Portrait-Robot

''Portrait-Robot'' or ''The Sketch Artist'' is a French Canadian ten-part television crime drama series, which premiered on Club Illico on April 15, 2021. It was broadcast on Australian network, SBS-TV's streaming service, On Demand, from December 16, 2021. The series was co-created by Sophie Lorain (who also acts) with her spouse, Alexis Durand-Brault (who also directs). The action is set in Montreal, where the titular identikit or forensic sketch artist, Éve Garance ( Rachel Graton), profiles both suspects and victims for a police investigation unit. The unit's leader, Maryse Ferron (Lorain) is assisted by veteran detective, Bernard Dupin (Rémy Girard) and rookie crime scene technician, Anthony Kamal (Adrien Bélugou). Major story arcs are generally resolved in two episodes, while background stories continue across more episodes. According to Club Illico's press release, in October 2021, ''Portrait-Robot'', has been renewed for a second season.

Premise

Éve, a forensic identikit artist, who profiles suspects and victims for a Montreal police unit led by Maryse. Lead detective Bernard also mentors rookie, Anthony as they analyze crime scenes and question witnesses. Éve submerges herself in people's recollections to create her images. A subtext is the disappearance of Éve's infant son, William five years ago, coupled with her bipolar condition and the recent return of her ex-husband James. Meanwhile, Canadian Intelligence hired Bernard to infiltrate the local mafia, which are planning to expand operations. Maryse's brittle bone disease is worsening and her pregnant daughter, Delphine is worried by its inheritability.

Cast

* Rachel Graton as Éve Garance: Montreal forensic sketch artist, diagnosed with bipolar II disorder, which is regulated by medication, her son William disappeared five years ago
* Sophie Lorain as Maryse Ferron: Investigation Unit's leader, wheel-chair bound with brittle bone disease-like condition
* Rémy Girard as Bernard Dupin: career police officer, unit's lead investigator
* Adrien Bélugou as Anthony "Anto" Kamal ( Ramadés Kamal): recent unit member, crime scene technician, back-up detective
* Brett Donahue as James Healy: Éve's ex-husband, father of William, billionaire businessman who now lives in England, engaged to Laura
* Kathleen Fortin as Elektra Stavros-Poulain: Cyber Crimes investigator, Bernard's casual sex friend.
* Gio Lione as Santo Luciani: Mafia 2nd-in-charge, Bernard's waterfront contact
* Antoine Rivard-Nolin as Xavier Desjardins: uniformed police officer, first-on-scene at William's disappearance, also arrested "Jon-E-Zee"
* Teddy Pluviose as Evans Toussaint: Internal Affairs investigator
* Jean-François Pichette as Patrick Lacenaire: former cyber-security expert and computer programmer, convicted serial killer, born-again Christian
* Martine Francke as Rita Young: Franco-Ontarian widow, Adèle's mother
* Romane Denis as Audrey Sandôme: now 20-year-old pregnant woman, former 12-year-old kidnap, rape victim
* Hubert Proulx as Karl Maublanc: Audrey's father-in-law
* Roch Aubert as Nick Chauvet: retired policeman, suspected pedophile
* Émile Schneider as "Jon-E-Zee"/Jonathan Dareau: YouTuber, fakes his own assault for clickbait
* Irlande Côté as Romane Lever: 10-year-old kidnap victim, rescued by police
* Michel Brouillette as Dr. Pascal Lauzon: gynecologist
* Alex Bisping as Mr Rosenberg: Patrick's lawyer
* Marie Turgeon as Annie Chevalier: former paramedic, later a writer, vlogger
* Rémi Goulet as Gabriel Falco: Patrick's cyber security intern, committed suicide
* Simon Boudreault as Julien Falco: Gabriel's father
* Nazmiye Moutier as Vicky Lacerda: 16-year-old prostitute for Joker, mutilated murder victim
* Lydia Dépeault as Lilou Lacerda: Vicki's 18-year-old sister, fellow prostitute for Joker
* Carla Turcotte as Delphine: Maryse's daughter
* Jean-René Moissan as Philippe Daviau: Belcastel High School counsellor, procures students for Joker's prostitution ring
* Fabrice Yvanoff Sénat as Jean-Christophe Bonnessée or "Joker": local pimp, who brands his prostitutes with Jo/<3® tattoo, 3-5-5 criminal gang leader
* Isabelle Giroux as "Mother of Vicky Lacerda": drug-addled, disinterested mother of Lilou and Vicky
* Camille Felton as Adèle: Rita's daughter, runaway aged 16, joined a cult, Brotherhood of the Dusk
* Robert Lalonde as Michel Lambeau/Robert Hargrave: Robert assumes Michel's identity as an expert on cults and sacred geometry, as Robert he survived when his family completed a cult ritual killing youngsters
* Gaston Lepage as Christophe Marivaux or "Kriss Rambo": sells survival kits and supplies to doomsday preppers and cultists
* Karim Babin as Ziad Nardnashir: towtruck driver, partner of Erika (third shooting victim)
* Anyjeanne Savaria as Cléa Millet: 22-year-old double-homicide victim, shot alongside her boyfriend
* Jules Roy Sicotte as Théo Rivière: 22-year-old double-homicide victim, shot alongside his girlfriend
* Rodger LaRue as Jocelyn Demarais: Ziad's legally blind neighbor
* Antoine Yared as David Brown: James' friend, attended their home on night William disappeared
* Laurent Bélanger as Benjamin Trevor: Cléa's ex-boyfriend, threatened Théo

Episode guide

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Portrait-Robot
2021 Canadian television series debuts
2020s Canadian crime drama television series
French-language television shows
Television shows set in Montreal
Club Illico original programming