5 New Series to Watch in February

An espionage series set in Eastern Europe on Max, the prequel to the iconic Dexter arriving on Canal+, a French series signed by Prime Video that infiltrates the world of luxury and influence, the Spanish miniseries about two troubled souls who want to savor life to the fullest, and a French comedic police series signed by France 3: what are the best series to watch in February? Here’s our shortlist.

For whom? Fans of Dexter who have been following his bloody adventures for 20 years.

The plot. Young Dexter (Paddy Gibson) is passionate about forensic science. His flaw (aside from his terrible haircut?): he has a thirst for blood. His murderous urges and fascination with the macabre are increasingly hard to suppress. His father (Patrick Dempsey), his best ally and confidant, regularly takes him hunting to ease his urges. One day, when his father is in the hospital, Dexter realizes that a nurse is trying to kill him discreetly by poisoning his IV. He sees red and commits his first murder. At the same time, he is offered a position as a forensic assistant at his local precinct. His proximity to crime alleviates his urges. But for how long?

Why we liked it? The massive classic of police series is making a strong comeback with Dexter: Origins, the prequel we needed. Paddy Gibson plays a young, decidedly cringe and creepy Dexter, but the truly gifted forensic assistant, who will do anything to protect his father and sister, ends up strangely endearing. This is where the screenwriters excel. A true succession of plot twists that only a Dexter could offer, with the added bonus of Michael C. Hall, the OG Dexter, who isn’t left out, as he narrates the six episodes of the miniseries. Special mention for the appearances of our favorite stars from the 2000s: Christina Milian, Patrick Dempsey, and our mother to all, Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Dexter: Origins, available on Canal+ on February 6.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2idmvQuZ49k 

For whom? Those who dreamed of becoming spies as children.

The plot. Ewa is a Polish spy whose occasional missions have one goal: to protect her country. After a personal tragedy during an infiltration at a party of Russian oligarchs, she is forced to hide out in her sister's remote cabin before considering truly quitting her job. But her partner Skiner, who went to Belarus on a mission to uncover a Russian mole at the Polish embassy in Minsk, is kidnapped. Ewa joins the rescue mission, but it's not going to be easy: danger lurks, and Skiner’s kidnapping reveals a far greater Russian-Polish tension than Ewa and her colleagues imagined.

Why we liked it? Polish series are incredibly rare, and even rarer are those that truly captivate us. Say goodbye to sexy, barely scratched female spies. The Eastern Gate tells the story of a final badass who dives headfirst into hand-to-hand combat, doesn't wipe the blood from her face, curses like a sailor, and stops at nothing to accomplish her missions. From Poland to Kaliningrad, Minsk, and the militarized borders of Russia, Ewa’s espionage missions keep us on the edge of our seats. It feels like we are infiltrating the depths of Eastern European political schemes: delicious!

The Eastern Gate, available on Max on January 31.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxoSpSauqmk 

For whom? Fans of Emily in Paris who loved the hilarious new novel Les Influentes by Adèle Bréau.

The plot. Alma, a young woman embodying the perfect Parisian, lands a job in a luxury hotel. Her job: to cater to the whims of the clients (all rich and capricious), even the most absurd requests… even when an actor playing Jesus asks to be baptized in the hotel pool. But when preparing a last-minute marriage proposal for an influencer who cheated on his wife live on Instagram, she behaves poorly toward a young man who tries to help her. Too bad: he is a startup founder who developed a revolutionary new dating app, Dear You. And she is chosen to be his assistant for the duration of his stay.

Why we liked it? Infiltrating the behind-the-scenes of the grand palaces and the most opulent celebrity events of the City of Light: we’ll never get tired of it. Dear You represents the perfect formula: hilarious characters, albeit exaggerated, a sweet and resourceful young woman at work but a little naïve in love, a handsome young man becoming famous, all sprinkled with a touch of extravagance and glitter. Shake it up and you get the perfect series for a Valentine’s Day month. A sweet treat, absolutely hilarious to watch with a tub of vanilla ice cream and a glass of wine!

Dear You, available on Prime Video on February 7.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywyei5orJ2M  

For whom? Those who LOVED The Fault in Our Stars.

The plot. Raul is an authentically passive young man. Events happen to him, without him making any decisions. He discovers he has heart cancer, and the surgery has only a 30% chance of success ("That’s a huge chance," his gay best friend tells him). On the other hand, Marta, with orange hair and a questionable wardrobe, spends more time in nightclubs and on her commercial shoots than at her perfect sister’s baby showers. But when she realizes she's pregnant, and this might be her last chance to become a mother, a new outlook on life takes over. After randomly meeting Raul at the funeral of an old classmate, the two damaged souls collide. How can they love each other when two countdowns are ticking away?

Why we liked it? Raul and Marta are two incredibly lovable characters, to the point that you’d want to give them a hug through your screen. Raul strives to live the life he’s never lived, pushed by the vibrant energy of Marta, while Marta tries to slow down her frantic life and settle down, helped by Raul’s calm and reassuring strength. This is how Marta ends up at her sister’s last baby shower, stuck between a thousand and one doting young moms, and Raul inadvertently becomes the protagonist of a commercial for hemorrhoid cream. Love You to Death is the story of two troubled souls meeting at the best (or worst) possible moment, perhaps to save each other. Our recommendation: grab some tissues.

Love You to Death, available on Apple TV+ on February 5.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEuIrOD4ibI  

For whom? Fans of French police series.

The plot. Iris (Lucis Passaniti) has just graduated from the police academy. A Parisian, procedural, and career-driven, she arrives in the Montpellier area at a police station with a nearly familial atmosphere. Her first case comes up quickly: a young jogger is found dead in the scrubland, an unfortunate accident that the police deem boring, tedious, and unexciting. Her partner? Victor (Bruno Salomone), a cop particularly attached to his methods, a gruff bear who prefers to work alone. The duo starts off badly. But the classic good cop bad cop strategy seems to come naturally to them. They will have to combine their talents, especially when the jogger’s death turns out to be a premeditated murder. The catch? Iris and Victor each have a secret, soon compromised by their collaboration...

Why we liked it? A Priori is a police series that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The characters of Iris and Victor, acerbic and cynical, make for a hilarious pair. Add to that some incredibly funny secondary characters (the duo investigating the low rating of their precinct, worse than their local kebab, the officer who finds suspects on Grindr, the confused intern who gets in their way…) and you have a series full of mix-ups that will leave you in stitches. France 3 delivers a series that feels great!

A Priori, available on France.TV on February 4.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83IvB_KU8Vg

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