Zardo
• Sarah Booth as Yvette Nichol
• Anna Tierney as Clara Morrow
• Roberta Battaglia as Crie

Recurring

• Julian Bailey as Peter Morrow
• Frédéric-Antoine Guimond as Olivier Brule
• Pierre Simpson as Gabri Dubeau
• Tamara Brown as Myrna Landers
• Patricia Summersett as Angela Blake
• Marie-France Lambert as Gamache's wife Reine-Marie
• Frank Schorpion
• Marcel Jeannin
• Georgina Lightning
• Crystle Lightning
• Isabel Deroy-Olson
• Anna Lambe as Blue Two-Rivers
• Marie-Josée Bélanger
• Mylène Dinh-Robic as Sandra Morrow
• Laurence Leboeuf as Julia Morrow

Episodes

Production

On 21 May 2020, it was announced that Left Bank Pictures had optioned the 18-book novel series by Louise Penny, which is about Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, with Amazon Prime Video in final negotiations to order the project to series. Emilia di Girolamo was attached as head writer, and Sam Donovan was announced as the lead director, directing four episodes. Indigenous Mohawk director Tracey Deer is a series consultant and directed two episodes. On 2 September 2021, it was announced that Alfred Molina was cast in the lead role of Gamache. Rossif Sutherland, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Tantoo Cardinal, Clare Coulter, Sarah Booth, and Anna Tierney were also cast in main roles.

Principal photography was completed between August and December 2021. Filming took place over five five-week periods in Montreal and rural Quebec, specifically in the Eastern Townships, the region of Quebec where the novels take place and original author Penny resides. Specifically, outdoor scenes in the village are filmed in Saint-Armand.

The soundtrack includes music from Elisapie, The Bearhead Sisters, Chloé Stafler, and Riit.

Release

On 1 November 2022, Amazon Studios announced the premiere date and official trailer of Three Pines. With eight one-hour episodes in total, the first two episodes premiered on 2 December 2022, with two new episodes released each week until the finale on 23 December. Initially, the series was set to air only in certain countries: the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Greenland.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes the show has an approval rating of 72% based on reviews from 18 critics.

Chase Hutchinson of Collider praised Alfred Molina's performance as Inspector Gamache, rating the series a B and wrote, "It is in its more melancholic and macabre moments that Three Pines stumbles upon something more sinister that elevates it a bit beyond a standard mystery tale." Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com called it "a collection of intelligent two-hour mysteries that fans of Agatha Christie or even Columbo should watch." Amber Dowling of Variety gave it a positive review and concluded "For now, this short-but-sweet adaptation offers a sweeping cinematic taste of cultures and stories that are deserving of the global platform Prime Video offers, all while doing justice to the best-selling novels on which they're based."

Cancellation

On 13 March 2023, it was announced that the series was canceled after one season. The partners behind the show including Left Bank and Prime wanted the show to return but were unable to reach an agreement.

References

External links

• Three Pines at IMDb