The Bureau (original title: Le Bureau des Légendes) is a French espionage thriller television series created and co-written by Éric Rochant and produced by TOP – The Oligarchs Productions and Canal+, which revolves around the lives of agents of the DGSE (General Directorate of External Security), France's principal external security service. Originally aired in France from 27 April 2015, it was launched in the United States and Canada on iTunes on 1 June 2016 as part of a new international "Episodic Cinema" label, quickly reaching the Top Five.[2][3] In the United Kingdom, the series was released exclusively by Amazon Prime on 17 June 2016.[4][5]
| The Bureau | |
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| Also known as | Le Bureau des Légendes |
| Genre | Spy fiction, Drama |
| Created by | Éric Rochant |
| Written by | Éric Rochant, Camille de Castelnau, Cécile Ducrocq, Emmanuel Bourdieu |
| Directed by | Éric Rochant, Mathieu Demy, Laïla Marrakchi, Hélier Cisterne, Jean-Marc Moutout, Samuel Collardey, Antoine Chevrollier, Jacques Audiard[1] |
| Starring |
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| Country of origin | France |
| Original language | French |
| No. of seasons | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 50(list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Production locations |
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| Running time | 52 – 59 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Canal+ |
| Release | April 27, 2015 (2015-04-27) – May 4, 2020 (2020-05-04) |
The first season received positive reviews in both France and other countries, and won several awards. The second season has been universally acclaimed, and has even been seen by some as the best television ever produced in France.[6] The third and fourth seasons, respectively aired in France beginning 22 May 2017[7] and 22 October 2018,[8] have met with further acclaim, with praise for the show's acting, pacing, plot and realism.[9] There is also a fifth season.
The Bureau is based upon real accounts by former spies and inspired by contemporary events, and centres on the daily life and missions of agents within France's Directorate-General for External Security, its principal external security service. It focuses on the "Bureau of Legends", responsible for training and handling deep-cover agents (operating 'under legend') on long-term missions in areas with French interests, especially in North Africa and the Middle East. Living under false identities for years, these agents' missions are to identify and recruit good intelligence sources.
The series features intelligence officer Guillaume Debailly, codenamed "Malotru" (literally "Lout") who returns to Paris after six years undercover in Damascus. He has to face the challenge of reconnecting with his daughter, ex-wife, colleagues, and even his old self. But his return to 'normal life' proves difficult, especially when he discovers that Nadia, who was his love in Damascus, is now also in Paris. The first season follows his attempts to navigate the rules of life as a spy, and his increasingly tenuous position with Nadia.
The second season continues with the same themes, four months later, but also focuses on another character from the first season, Marina Loiseau. She is leaving for Tehran to work undercover as a specialist in seismology, in order to gather intelligence about Iran's nuclear weapons programme. Guillaume has been promoted to deputy director but also becomes a double agent on behalf of the CIA. He becomes increasingly desperate to resolve the situation with Nadia, which culminates in serious consequences for them both. Meanwhile, the DGSE has the challenge of a bloodthirsty French jihadist who is publicly taunting France.
Some character codenames are based on Captain Haddock's expletives.
The Bureau originally came to French television in 2015 on the premium network Canal+ with a ten-episode first season. This was the best performing new drama on the French premium pay net since Les Revenants in 2012.[10] It was quickly renewed for a second season, broadcast in 2016, and further renewed for a third season in May 2016.[11]
In the United States and Canada, the series was first launched exclusively on iTunes where it remained in the Top Five most downloaded TV seasons for two weeks, with several episodes in the top 100 most downloaded and a 4.5/5 viewer rating.[12] In the United Kingdom, the series was released exclusively on Amazon Prime on 17 June 2016. In the United States, seasons 1-5 are now available to Amazon Prime customers, but require the purchase of either AMC Networks' Sundance NoworAMC+ premium channel additions.[13][14][15] In Germany, it was sold to RTL Crime for broadcast in 2016.[10] In Australia, it aired on public broadcaster SBS, and all five seasons are currently available on their free streaming service SBS On Demand until 30 November 2023.[16]
The programme was well received by audiences and critics. In its domestic market, the first season received very positive reviews. Le Monde commented on its "mastery of its subject" and "rigorous construction of narrative arcs" and lauded its "different and credible tone".[17] Le Nouvel Observateur compared it to Mad Men and congratulated it on "staging that exceptional routine with flair and breathing life into a convincing team of heroes".[18]
The second season was immensely popular. Télérama called it "captivating, subtly written, staged and acted: a mission accomplished" and Le Figaro stated that "to this day, this series is the best ever made in France".[6]
The New York Times described the series as "moody, cynical & stylish ... consistently smart and understated".[19] Broadwayworld also wrote a positive review, describing it as "a riveting spy story told with psychological sophistication and cinematic flair".[20]
An English-language adaptation starring Michael Fassbender entitled The Agency began production in 2024.[29]
