A Small Town’s Dark Comedy Unveiled

The first two episodes of a new six‑part series hit the screens at a film festival in Lille, where it made its world debut. The show will air on Radio‑Canada later this year and is being sold internationally by a distributor linked to the production companies. The story follows Gabriel Serpent, an investigator who faces a grim discovery in his quiet community. He also tries to keep the local police station open. The setting is a fictional village inspired by the creator’s own hometown in Quebec, giving it an authentic feel. The series mixes crime with humor. The writer‑director explains that life is full of absurd moments, and he wants the audience to laugh at them. He believes laughter protects people from negativity and that television should show more smiles.Gabriel’s character is revealed slowly, piece by piece. The creator uses personal memories, especially his relationship with his father, to shape the detective’s backstory. He keeps many details subtle, letting the setting and atmosphere speak. The production team chose old‑school cameras to give the show a gritty, textured look. The director feels that modern equipment is too clean and uniform. By using limited colors—earthy tones, oranges, browns—the series feels both harsh and warm. The creator grew up in the same region where the show is filmed. He says that using familiar landscapes lets him blend reality with imagination, turning a picturesque town into a place where beauty and ugliness coexist. This contrast makes scenes more interesting. The series is an example of how a local story can become a universal drama. It shows that even small towns can host complex, dark tales when told with humor and honesty.