Based on Louise Penny’s #1 New York Times bestselling novels, “Three Pines” from Amazon Prime Video and Left Bank Pictures stars Alfred Molina as Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec, a man who sees things that others do not: the light between the cracks, the mythic in the mundane, and the evil in the seemingly ordinary.
Discuss the series with other Louise Penny fans here!
332 replies on “Three Pines Series Discussion”
Wow! Excellent job on screen writing, acting, filming. I’m so thrilled to see this series as I am a Gamache follower. I hope Ms Penny is pleased and that the series will cover all her books.
I’ve watched both episodes, and I think it’s a good start. I don’t expect perfection right from the get-go. I was confused at first because Gamache had no trouble finding Three Pines, so I wondered if he had already been there, but it was clear as he drove through it was his “maiden voyage.” Alfred Molina is great in the role, physically almost exactly what I had in my mind, and he portrays Gamache’s humanity so well – both the good and the bad. Reine-Marie and Isabel Lacoste, the spitting image of my imagination. Jean Guy – confusing, he didn’t seem to be as troubled as in the beginning of the books, but definitely as sharp 🙂 I too felt there was more distance from the villagers, but that relationship will improve over the series I assume. It can’t possibly measure up to our imagination of the people & places, as we all have different visions. Three Pines itself wasn’t bad, though the trees seemed at least 50 years younger than in the novels – they are so dominant there. Perhaps when it’s not winter things will look different. Another challenge with a tv series is there isn’t as much time for character development, and relationships and side plots, all of which add to a book’s enjoyment. I did like the first two episodes, and am looking forward to more; there’s a lot of promise. Ms. Penny, I thank you for writing the stories, which have and continue to give me so much pleasure, and also for allowing them to be televised. To Amazon – thank you for doing this series, I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops.
I was so disappointed with the character of Beauvoir. In the books he has experienced his own difficult time, but has come to be like a son to Gamache. Not so in the series. He seemed to be an unimportant character, almost incompetent, with not much to offer.
Totally agree! I also think he was described as a great dresser with crackling energy. Here is middle-aged and non-descript.
I watched both episodes last night on my iPad and got so caught up in them that I took my iPad to bed with me and watched till the end, after midnight. I really enjoyed them and look forward to more. My only dismay was in not understanding the French dialogue in the first episode and I was grateful that they remedied that with subtitles for the second.
Of course Three Pines looked very little like the Three Pines in my imagination; I expect most felt the same so no need to say more about that. While the characters didn’t look the same as I might have imagined them, I think they did a terrific job with the casting. As I tried to pin down how they differed, I realized that I really didn’t have much in the way of imagined physical images in my mind, oddly enough. What has made these characters real for me is, rather, their characters (in the sense of their ethics) and their personalities, so I didn’t feel any great disconnect and I imagine, in time, these TV-version characters will be developed. After all, the characters and their stories developed for us readers over the course of 18 novels! Impossible to achieve anything close in a mere two episodes, or even one book. Meanwhile, I’m happy to now have more complete physical renderings to “use” as I read “A World of Curiosities,” which is waiting here beside me.
There’ve been comments about the score so I’ll use that as an excuse to watch these episodes again and pay more attention. I remember at some point thinking it was nice. Grateful for the books and now grateful for the series!
I preorder the new Gamache series as soon as I know it’s available. I love the series.
I am now watching the first episode on Prime Video. So far the actors are okay with what I had in my mind with two exceptions. Clara is too young and too neat. Clara in the book is described as messy with unkept hair and stuff in it and on her clothes. Myrna is too thin.
I totally agree.
>>>there will be no Gamache streaming on my screen… I have inadvertently been exposed to flash seconds of the ads for the series…I immediately eliminated the view… even in that split second of seeing, Gamache is not my Gamache and Ruth is not my Ruth ….PLEASE CEASE MESSING WITH MY IMAGES … THE WRITTEN WORD IS TOO TOO PRECIOUS TO PASTE ALL OVER A COLD TV SCREEN
I totoally agree.
For fans of Call the Midwife, this sounds just like something Sister Monica Joan would have said. Good for her.
God how true! Make them stop!
It’s difficult when novel is turned into movie format because the reader has already formed a mental picture of the characters and settings. I feel the show was much darker than the novels. Armand is still thoughtful and warm, the settings are realistic. I want to see how this effort evolves.
Most loved series on some level disappoint followers when transposed to visual media. For me, the entirety of what makes the Gamache mysteries special has been gutted. Although Gamache so far has been well cast. That’s the only attempt at depth and now is like any other mystery bland series.
Understandably the budget is not of a Harry Potter but if the feelings for the characters and magic had been taken away, it would have been cookie cutter.
Pity.
I watched both episodes last night and had the same video choppiness; however, episode two cleared up. Watching them I felt these were quite different characters and I didn’t recognize them. I went into this knowing that movie/video versions rarely feel adequate to the books; too much has to be modified for that format. None of the characters resembled the way they look in my head – of course – but still disappointing. I tried to stifle my expectations and simply experience this new version but couldn’t entirely separate them. And I wasn’t happy about the introduction of the indigenous women. It’s an awful truth and belongs but I felt it was premature. For a while at first I kept feeling that I didn’t know which book I was in. It must have been a harrowing experience for Louise Penny to see the story being modified before her eyes and worrying over how much of the original would be retained. Brave lady!
Love all the books and the new tv series. Details and storylines in the books and tv series are outstanding. I watched the first 2 episodes and plan to rewatch them. Hope there is a season for each book.
I’ve read all of Louise Penny’s books and loved them. Last night I watched both episodes. Have to tell you I was very disappointed. Many of the characters were quite different from the descriptions in the books. Myrna was supposed to be a big woman with flowing caftans. Jean-Guy looked to be about the same age as Gamache. The village was not so little and cozy…Although Mr. Molina portrayed the inspector well, he didn’t seem to have as much strength and presence as the books’ description. And I kept waiting to see the majestic 3 pines the village was named after. All in all, the series was a great let down.
My favorite books are the Gamach series. I was thrilled when I read of the TV series, disappointed when I viewed the first. Casting, actions of actors not as in the books. Ganache was believable, though the enormous black glasses dominated the scene. Three Pines was not an idyllic place, architecture, streets, could’ve been the little town I grew up In Oklahoma. Plus, the 3 pines were puny considering they were ages old in book. Too much focus on the missing girl, not inhabitants of Three Pines.
I read the 18th book earlier this week and watched both episodes of White Out last night. What a wonderful week to be able to spend so much time in Three Pines. Though that 18th book was definitely her darkest. So much tension towards the end. I needed more time in the Bistro. I really enjoyed the Amazon presentations. I traveled to Three Pines a few years ago, that is I drove to Knowlton, visited the bookstore and bistro there, saw Lac Brome, and then drove south towards Vermont. I got a little lost, I came over a few hills, and saw so many beautiful vistas. Unfortunately, I must not have been lost as the characters in the books because I never saw it all. But I was there. I loved the overhead shots that show those vistas. The town of Three Pines, while not the perfect circular green in the books did have the feel of the village. While buildings didn’t quite match the descriptions in the book ( Though, I thought the Hadley House was well chosen) they gave me the same feeling.
These productions were rewritten based on Louise Penny’s books. Instead of the flashbacks given in book 6, we get the actual actions parallel to book 2. I thought CC and Petrov were well drawn. She was hateful through and through. And Richard and Crie were nicely portrayed, though that critical scene of CC lashing out at her daughter after the concert should have been there. That explained so much about the family and the town’s reaction to CC.
I love that Bea and Lacoste are First Nation. Also that instead of boys lost, they switched to girls and women. Not a bad move in my opinion, especially given the plot line of book 18. Thank you, Louise, for having the courage to let someone else take your words and churn them up into what could have been a dog’s breakfast, but instead was delight. Thank you for sharing your soul with all of us.
Just wondering how many episodes per book and how many books per season. Will there be a new book each week? Will some books last more than one week? Hoping that some will be longer to allow for a more in depth picture into the relationships of the Three Pines friendships.
I always think books are better than movies or TV but… I was ok with the TV show. If I had t read the books it would have been ok. I was disappointed by the village, it was too spread out and seemed to be on a busy road which looses something in my mind. The characters were a bit different but I expected that.
The book A World of Curiosities was fabulous. I finished it in 1 day and then wanted to cry because I had finished it…. Louise is a master at weaving stories together and character development. Well done!
The village was not as pretty as I’d hoped. And I had pictured a central town square with the three pines in the middle and everything else surrounding it.
I agree that the town seemed almost unfriendly. And the villagers were portrayed as always sitting all together giving the impression that they were plotting some secret plan.
I found the symbolism with the blue jay feather a little over the top – especially when Gamache appeared to have one of his own, presumably from when his parents died….
I watched the first episode last night. I was disappointed to find the streaming constantly disrupted. The picture jumped and the voices were out of sync. I don’t know if this was the fault of the streamer or the original material but it was so frustrating that I may not continue.
I love Louise Penny books and look forward to reading the new one.
I did not have any problems like that….
My feed was fine so it might be your Wi-Fi.
I’m sorry to hear of your issue with the streaming. Our broadcast of the first episode was flawless. The problem was probably with your cable service. Maybe try watching it again and see if the problem is resolved.
The new Louise Penny book is wonderful!
I knew the television series could never live up to the books, but I was determined to enjoy it regardless. And I did… with effort. My biggest disappointment was the village itself, an equally vital character in the stories. How on earth did they settle on that lifeless, flat town?! You’d think with the title of Three Pines they would make that landmark more obvious. I don’t remember seeing the village green, the river or most importantly, the trees! Whoever was in charge of film locations must not have read the author’s description: “…the tiny village of Three Pines…That sat in a hollow surrounded by forests and mountains. As though in the palm of some great hand”. The sad set that was used was a far cry from a warm, welcoming village in an enchanting hollow. The characters were better, though I wish they hadn’t been so PC about Myrna – I could barely tell she was black, let alone generously proportioned. Hopefully, the folowing episodes will be more convincing. But how is that possible when the main character, Three Pines itself, is so lacking?
My thoughts exactly! The village of Three Pines was so disappointing visually. I had thought that the character of Gamache would be the most difficult for me to accept onscreen — but after a few minutes, I could tell he was an excellent choice. I also agree with the previous commenter who said that showing the residents of Three Pines together all the time made it look as if they were conspiring, and far from the open, accepting characters we know and love from the book.
Totally agree Grace. Where are the three giant pines?
I loved the first two episodes of the series. I notice that the episodes are coming out two at a time each week. Are there only going to be 8 in the first season? Or 10? or…?
Love the books, but sorry, did not love the first two episodes of the series. I felt that the sideline of the missing Indigenous women regretfully took away from the introduction and development of the characters of Three Pines who, as much as Gamache and his team, are the essence of the books.
It took me a while to realize that Pierre was Pierre Arnot – so it looks like the back story of Arnot may develop as it did in the books but with a different tone line.
I have resolved myself to disassociate the series from the novels. At first, I was so irritated: the village is a town; the characters seem ominous, not to mention how they deviate in appearance from the novels; the only similarities are the characters’ names! The lack of richness of the primary characters’ personalities is the most upsetting element. I found myself constantly telling my husband, “The books aren’t like this!”
BUT I am most disappointed that Louise would allow her work to be so misrepresented in setting and character development.
Watching is like reading Shakespeare for Dummies rather than Hamlet.
I agrée!
Received book #18 today – and watched the first two episodes of the series. In for a Penny, in for a pound!
I’m conflicted about the series. Love the casting of Armand and Reine-Marie. Ruth cracks me up (as she did in the books). I agree with Mary above that Jean-Guy looks older than I pictured, and Clara too young. But Peter is coming across really true to the books. I think my biggest disappointment is Nichol – such a well drawn, complex, conflicting character throughout the series, but is coming across as eager beaver without any of her surliness. I spent several books trying to figure out if she were heroine or villain and getting none of that in the series.
One of the things I love about Ms. Penny’s writing is her vivid descriptions of both characters and setting. Three Pines is not how I visualized it. But I’m such a fan that I’ll hang around to see how they do as the series progresses.
I’m 4/5ths of the way through my second reading of the oeuvre – have to finish the next three before I can enjoy #18.
How fortunate we are that Louise Penny continues to deliver such wonderful reads, and that we have a place to gather to discuss!
More – just watched the movie Still Life and loved the locale, direction, atmosphere, and characterizations! Definitely much more what I pictured for Three Pines than the Amazon series. Nichol is her surely self, Gabri and Olivier spot on, Ruth (sans duck) very Ruth like. I liked this Jean-Guy much better than Amazon Jean-Guy and Isabelle much as I had pictured here. Not sure I like this Gamache better than Molina, though. Peter and Clara are troubled, which rings true to the books.
Bonus points for Louise Penny’s cameo in the Bistro scene.
I agree with most of the comments so far about the video: Gamache with Alfred Molina was terrific. Agent Nicole was so very very different from the book…that was disappointing. The village itself was very different from the books: it looked larger and more spread out and the buildings were much larger than I imagined as I read the books. And Myrna was not the very large woman in vibrant flowing caftans that was described in the books…I miss that. (I’ve read all of them and am 1/2 way though the latest one….and loving it and cannot put it down.)