Three Pines

Last updated

Three Pines
Three Pines poster.jpg
Genre
Created by Emilia di Girolamo
Based on Inspector Gamache
by Louise Penny
Starring
Composer Toydrum
Country of origin
  • Canada
  • United Kingdom
Original languages
  • French
  • English
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
  • Andy Harries
  • Sharon Hughff
  • John Phillips
  • Sam Donovan
  • Emilia di Girolamo
  • Alfred Molina
ProducerJohn Griffin
Production location Quebec
Running time60 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Amazon Prime Video
Release2 December (2022-12-02) –
23 December 2022 (2022-12-23)

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. [1] In March 2023, it was announced that the series would not receive a second season, remaining a miniseries. [2]

Contents

Premise

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. He investigates a series of murders in Three Pines, an idyllic village in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada, and he discovers long-buried secrets while facing ghosts of his own. [3]

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

Cast

Main

Recurring

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date  [4]
1"White Out - Part 1"Sam Donovan Emilia di Girolamo 2 December 2022 (2022-12-02)
Gamache ignores his superior's orders and investigates the disappearance of Blue Two-Rivers. As punishment, he's dispatched to the remote village of Three Pines to solve the murder of a wealthy socialite, with no shortage of suspects.
2"White Out - Part 2"Sam DonovanEmilia di Girolamo2 December 2022 (2022-12-02)
Gamache looks into the victim's enigmatic past and learns that one of the villagers withheld information. Gamache's delight at a breakthrough in the Blue Two-Rivers case is short-lived when the family has doubts, leading to a desperate act.
3"The Cruellest Month: Part One" Tracey Deer Jamie Crichton9 December 2022 (2022-12-09)
Gamache returns to investigate the disappearance of a popular resident, but it soon becomes a murder case. Meanwhile, Lacoste discovers that a key piece of evidence has been faked and secretly reopens the case.
4"The Cruellest Month: Part Two"Tracey DeerJamie Crichton9 December 2022 (2022-12-09)
The villagers confront the truth of their past and exorcise their collective demons, as Gamache makes a breakthrough and realizes that Marc's killer had a very personal motive.
5"The Murder Stone: Part One" Daniel Grou Catherine Tregenna 16 December 2022 (2022-12-16)
Gamache's anniversary celebrations are cut short by the discovery of a body. He and his team investigate the case which focuses on the hotel's owners, the dysfunctional Morrow family.
6"The Murder Stone: Part Two"Daniel GrouCatherine Tregenna16 December 2022 (2022-12-16)
Gamache is certain that he is closing in on solving the mystery of Julia's murder. Kevin and Lacoste have a tense encounter as Kevin tries to defend himself, saying that he was framed for murder.
7"The Hangman: Part One"Sam DonovanEmilia di Girolamo23 December 2022 (2022-12-23)
A man is discovered in the woods near Three Pines, seemingly the victim of a group lynching, and Gamache finds himself wondering whether all the villagers are capable of murder.
8"The Hangman: Part Two"Sam DonovanEmilia di Girolamo23 December 2022 (2022-12-23)
Gamache and his team unearth a tragic story that provides the key to the victim's desire for vengeance, which leads the team to his murderers.

Production

On 21 May 2020, it was announced that Left Bank Pictures had optioned the 18-book novel series by Louise Penny, [5] 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. [6] Indigenous Mohawk director Tracey Deer is a series consultant and directed two episodes. [7] On 2 September 2021, it was announced that Alfred Molina was cast in the lead role of Gamache. [8] Rossif Sutherland, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Tantoo Cardinal, Clare Coulter, Sarah Booth, and Anna Tierney were also cast in main roles. [9]

Principal photography was completed between August and December 2021. [10] 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. [11] Specifically, outdoor scenes in the village are filmed in Saint-Armand.

The soundtrack includes music from Elisapie, The Bearhead Sisters, Chloé Stafler, and Riit. [7]

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. [12]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes the show has an approval rating of 72% based on reviews from 18 critics. [13]

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." [14] Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com called it "a collection of intelligent two-hour mysteries that fans of Agatha Christie or even Columbo should watch." [15] 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." [3]

Cancellation

On 13 March 2023, it was announced that the series was canceled after one season. [2] The partners behind the show including Left Bank and Prime wanted the show to return but were unable to reach an agreement. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sûreté du Québec</span> Provincial Police Force of Quebec

The Sûreté du Québec is the provincial police service for the Canadian province of Quebec. The agency's name is sometimes translated to Quebec Provincial Police (QPP) and Quebec Police Force (QPF) in English-language sources. The headquarters of the Sûreté du Québec are located on Parthenais Street in Montreal's Sainte-Marie neighbourhood, and the service employs over 5,000 officers. The SQ is the second-largest provincial police service and the fourth-largest police service in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfred Molina</span> British actor

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathaniel Parker</span> British actor (born 1962)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louise Penny</span> Canadian author (born 1958)

Louise Penny is a Canadian author of mystery novels set in the Canadian province of Quebec centred on the work of francophone Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. Penny's first career was as a radio broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). After she turned to writing, she won numerous awards for her work, including the Agatha Award for best mystery novel of the year five times, including four consecutive years (2007–2010), and the Anthony Award for best novel of the year five times, including four consecutive years (2010–2013). Her novels have been published in 23 languages.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanbridge East</span> Municipality in Quebec, Canada

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Emilia di Girolamo is a British television screenwriter and published author. Di Girolamo has also written for The Guardian newspaper and blog.

<i>The Cruelest Month</i> Canadian mystery novel

The Cruelest Month, by Louise Penny, is the third novel in the Three Pines Mysteries series, which feature Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, published in 2008.

<i>A Fatal Grace</i> Canadian mystery novel

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chief Inspector Armand Gamache</span> Main character in mystery novel series by Louise Penny

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is the main character in a series of mystery novels written by Canadian author Louise Penny. The series is set around the life of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of Sûreté du Québec, the provincial police force for Quebec. Books in the series have been nominated for and received numerous awards.

<i>Still Life</i> (Penny novel) Canadian mystery novel

Still Life is the debut novel written by Louise Penny and published by St. Martin's Paperbacks on 1 January 2005. This novel won the Anthony Award for Best First Novel in 2007. It is the first in a series of mystery novels featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and set in Quebec.

<i>The Brutal Telling</i> Canadian mystery novel

The Brutal Telling is a novel written by Louise Penny, the fifth novel in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series set in Quebec. It was published by Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin's Press owned by Macmillan Publishers. The book was published on 22 September 2009. It won to the Anthony Award for Best Novel in 2010.

<i>Bury Your Dead</i> (novel) Canadian mystery novel

Bury Your Dead is a book written by Louise Penny and published by Minotaur Books on 28 September 2010. This novel won the Anthony Award for Best Novel in 2011. It is the sixth mystery novel featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and set in Quebec.

<i>A Trick of the Light</i> (novel) 2011 novel by Louise Penny

A Trick of the Light is a book written by Louise Penny and published by Minotaur Books on 30 August 2011. It is the seventh mystery novel featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and set in Quebec.

<i>The Peripheral</i> (TV series) American science-fiction drama television series

The Peripheral is an American science fiction television series created by Scott B. Smith. Produced by Amazon, it is loosely based on the 2014 book of the same name, written by William Gibson. Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy serve as executive producers, along with Athena Wickham, Steve Hoban, and Vincenzo Natali. Set roughly a decade in the future, with new technology that has changed society in subtle ways, a gamer is delivered a connection to an alternate reality as well as a dark future of her own.

<i>State of Terror</i> 2021 novel by Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny

State of Terror is a political-mystery novel written by former United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Canadian mystery novelist Louise Penny. A spin-off of Penny's Inspector Gamache series, the titular character appearing in a minor role, the book was released October 12, 2021, jointly published by Simon & Schuster and St. Martin's Press.

<i>A World of Curiosities</i> 2022 crime novel

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References

  1. ↑ "A Tiny Village With Big Mysteries: Prime Video Reveals Trailer and Launch Date For Three Pines, the New Series Based on Louise Penny's International Best-Selling Chief Inspector Gamache Series". Amazon Studios. 1 November 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 Ravindran, Manori; Dowling, Amber (13 March 2023). "Prime Video Cancels Alfred Molina-Led 'Three Pines' After One Season". Variety. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  3. 1 2 Dowling, Amber (29 November 2022). "'Three Pines' Amplifies Indigenous Voices in Cinematic First Season Louise Penny Fans Will Love: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  4. ↑ "Shows A-Z – Three Pines on Amazon". The Futon Critic . Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  5. ↑ Counter, Rosemary (1 December 2022). "This Time, Louise Penny Thinks She Got It Right". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  6. ↑ Kanter, Jake (21 May 2020). "'The Crown' Producer Left Bank Adapting Bestselling Inspector Gamache Books In First Series For Amazon". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  7. 1 2 Schneller, Johanna (1 December 2022). "Three Pines, based on Louise Penny's wildly successful novels, arrives on screen". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  8. ↑ White, Peter (2 September 2021). "Alfred Molina To Star In Amazon Police Drama Series 'Three Pines' From 'The Crown' Producer Left Bank". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  9. ↑ Horton, Tom (2 September 2021). "Three Pines image offers glimpse of Alfred Molina as police detective". Belfast Telegraph . Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  10. ↑ "Amazon Prime Video and Left Bank Pictures Begin Production on the Scripted Canadian Amazon Original Drama Series Three Pines". Amazon Studios. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  11. ↑ Demers, Maxime (23 August 2021). "Une série d'Amazon tournée au Québec" [An Amazon series filmed in Quebec]. Le Journal de Montréal (in French). Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  12. ↑ "Alfred Molina finds multiple bodies and a town full of secrets in mysterious Three Pines trailer". Entertainment Weekly. 1 November 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  13. ↑ "Three Pines". Rotten Tomatoes . 4 December 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  14. ↑ Hutchinson, Chase (30 November 2022). "Alfred Molina Shines in a Solid Louise Penny Adaptation". Collider. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  15. ↑ Tallerico, Brian (2 December 2022). "Alfred Molina Grounds Smart Mystery Series on Prime Video". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  16. ↑ Dowling, Amber (13 March 2023). "Prime Video Cancels Alfred Molina-Led 'Three Pines' After One Season". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
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