5 new series to watch in March

The remake of Le Guépard with Deva Cassel, a series about clumsy drug traffickers produced by AppleTV+, the new feel-good work from TF1 starring Samuel Le Bihan, a French-style thriller on France TV, and a mini-series on Arte with a Skins vibe: what are the best series of March? Our shortlist.

For whom? Fans of the original version (book or film) who dream of traveling to Sicily.

The pitch. Sicily, 1860. The family of Prince de Salina (Kim Rossi Stuart), nicknamed Le Guépard because of his coat of arms, is in a precarious position. Garibaldi is unifying Italy and intends to take over the island to integrate it into the new country. The problem is that many of his supporters are involved in the anti-Bourbon uprisings in Sicily, including Tancredi (Saul Nanni), the Prince's own nephew, whom he loves more than his own son. This hypocritical and wealthy revolutionary is also deeply in love with Concetta (Benedetta Porcaroli), Le Guépard’s favorite daughter. But the patriarch, trying to forge an alliance with a powerful and well-liked mayor, faces a dilemma: to secure his fragile royal position, he must marry someone from his bloodline to the mayor’s daughter to show his support for the rebel movement. He plans to marry Tancredi to Angelica (Deva Cassel), stabilizing his status but risking his relationship with his favorite daughter. In this political climate, he must choose between alliances and his own family.

Why you’ll love it. Adapted from Lampedusa’s cult novel and brought to the screen by Alain Delon in the '60s, Le Guépard now enjoys a major Netflix production, with some scenes resembling Caravaggio paintings. The royal mansions exude a Bridgerton aesthetic, while the Sicilian countryside delivers a pure breath of summer air. On top of that, Prince de Salina is a captivating character: not only eternally sexy, but he also uses his cunning to navigate the turbulent political chessboard of his time (who doesn’t love handsome and intelligent men?). The romantic entanglements and betrayals add even more spice: between the passionate affairs and lovesick young ladies, the aristocracy isn’t always a harmonious bunch. Deva Cassel becomes our new obsession—her grace, inherited from her mother Monica Bellucci, radiates on-screen, delivering a Sicilian character brimming with sensuality as Angelica. A must-watch!

Le Guépard, available on Netflix on March 5.
Trailer

For whom? Fans of the handsome Samuel Le Bihan and slightly wacky detective series.

The pitch. Tom Villeneuve is not a lawyer like the others. His office? A chair on a beach on the French Riviera. His assistant? A loudmouth who doesn’t let anyone walk over her. Fabricating evidence to prove his client’s innocence? No problem. The thing is, this ex-con just got out of prison after 17 years, wrongly accused of killing his wife. Needless to say, fighting injustice has become his driving force in life. Having used his time behind bars to study criminal law, here he is, dashing, back under the Nice sun, ultra-motivated to defend his first client: a hotel employee (and part-time gigolo) accused of murder. But his unconventional methods are enough to make the police boil, led by Captain Lucie Meunier, who is trying, for better or worse, to conduct her investigation. While Tom refuses to believe in his protégé’s guilt, everything seems to condemn him…

Why will you love it? How can you not fall for Samuel Le Bihan? With its big budget and stunning French Riviera settings, the brand-new TF1 production Carpe Diem gives the actor all the space to be more theatrical than ever. While the dialogues, often emphatic, give the whole thing a somewhat overly scripted feel, the actors make the show enjoyable to watch. We inevitably love the divine Barbara Schulz, just like Jisca Calvada in the role of Tom’s sharp-tongued associate, who will definitely make you laugh. The verdict: a perfect family series for the general public, with sunny cinematography and quirky characters that make it feel like a comic book brought to the screen. Fun!

Carpe Diem, available March 10 on MYTF1.
© François Lefebvre - TF1

For whom? Fans of gangster series.

The pitch. We've all had a crush on a bad boy like they don’t make anymore. But when two drug-dealing gangsters pose as DEA agents (the U.S. anti-drug agency) to steal merchandise and profits, things can only go wrong. Crime number 1. By the way, we hear in our earpiece that impersonating a public service agent is punishable by law… Crime number 2. The other issue is that Ray (Bryan Tyree Henry) and Manny (Wagner Moura), while running their little operation in the heart of Philadelphia (a drug trafficking hub), decide to carry out an improvised raid on a house they think is insignificant. In reality, they’ve just stepped into one of the most prominent narcotics circles in the entire United States. Crime number 3. What could possibly go wrong?

Why will you love it? With a pitch like this, you'd never guess who’s behind the camera. Peter Craig (Gladiator, The Hunger Games) is on the team, promising ultra-high-quality action scenes. Another huge surprise: the big producer of this eight-episode series is none other than Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Alien, Blade Runner). Wagner Moura, already known from Narcos, and Brian Tyree Henry, who starred in Atlanta, are set to deliver—because gangster roles? They’ve got them down!

Dope Thief, available March 14 on Apple TV+.
Watch the trailer

For who? Fans of psychological thrillers who devoured Chanson Douce by Leïla Slimani.

The pitch. Paula (Mélanie Doutey), a mother of three who recently gave birth, needs help at home. To take care of her children and return to work with peace of mind, she hires Tess (Lucie Fagedet), an efficient, easygoing au pair who also happens to be a great cook. But Paula quickly realizes something is off—her company has practically moved on without her, rejecting all her ideas. At home, Tess fits in a little too well with the kids and her husband, Jérôme (Eric Caravaca), who sees her as a godsend in helping his struggling wife. Then, Paula starts feeling unwell. She keeps losing track of her belongings and becomes convinced that Tess is stealing her perfume, makeup, and even her clothes. Is the young au pair just a helpful presence—or does she have a darker agenda?

Why you’ll love it. The Intruder will mess with your head! You’ll find yourself in Paula’s shoes—watching her struggle at work, doubting herself, and feeling completely isolated as her concerns about Tess are dismissed by her husband. But you know what you saw. Tess takes mysterious phone calls, snoops around the house, and slowly ingratiates herself into the family. The tension is palpable, and the question lingers—how far will she go? Lucie Fagedet is chilling in this role, a far cry from her rebellious teen character in Parents Mode d’Emploi. Directed by Shirley Monsarrat (SKAM France), this psychological drama will keep you glued to the screen.

The Intruder, streaming on France.TV from March 5.
Watch the trailer

For who? Anyone who loves watching Skins over and over again. 

The pitch. Nismet (Emma Boulanouar), 16, is sexually assaulted by her stepfather. Her mother (Loubna Abidar) is in a very bad way, perpetually high on sleeping pills. Unable to bear the situation any longer, Nismet chooses herself and runs away from it all. Quickly arrested by the police, she was placed in a home. There, she discovered the pleasure of being guided by responsible, caring adults, and made friends with young people from similar backgrounds. But her bubble bursts all too quickly: after an unavoidable tragedy, Nismet is legally emancipated and ends up alone in a flat. She is soon forced to work day and night as a care assistant in an old people's home... and as a stripper in the evenings. 

Why will you like it? If you loved Skins and its accurate portrayal of situations ranging from teenage troubles to the most serious domestic abuse, you're in for a treat. It's easy to see the similarities between Effy Stonem from Skins and Nismet, who fall into the nightlife scene and risk meeting the wrong people. Nismet and its (only) four episodes prove to be absolutely poignant: you want to cross the screen and give a hug to the young girl who has been unlucky in life. This series by Philippe Faucon (César for Best Film 2016 for Fatima) is a true ode to the strength of life of thousands of young girls who fight every day to emerge from terrible situations. It was rightly awarded the prize for Best 52-Minute Series at the La Rochelle Film Festival. 

Nismet, available on Arte on 27 February. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0lCi0bFXBI   

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