Maigret Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Maigret’s Failure, Part 1
PBS Masterpiece’s Maigret returns with Season 1 Episode 3, titled “Maigret’s Failure, Part 1,” and this time the tone grows darker, more introspective, and deeply personal. The episode skillfully intertwines a complex murder case with Maigret’s own moral reckoning, as ghosts from his childhood resurface to test his sense of justice and humanity.
The Ghosts of Maigret’s Past
The episode opens with Inspector Jules Maigret (Benjamin Wainwright) encountering two figures from his youth — Sophie, the mysterious girl he dreams about, and Fumal, a once-bullied classmate who’s become a wealthy but cruel businessman. Their reappearance sets the stage for an episode that blurs the lines between personal guilt and professional duty.
Fumal’s character is a fascinating study in bitterness. Once mocked for his weight, he’s grown into a man whose power only amplifies his resentment. Now a billionaire, Fumal contacts Maigret after receiving death threats — not out of trust, but to taunt the man who once stood by and watched him suffer. The tension between them becomes the episode’s emotional core, as past failures begin to haunt present choices.
A Case Divided
Meanwhile, Maigret’s team is stretched thin with a parallel case: the disappearance of Layla, a young social media influencer. Her vanishing has ignited a frenzy among her online followers, leading to chaos that hampers the investigation rather than helping it. In a particularly sharp critique of internet culture, Layla’s fans invade a suspect’s home, forcing her parents to publicly plead for restraint.
The two storylines — Fumal’s threats and Layla’s disappearance — create a sharp contrast between old-world tragedy and modern obsession. Both reflect how fame, influence, and human cruelty manifest in different eras.
Maigret and Fumal: A Collision of Morality
The confrontation between Maigret and Fumal is the highlight of the episode. Their scenes together carry decades of resentment. Fumal’s hostility is relentless, designed to provoke, and Maigret’s barely contained frustration adds to the tension. When Fumal is ultimately shot dead in his own home, apparently by someone he knows, it feels both inevitable and ironic — the culmination of a life defined by bitterness.
But the real weight of the moment lies in Maigret’s reaction. He’s forced to confront his own childhood inaction — his failure to stop the bullying that shaped Fumal’s life. The show doesn’t offer him sympathy; instead, it leaves him with self-doubt and guilt. The title “Maigret’s Failure” isn’t just about the unsolved murder — it’s about a lifelong moral lapse that can never truly be corrected.
Sophie Returns: Dreams and Regrets
In a brief but impactful subplot, Maigret meets Sophie de Saint-Fiacre (Rachel Shelley), the woman who has haunted his dreams. Now an adult, Sophie comes to him for help, but he refuses — a decision made out of duty to his pregnant wife, Louise (Stefanie Martini), and perhaps fear of reopening old wounds. The encounter adds a haunting layer of introspection, suggesting that Maigret’s subconscious battles are as important as his external investigations.
The dream sequences featuring Sophie are beautifully done — atmospheric, melancholic, and reflective of the show’s slow-burn pacing. It’s clear that Maigret isn’t just a detective series; it’s an exploration of how the past lingers, shaping the choices and failures of the present.
The Layla Case: Fame, Fear, and False Leads
Layla’s disappearance brings a more contemporary flair to the episode. The police identify Marcus, her obsessive fitness instructor, as a key suspect, only for him to vanish too. The online hysteria that follows muddies the waters further, creating a commentary on how digital culture distorts truth.
Marcus’s disappearance and Layla’s influencer status echo real-world cases where social media speculation overwhelms the facts. This thread feels slightly rushed in this first part but promises stronger development in Part 2.
A Reflection on Justice and Memory
By the episode’s end, Fumal’s murder hasn’t been solved, but Maigret’s Failure, Part 1 succeeds in setting up a deeply personal conflict. For the first time, Maigret’s greatest challenge isn’t the killer he’s hunting — it’s the guilt he’s carried for years. The episode leaves viewers with an uneasy question: is justice possible when the detective himself is complicit in the origins of the crime?
Visually, the episode maintains PBS’s signature period elegance — dimly lit Parisian streets, smoky interiors, and a tone that feels both nostalgic and foreboding. It’s detective noir reimagined for a modern audience.
FAQs
1. Who is Fumal in Maigret’s Failure, Part 1?
Fumal is a wealthy businessman who was bullied as a child and resents Maigret for not defending him. He’s later found murdered in his home.
2. What is the connection between Fumal and Maigret?
They share a painful childhood history. Fumal’s bitterness stems from Maigret’s inaction during their youth, creating lifelong tension.
3. How does Sophie fit into the story?
Sophie is a woman from Maigret’s past who reappears seeking help. Her presence symbolizes Maigret’s lingering regrets and moral struggle.
4. What role does Layla’s disappearance play?
Layla’s case mirrors modern social media chaos and contrasts with the old-fashioned morality of the Fumal storyline.
5. Will there be a continuation?
Yes. This is Part 1 of a two-part arc, with “Maigret’s Failure, Part 2” expected to resolve the murder and deepen Maigret’s internal reckoning.
Final Thoughts
Maigret Season 1 Episode 3 is a masterclass in restrained storytelling. It trades shock value for emotional depth, weaving together a layered narrative about guilt, justice, and memory. The pacing is deliberate, the atmosphere heavy, and the performances — particularly Benjamin Wainwright’s — hauntingly human.
As the title suggests, this isn’t a triumph for Maigret but a reminder that even the most seasoned detectives can’t escape the failures of their past.
What did you think of Maigret’s Failure, Part 1? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation on InvestRecords.com.