The essential episodes of Spiral

Watch these 15 in order and you've got Spiral — each pick states its reason.

  1. 01

    S01E01 · Pilot · December 13, 2005 · 48m

    Episode 17.8

    A public prosecutor is teamed with a hardened police captain and a magistrate to identify a body found discarded in a skip. As the case unfolds, their investigation uncovers deception and political intrigue.

  2. 02

    S01E02 · Season 1 peak · December 13, 2005 · 51m

    Episode 29.0

    The police make an appeal to the Press and get their hands on Elina's diary - which reveals she had friends in high places. Pierre discovers a connection between the murder victim and a childhood friend of his, now a wealthy businessman - and it seems they met the day before she died.

  3. 03

    S02E02 · Season 2 peak · May 12, 2008 · 53m

    Episode 29.0

    Laure is disciplined for her use of force on a suspect and comes into conflict with Clement over his compromising newspaper interview. Karlsson is taken into Szabo's pay as his accomplice in representing the drug ring. Judge Roban uses his usual cunning in investigating a strange rape allegation.

  4. 04

    S03E01 · Season 3 peak · May 3, 2010 · 52m

    Episode 19.0

    Police captain Laure Berthaud seizes the opportunity to redeem her tarnished reputation when the mutilated body of a young woman is discovered, and immediately launches a search with her squad for the sadistic killer. Meanwhile, Judge Roban's investigation into the case of a child bitten by a dog turns out to have broader implications. French detective drama, starring Caroline Proust.

  5. 05

    S04E01 · Season 4 peak · September 3, 2012 · 52m

    Episode 19.0

    DPJ group captain Laure Berthaud is responsible for investigating the case of a student blown apart by the bomb he was making. Soon he finds himself facing some far-left activists who advocate very radical urban guerrilla and direct targeting of police. Josephine Karlsson driven by her hatred of the police and government goes beyond her role as a lawyer and is trapped by the DCRI which monitors the far-left activists. Pierre Clément, who dreams of greater things, is wanted to defend Johnny Jorkal, a crime lord. Judge Roban, back to court after a long absence, finds he has been sidelined.

  6. 06

    S05E02 · Season 5 peak · November 10, 2014 · 52m

    Episode 29.0

    Laure's team tracks down Stephane Jaulin, whose lawyer turns out to be Pierre Clement. The investigation widens to include other possible suspects.

  7. 07

    S06E01 · Season 6 peak · September 18, 2017 · 1h 1m

    Episode 19.0

    Four weeks after giving premature birth to Romy, still in an incubator at the hospital, Laure Berthaud is eager to resume service. The 2nd DPJ is called in the twentieth arrondissement where a human torso was discovered. Arnaud Beckriche, the new Commissioner, overseeing the investigation, leaves a week to his team to solve the case before transferring it to the criminal brigade. For her part, Josephine languishes in a firm specializing in business law when Eric Edelman comes to offer to defend the son of a famous cosmetic surgeon, accused of having ordered the murder of his father.

  8. 08

    S07E01 · Season 7 peak · February 4, 2019 · 1h 1m

    Episode 110.0

    Police Chief Herville is found dead in a Chinese restaurant in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. Gilou must break the news to Laure, who is being treated in a police rehabilitation centre. Now in charge of the unit, Gilou begins investigating with new recruit Ali, who is fresh out of training. Meanwhile, Judge Roban returns to work from his time off sick only to find he is soon due to take compulsory retirement. And lawyer Joséphine struggles to adapt to life in prison while awaiting trial.

  9. 09

    S07E02 · Top rated · February 4, 2019 · 52m

    Episode 210.0

    As the police identify that their top priority is to track down Ryan and his gang, Gilou agrees to work with Laure again, but she must find her place now that he and Ali are a team. Meanwhile, Edelman provides legal counsel to Joséphine to help her get out of prison.

  10. 10

    S07E03 · Top rated · February 11, 2019 · 59m

    Episode 310.0

    Ryan is not telling the whole story, so Roban decides to lock him up. The banknotes recovered from the robbery lead police to take their investigation to a nearby housing estate. Meanwhile, a link is uncovered between Wang and Herville, and Joséphine builds a rapport with her cellmate, Lola.

  11. 11

    S07E04 · Top rated · February 11, 2019 · 51m

    Episode 410.0

    Laure follows the drug traffickers’ courier to a warehouse in Aubervilliers, where the investigation suddenly acquires a new dimension. Meanwhile, still frail, she struggles to cope with the responsibilities in her personal life. Joséphine has a hearing with the judge. And Roban pursues a case of negligence at a hospital by involving the hospital director.

  12. 12

    S07E05 · Top rated · February 18, 2019 · 58m

    Episode 510.0

    Police work to uncover the role of Ryan's elder brother Fouad in the money-laundering scheme. Beckriche calls on his former colleagues at the fraud squad to assist in the investigation, but his decision is controversial. Laure and Gilou make a breakthrough arrest, while Edelman presses for a crime scene reconstruction he thinks will help Joséphine.

  13. 13

    S07E06 · Top rated · February 18, 2019 · 53m

    Episode 610.0

    The money-laundering operation closes ranks. Beckriche orders his team to let the fraud squad take the lead with their investigation, but will his colleagues comply? Out of prison, Joséphine finds herself trying to pick up the pieces of her personal and professional life.

  14. 14

    S07E07 · Top rated · February 25, 2019 · 57m

    Episode 710.0

    Following the debacle resulting in Fouad's death, the team is taken off the investigation. Laure is increasingly concerned about Lebrion's interference, while Joséphine realises she also has reasons not to trust Edelman.

  15. 15

    S08E10 · Series finale · October 5, 2020 · 1h 6m

    Episode 10

    On the day of the hold-up, last minute changes cause chaos and the police's meticulously planned intervention is thrown into disarray. As the situation becomes more and more dangerous, Laure does all she can to get Gilou out to safety. But her options are limited - and very risky.

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