Inspector Max: An article by Rita Pimenta
"Inspector Max" returns to Portuguese TV(from where it never left) in 2017
The police dog series comes back to families’ companionship 12 years later. The constant reruns on TVI make you believe that there was no interruption, but there was. Max, the dog retired, but crime never did.
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| Fernando Luís (inspector Jorge Mendes) always stresses that Max is the true TVI protagonist |
November 30, 2016, 16:19
In 2017, Setúbal will be made safer once again with the Judicial Police Criminal Investigation Department team, reinforced by inspector Max Jr., son of the old German shepherd Max. Inspector Jorge Mendes (played by Fernando Luís) will become Coordinator and Sérgio Calado (played by Rui Santos) will be promoted to Chief Inspector. The first will marry a lawyer and the second will divorce a doctor.
These are some of the additions to the new season of Inspector Max, which will be presented in Setúbal on Tuesday. The show is produced by TVI and Coral Europa. On set, the actors paid tribute to inspector Jorge Mendes and introduced the characters that they will play.
Actress Maura Faial, newcomer to the team, was genuinely nervous as she introduced herself as Vera Lucas, the "Head of research lab". On the other hand, Rita Salema genuinely pretended she was nervous when describing her role as Mendes family's maid in a humorous moment at the Sado Hotel.
Previously, outside, it was time to meet Giga (Max Jr.) and Brownie ( Retired Max ), the two main characters of the new series. In fact, Max is a female dog, six and a half years old, "calm and sweet, a lady," said Diego, holding the leash. Max Jr. is approximately four years old and "He is more lively and vibrant" explains Paulo Motrena, stating that both are "German shepherds with wolf coat".
Fernando Luís told PÚBLICO he was satisfied with the return of the series and invited viewers to watch the new season, always highlighting the role of Max the dog: "He is the true protagonist. This Max is even better than his father. More skillful, younger, more energetic. You will enjoy watching him". In the scenes shot the day before, the dog had saved the actor from an explosion. Fernando Luís told us that his character "will have a teenage stepdaughter", after marrying.
He said that the relationship with his younger, 36-year-old wife in the series (played by actress Patrícia Tavares), "will be complex because it involves conflict of interest at a professional level." The couple will often be on opposite sides, with the wife defending some of the criminals accused by her husband's police department.
A romantic risk
"Why make a remake if we continue to get high ratings [with the reruns of the series]? " wondered Bruno Santos, Director of TVI Programs."We decided to take that risk. It is a calculated risk, but it is a romantic one," said Bruno Santos.
He recalled that the series "is absolutely a cross-product." He is sure that "there is no one in Portugal who likes TV who has not seen at least one episode." He also explained that they wanted to make a sequel "to avoid interruption" (It would have been the case if TVI had opted for an "absolute remake "), and he spoke of the will to "preserve the figure of Max the dog,". Especially “for those children who even today identify themselves with the animal."
Concerning what you can expect from the new episodes, Nuno Duarte, coordinator of the screenwriters team, told PÚBLICO that they used "the same formula as before, which was a success." He reminded the audience that the team is "basically the same team that wrote the screenplays ten years ago," so the public can expect "the same kind of stories and tone but with new characters, and always respecting the old characters and the kind of action and narrative" that viewers have become used to.
Nuno Duarte gives us an example of this, saying that in the new series it would be unthinkable to have situations in which characters cannot be reached as, he explains, "today all kids have a mobile phone and send text messages. We are integrating modern technology into the the episodes. "
As they are integrating the personal and family dynamics of the experience of each one: "I also have discussions with my son. There's a lot of us writing the script and therefore all of that gets there. "
When asked if we will find mobile phones on his dining table, he answered in a good mood: "Only if they are not grounded".Chosen by: Luisa.
Translated by: Luisa.
Revised by: Badriah and professor Elena.
Inspector Max is a crime TV series broadcasted by TVI ever since 2004, when it aired.
Despite having ended in 2005, this show has been in constant reruns ever since. Consequently it has become dear to all Portuguese citizens and a part of the childhood of Portuguese children for more than a decade. It has become a sort of a national TV treasure. And recently it has returned once again. Although instead of rerunning the same episodes over and over again, it has been allowed a new season with brand new episodes and the Portuguese get to see what laid ahead for the beloved characters they grew up watching.
No one can deny how relevant this show has become to the entertainment industry in Portugal, where the major part of TV productions like this are often ruled out and ignored by audiences overshadowed by the soap opera tradition on national TV or by foreign TV shows with deeper pockets.
I chose to translate this article to show how this reawakening of a long lost TV show means Inspector Max’s importance for Portuguese audiences, who never forgot about it and always craved for more adventures of the friendly animal and its owner.
I also chose to translate a short clip from an old episode along with it, because as part of the generation who accompanied it through all these years, this show with it’s epic old episodes filled with family drama and criminal chasings are still special to our inner child and iconic on our culture, never to be forgotten (even if the reruns suddenly stop once and for all).
- Luisa.
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