''UFOs'' (french: OVNI(s)) is a French

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

comedy-drama Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...

television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite television, satellite, or cable television, cable, excluding breaking news, television adverti ...

created by Clémence Dargent and Martin Douaire. The first season premiered on Canal+ on 11 January 2021. The series was renewed for a second season before the series premiere, and received favorable reviews from critics. The second season premiered on 21 February 2022. On 30 June 2022, Canal+ cancelled the series after two seasons. In the series,

Melvil Poupaud Melvil Poupaud (born 26 January 1973) is a French actor, author and filmmaker. Career Poupaud's first appearance was, as a child, in Raúl Ruiz (director), Raúl Ruiz's 1983 film ''City of Pirates''. He met Ruiz through his mother, Chantal Poupau ...

stars as a scientist tasked with leading a team of

UFO An unidentified flying object (UFO), more recently renamed by US officials as a UAP (unidentified aerial phenomenon), is any perceived aerial phenomenon that cannot be immediately identified or explained. On investigation, most UFOs are id ...

researchers in France. It has been described as a cross between ''

La Soupe aux choux ''La Soupe aux Choux'' (translation: "Cabbage Soup") is a 1981 French film directed by Jean Girault, based on a novel by René Fallet. It was the second to last movie made by French comedian Louis de Funès. Plot Claude Ratinier (Louis de Funès ...

'', ''

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'' and ''

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''.

Plot

Season 1

In 1978, CNES engineer Didier Mathure watches his rocket explode after takeoff. His career at rock bottom, Mathure is sidelined as the head of

GEPAN GEIPAN (an acronym for ''Groupe d'Études et d'Informations sur les Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non-identifiés'', or unidentified aerospace phenomenon research and information group). (), its name since September 2005. (The group was formerly know ...

, the agency's mysterious research department dedicated to the scientific study of

unexplained aerial phenomena An unidentified flying object (UFO), more recently renamed by US officials as a UAP (unidentified aerial phenomenon), is any perceived aerial phenomenon that cannot be immediately identified or explained. On investigation, most UFOs are id ...

. Supported by the department's eccentric staff, he must lead the search for evidence of paranormal and extraterrestrial life in France.

Season 2

In 1979, Didier Mathure now strongly believes in UFOs, after seeing one at the end of season 1 under the influence of LSD. Alongside Véra, he travels through France in search of supernatural phenomena and seems more disconnected than ever from his children and his ex-wife, Élise, who has become director of CNES. When a mysterious event occurs in a nuclear power plant, Didier quickly reconnects with his former colleagues from GEPAN. Together, they try to establish contact with intelligent life from elsewhere, watched closely by newcomer, Claire Carmignac, who handles communication for the Ministry of Development and Energy.

Cast

Main

as Didier Mathure *

Michel Vuillermoz Michel Vuillermoz (born 18 December 1962) is a French actor and scriptwriter. Vuillermoz has appeared in more than 100 films and 40 plays. In 1998, he received two Molière Award: Best Male Newcomer and Best Play for ''André le Magnifique''. ...

as Marcel Bénes *

Géraldine Pailhas Géraldine Pailhas (born 8 January 1971) is a French people, French actress. She had her first international success in 1995 as ''Doña Anna'', the unfulfilled love of Johnny Depp in the comedy ''Don Juan DeMarco''. She is married to actor Christ ...

as Élise Conti *

Quentin Dolmaire Quentin Dolmaire (born 18 February 1994) is a French actor. He was nominated for the César Award for Most Promising Actor in 2016 for his role in ''My Golden Days''. Biography Dolmaire, having played theatre since the age of ten, quit his phys ...

as Rémy Bidaut * Daphné Patakia as Véra Clouseau *

Nicole Garcia Nicole Garcia (born 22 April 1946) is a French actress, film director and screenwriter. Her film '' Charlie Says'' was entered into the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Her film ''Going Away'' was screened in the Special Presentation section at the 20 ...

as Valérie Delbrosse *

Alice Taglioni Alice Taglioni (born 26 July 1976) is a French actress. Personal life Alice Taglioni was born in Ermont, Val-d'Oise. She is the daughter of an Italian man from Lombardy. She was Miss Corsica in 1996, but refused to participate in the election ...

as Claire Carmignac

Recurring

* Andréa Ferréol as Suzanne, Didier's mother

Episodes

Season 1 (2021)

Season 2 (2022)

References

External links

* {{IMDb title 2021 French television series debuts 2022 French television series endings 2020s comedy-drama television series 2020s French comedy television series 2020s French drama television series 2020s science fiction television series Canal+ original programming French-language television shows French comedy-drama television series French science fiction television series French supernatural television series Television series about extraterrestrial life Television series set in 1978 Television series set in 1979 Television shows set in France