ITV love giving us great crime drama serials, and with Poirot and Marple gone, there's a definite gap in the genre. Maigret boasts some great stories, the only question being was Rowan Atkinson the right man for the job? The answer categorically is yes, within a few minutes I'd forgotten about his many great previous works and was now focused on him as Maigret.

Fantastic production values, the whole Noir style looked and sounded great. Fantastic setting of course, coupled with great costumes helped create a wonderful sense of atmosphere. I'm delighted that they opted against putting on French accents, and I'm glad that the sound throughout was excellent. I liked the music, although I see why some could have found it a bit much. The camera work was first rate, it looked slick and moved on at a great pace.

Atkinson was really good, and I look forward to more future episodes, Lucy Cohu is superb casting as his wife, and the supporting cast were really on point too, especially David Dawson and Fiona Shaw, the latter looking spot on for the part.

I see this lasting for a good few years, who doesn't love a good crime drama, especially one of this calibre. 8/10

"How would you like a fantastic opportunity to get out of your comfort zone as an actor?" Of course I wasn't there, but this easily might have been what Rowan Atkinson's agent said to him when the role of Inspector Maigret presented itself. Atkinson is immortal thanks to his famous comedy/slapstick roles (like "Blackadder", "Johnny English" and especially "Mr. Bean") so it's quite an impressive and risky undertaking to take up the role of a dead- serious, stoic and intelligent French police detective. Perhaps it's because I personally don't have any issues with separating actors/actresses from their typecast roles, or perhaps it's simply because Rowan Atkinson is such a terrific and professional performer, but all throughout "Maigret Sets a Trap" you never once get the impression that he's miscast. You immediately accept Atkinson as Maigret and never associate his appearance here with the idiotic facial expressions of Mr. Bean. Hats off to you, Mr. Atkinson, you are a phenomenal actor. Evidently, people who're familiar with "Blackadder" knew this already for years…

With regards to "Maigret Sets a Trap", be careful to set your expectations. It's a straightforward and compelling whodunit thriller with a solid screenplay and tense atmosphere, but it most certainly has its limitations in terms of spectacle. Bear in mind it's a TV- thriller and that the story is more than 60 years old already. That means there aren't any CGI-techniques used in the murder investigation and the character of Inspector Maigret certainly also isn't a super- detective like Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot. He's a bright man, but he also makes mistakes, doubts himself and takes unnecessary risks. During the 1950s in Montmartre, a community close to Paris, Maigret and his team are confronted with a serial killer who already murdered four girls in the narrow streets during the night. Comparisons with Jack the Ripper from London are quickly made and Maigret is under a lot of pressure since there hasn't been any progress in six months. When he finds out more about the psychology and profiling of serial killers, Maigret decides to provoke the culprit via the media and set a trap to apprehend him. The plan works and Maigret arrests his suspect, but is this man really guilty? "Maigret Sets a Trap" doesn't feature any wild car chases, steamy sex sequences, virulent shoot-outs or nasty make- up effects, but it's a respectful new adaptation of a classic suspense novel. The re-creation of the 50s in Paris is particularly well-handled, with beautiful decors, costumes and cars. Atkinson is great and receives excellent support from a dozen of adequate players.

As always, this film occurs in Paris, there happening a murder series. Over a five month period in 1955 four girls are stabbed to death in Montmartre after dark- women with nothing in common beyond being brunette . Justice minister Morel leans on Chief Inspector Jules Maigret hunts for a serial killer . In the meantime Maigret walking outside and taking his lit pipe out of his mouth . To help solve the murders Maigret leaving fake tracks and a false killer, using even policewoman called Marthe Jusserard as a decoy . She survives an attack , discovering sartorial evidence against an allegedly guilty . Meanwhile , it's developed a pursuit through the Paris slums , in order to chase the murderer , getting a button. One the night of a grisly killing , a wealthy man is the suspect, detective Maigret becomes extremely involved into investigation and pulls off a cat and mouse game with the killer . Some clues leading to young Marcel Moncin (David Dawson) , whom Maigret arrests . However whilst Moncin is in custody there is a further murder and Maigret looks to Moncin's family (mother : Fiona Lewis , Marcel's wife : Rebecca Night) . Along the way Maigret is helped by his underlings (Inspector Janvier : Shaun Dingwall and Inspector Lognon : Colin Mace , among them). The obstinate inspector winds up pitting rival against each other in order to destroy him in a stirring interrogation.

This is an extraordinary study in crime displaying thriller , tension , plot twists and being quite entertaining , though some moments result to be slow-moving . Mystery , suspense , intrigue with awesome acting by Rowan Atkinson-Maigret investigating the murderer's identity , and he even sets a trap to catch the murderer, that's why the film titular .The atmosphere is very adequate and fitting . The pace is good , alert , nimbly done .This movie is concise , Sharp , practical , each actor is cut out for the part . Interesting and exciting battle of wits between the intelligent detective and a quirky villain. The story explores the dynamics of pathological behaviour and very much in the style of psychoanalytic descriptions fitting fairly to George Simenon novels . The camera-work is sleek , but what actually makes this film a major work is that the authors are true to the spirit of Simenon : peculiar roles as the obstinate Maigret and murderers disillusioned with human nature and terrible with those who are victims . Casting is frankly outstanding . It stars the usual comical actor Rowan Atkinson , here he plays the character in such a vibrantly nuanced manner, as that of a man who is measured, but very engaged in walking the streets and getting into the nitty gritty of each case . Rowan Atkinson as stubborn detective is top-notch, the film benefits from a great interpretation : Atkinson gives life to his determined-serious-exhausted "commissaire" , while David Dawson shines as the elegant but dangerous Marcel who's tremendously affected into the deeps of human desperation and whose boyhood has been prolonged by the misguided love of his mother , perfect Fiona Lewis , and furthermore , Rebecca Night plays subtly and with welcome restraint the loving wife of a monster . Atkinson is perfectly cast as the world-weary Police Inspector who is pondering retirement when the re-emergence of a heinous nemesis - a serial-killer who stabs lonely brunettes coming home late at night - taunts him back into action with a supremely clever plan to trap the killer, hence the film's title . It packs an awesome cinematography by cameraman Dirk Nel who reflects splendidly the Paris streets , though mostly made in studios, and exteriors filmed on location in Szentendre , Budapest , Hungary (1950's Paris) . The motion picture was allrightly directed by Ashley Pearce . He proves a past master at creating a stifling atmosphere night scenes, a hot stormy weather, foggy streets , managing to make the tension rise and swell regularly until it explodes in a triple climax .

This Psychological Suspense story is based on George Simenon legendary detective , being one of the most-adapted Simenon stories . George Simenon's Maigret has been adapted on several cinematic rendition and TV series . As Maigret was played by Basil Sidney ( The lost life,TV, 59) , Gino Cervi (Maigret in Pigalle, 67) , Rupert Davies (series from 60s) , Richard Harris (TV, 1988),Michael Gambon (TV,1993) , Sergio Castellitto (2004) . But specially by Jean Gavin who played 'Maigret tend un piège' (1958) , 'Maigret and the St Fiacre case (59)' , among others . In Hollywood was realized by Burguess Meredith 'The man on the Eiffel tower' (1949) with Charles Laughton as Maigret . Rating : Good and worth watch checking out. The movie will appeal to Rowan Atkinson fans and intrigue lovers , as it contains a highly suspense.