I find the whole concept of 'undercover' extremely bizarre in Engrenages. An undercover cop who gets texts on his mobile from the cops, who goes back to the station every night and who gets lifts from the cops about 10 seconds after he's left the bad guys'?

It's all very backward. But Samy's investigation techniques are light years ahead of the other cops'. I'm not versed enough in French culture to know if this is a failing on Engrenages' writers' part or whether French policing really is this backward and they're exposing it.

"(Mind you, I thought it was just a tad clunky, plotwise, to have the Larbi's bro-in-law (recipient of the Karlsson delivered sim card) on hand to witness the entire scene."

It seemed unlikely, didn't it, unless he was deliberately put there by Internal Affairs in the hope he'd get knifed or something.

"It's painfully obvious that Samy's going to meet a painful end and Laure is going to blame herself (and so she should!) which will push her even further over the edge. (Sorry for the rant but I am very taken by young Samy who, incidentally, is the same age as my son!!!)"

I'm hoping it's a double bluff. They've spent so much time building up the character that it might leave the series feeling a little empty if they kill him off. But it might be a treble bluff.

"As for Karlsson's last minute cliffhanger saving of Samy (at least for now), I would say she did it to get one back at the Larbis after the horrible things they've said to her and made her do. Why should she protect them? I think she knows only too well she's in over her head and sees this as a way of getting them - and the odious Szabo - off her back."

I disagree. She wants the Larbis' money and she wants to work with Szabo. Plus she's never been one to do things simply out of spite, rather than because she'll get something out of it or because of her principles.

"Incidentally, one thing that was very well done IMVHO was Laure's lighthearted behaviour in Clement's office which so obviously stemmed from having just spent an enjoyable night with Samy...Psychologically that rang very true. Nice to see her looking happy for once."

That was a nice scene. I forget if that's when she hugs Clement for trying to put away the wifebeating minister, which was a nice touch, too.

Me and partner reckon that Karlsson decided to not blow Samy's cover to the Larbis because they had committed a cardinal sin against her.

Sure, they forced her into a situation where she did something that could get her barred (the SIM card thing): but that's not really it.

In doing so, Karlsson got sweaty and when searched at the prison her pristine clothes showed armpit sweat. Unforgiveable. Not least because she found out it wasn't even an important contact for the Larbis.

As when she turned on the guy she got off charges, who then, with his mates, humiliated her, Karlsson does not cope with humiliation. When she got that guy's mother to confirm she'd given her son a false alibi Karlsson responded "I'll defend him to the best of my ability and he'll get at least 20 years"

She is utterly corrupted, but no one should think they can humiliate her and get away with it.

I tend to agree with rullsenberg here. Karlsson was truly rattled by having to smuggle the Sim card into jail. Discovering that it hadn't particularly advanced her in Mus' esteem really wounded her. But I think Roban's remark about her playing a dangerous game also got under her skin.

I'm writing this while half way through rewatching Ep 7 on iplayer so I get the most out of tonight's (sob) final episode. On second viewing, the guy at the prison who witnesses Samy being released into Laure's affectionate custody is not, as I first thought, the Larbi bro-in-law. But he obviously bodes ill for Samy.

BTW I do hope I haven't broken any rules with regard to spoilers. I had thought that anyone reading the comments would be up to speed with the episodes, otherwise why read them?

Sorry. Only finished watching it this morning: TV aerial was broken, big workload, wife ill. However, here it is! Feel free to discuss.