Monsieur Spade – Season 1 Episode 4 Recap & Review

Episode 4

Episode 4 of Monsieur Spade begins with a brief flashback to the year 1945. The Second World War is in its twilight. Many of those who went against their own countries are figuring out their next steps. Jacques, Gabrielle’s infidel husband, is doing the same. He meets her in Bozouls, all ready to leave for Argentina. But he has no idea what’s coming next. Gabrielle pulls out a gun and shoots him. Several others, whose close ones Jacques betrayed, follow suit. Patrice and Maurice are in the crowd as well.

Jacques falls off the cliff with Phillipe and Audrey in attendance, seemingly approving this display of retributive justice. Back in the present day, Henri comes to Spade’s rescue. He hits the assailant strangling Spade in the kitchen with his gun and shoots the other in the shoulder. Spade regains his composure and sends the ladies along with Henri upstairs. He ties up the assailant, who belongs to the SDECE, French army intelligence. 

The real purpose of this attempted kidnapping was to get back at Philippe. He was supposed to look after Zahid, the Mahdi, but chose to go on a different path. Spade makes it clear to the SDECE agent that he is an ally in the search for Phillipe. But kidnapping Teresa is the wrong choice to get back at him. The agent reveals that Phillipe was part of a secret spy unit that hunted down members of the Armee Secrete (OAS), a far-right organization fighting against President de Gaulle for his decision to give away Algeria. 

Philippe was a prolific marksman, killing over 30 such members. The agent swears he doesn’t know more, and as a truce offering, Spade frees the man to go. He does so with a warning – no more armed men in his house or near Teresa. Next, we move on to Marguerite. She is all set to meet the mystery man that Chastain represented. This man is Denis, Jean-Pierre’s father, who sent him to war because he wanted Marguerite for himself. She is admonishingly vapid in her approach and greetings. Marguerite wants nothing to do with Denis, who claims that he is suffering from a terminal ailment.

Despite his many attempts to ask for forgiveness, Marguerite brushes past these to focus on a bunch of letters. Denis hands them over, indicating they hold great importance in Jean’s life. She bids a bitter farewell to Denis and leaves. The other assailant at Gabrielle’s house is found dead in the pool. Patrice is on the scene and deduces that he was shot from the back through his head. Someone else was on the property that night, who killed him.

Sameer’s wife pleads with him to dispose of Zahid. Ever since the Imam visited them, an SDECE agent has been keeping an eye on them from across the street.

Jean-Pierre, whose disillusionment with the days of war is growing, visits a blind friend from the army, who narrates a chilling account of how it happened. Samir listens to his wife, bringing back Zahid to the club where Jean-Pierre takes an interest in him. Spade sees through Henri’s ploy and correctly points out that he has been posted at the house by his Commanding Officer in Paris.

Before Henri leaves, Teresa talks with him to learn more about Philippe and the OAS. But Henri isn’t forthcoming with his answers. She kisses him under the guise of stealing his wallet and Henri has no inkling of the ploy.

Teresa visits Audrey to return back the clothes she sent for her. Teresa remembers the time when Spade first brought her to the house but Audrey turned her back. But now, when she has a substantial inheritance to come, Audrey is suddenly warming up to her. Before leaving, she expresses her intention to meet Philippe, who is informed earlier by Jean-Pierre that he has Zahid.

After lunch with George and his mother Cynthia, both Spade and Patrice become suspicious of the duo. Spade even noticed the antenna on top of the garage at their house, which goes quite well with the fact that they don’t have enough space in it to park a car.

We learn about the importance of the letters through an intense conversation between Jean and Marguerite. He had written them to Marguerite when he was enlisted in the Algerian war. She tried to leverage Denis’ status to help Jean but to no avail. Denis stole the letters in order to drive a wedge between them since he fancied Marguerite for himself.

The episode ends with Jean-Pierre handing Zahid over to Philippe, who dextrously kills the man stationed outside the house. He also reveals that the man he killed was a Saudi agent, not SDECE. Zahid responds to Philippe’s whistling, and the two set off in the dark of the night. 


The Episode Review

Monsieur Spade continues to establish its credentials as a whole-bodied mystery thriller rather than a gimmicky whodunnit. Each episode until now has peeled back layers to show how deeply contorted the central conceit is.

One complaint from Episode 4 is the lack of context to Zahid’s character. We are still in the dark about this entire tangent of the story and why so many intelligence agencies are after him. With just two more episodes to go, a little more elaboration could have freed up time for tying up the other loose ends in the story.

Nonetheless, Monsieur Spade has proved to be a worthy watch. There is enough depth in the teleplay and as much poise in the translation to the screen to remain invested. 

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You can read our Season 1 Review of Monsieur Spade here!
  • Episode Rating
    (3.5)
3.5

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