No Limit (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Luc Besson, Franck Philippon |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Television series |
| Parent | EuropaCorp Television |
No Limit is a 2012 French action-adventure television series developed by director Luc Besson and writer Franck Philippon under the banner of Besson's production company, EuropaCorp. Along with Transporter: The Series, it represents Besson's first foray into TV as both a screenwriter and producer.
The narrative follows Vincent Libérati (portrayed by Vincent Elbaz), an agent of the DGSE battling a terminal illness who accepts assignments from a clandestine group in return for access to an experimental cure. This deal brings him into closer contact with his teenage daughter Lola, his former wife Alexandra, and his police officer sister Juliette.
No Limit debuted on Belgium's RTL-TVI on November 5, 2012, with France's TF1 airing it ten days afterward. Even before the initial season wrapped up, TF1 announced renewals for second and third seasons on November 29. The international distribution rights are handled by TF1 International.
Plot
Faced with a life-threatening brain tumor, Vincent Libérati leaves behind the excitement of his globetrotting secret agent lifestyle to settle in Marseille, aiming to be near his teenage daughter Lola and ex-wife Alexandra. To obtain an experimental treatment, he becomes involved with Hydra, a secret agency formed by various secret services to fight organized crime on the French Riviera through unconventional and illicit methods. Meanwhile, Vincent grapples with complex emotions regarding Alexandra and attempts to rebuild his relationship with Lola.
Main characters
- Vincent Elbaz plays Vincent Libérati, a French undercover agent diagnosed with a brain tumor who moves to Marseille, concealing both his illness and true occupation from his family, who mistakenly believe he works as a burglar alarm technician.
- Anne Girouard portrays Commissioner Juliette Lambert, Vincent’s sister and a homicide detective in Marseille, whose investigations frequently overlap with Vincent’s covert operations despite her severe pollen allergy.
- Hélène Seuzaret takes on the role of Alexandra, Vincent’s ex-wife who is preparing to remarry while he remains emotionally attached to her.
- Sarah Brannens appears as Lola Libérati, Vincent’s 15-year-old daughter harboring resentment over his absence during her childhood.
- Christian Brendel plays Colonel De Boissieu, the leader of Hydra, the secret organization employing Vincent.
Recurring characters
- Philippe Hérisson as Bertrand Rey, Alexandra’s fiancé and Hydra’s secret money laundering specialist revealed at the end of season one.
- Vanessa Guide as Marie Dulac, a fellow undercover agent working alongside Vincent who harbors romantic feelings for him.
- Damien Jouillerot portrays Tony Massart, a petty criminal who reluctantly assists Vincent.
- Franck de la Personne as Professor Grimberg
- Samir Boitard as Reda
- Makita Samba plays Arthur Lefranc
- Jean-Marie Paris as Bouly
- Véronique Kapoyan as Commandant Nadine Leroy
- Martin Darlan as Virgile
- Mylène Demongeot portrays Christine Libérati
- Philippe Nahon as Victor Cerda
- Patrick Chesnais appears as Claude (Season 3)
- Claude Brasseur as Brunetti (Season 3)
Episodes
| Season | Number of Episodes | Original Broadcast Dates | DVD & Blu-ray Release Dates | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season premiere | Season finale | Region 2 | ||||
| 1 | 6 | November 5, 2012 | November 19, 2012 | January 9, 2013 | ||
| 2 | 8 | November 14, 2013 | December 5, 2013 | |||
| 3 | 8 | January 8, 2015 | January 29, 2015 | |||
Season 1 (2012)
| Episode # | Episode Title | Director | Writer(s) | Belgium Air Date | France Air Date | Viewership/Share (Belgium) | Viewership/Share (France)
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Season 2 (2013)
| No. | Title | Director | Screenwriter | Belgian Premiere | French Premiere | Viewership/Share (Belgium) | Viewership/Share (France)
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Season 3 (2015)
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Belgian air date | French air date | Viewers/Share (Belgium) | Viewers/Share (France)
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Development
Since 2005, the French broadcaster TF1 had been interested in a television project from Luc Besson, who initially declined because of his lack of experience in TV, which also influenced his decision to sell the rights for Transporter: The Series. Over time, Besson's enthusiasm for television grew, and in April 2010, his company EuropaCorp acquired Cipango, a successful TV production company known for series such as Les Bleus and the international co-production XIII. The series No Limit was the inaugural project resulting from a September 2011 agreement between EuropaCorp Television and TF1. Conceived originally by Besson and co-created alongside screenwriter Franck Philippon, whose first feature was produced by EuropaCorp, TF1 announced the series in April 2012. Philippon sought to introduce an unprecedented blend of action, humor, and emotional storytelling centered on a father-daughter dynamic within French television.
The title draws inspiration from the sport of No-Limits Apnea, reflecting Besson's personal background—his parents were diving instructors, and his third film, The Big Blue, also revolved around diving. The name also suggests an international dimension and metaphorically references the protagonist's brain tumor condition, taking cues from series such as Breaking Bad. Producer Thomas Anargyros revealed that the season's budget reached 9 million euros—approximately 30% higher than TF1’s standard productions and 50% above the national average. No Limit is part of a broader slate of ambitious TF1 projects including Falco, Jo, Crossing Lines, and Taxi Brooklyn, illustrating the network’s goal to enhance its global footprint and raise production quality within French television.
Structure
During its initial season, each storyline unfolds over two episodes, accommodating the rotation of directors. Standard episodes last slightly over 50 minutes, with the exception of the pilot episode which runs close to 70 minutes. The show embodies Luc Besson’s signature approach by combining high production values with dynamic action sequences and comedic elements.
The second season shifts to a continuous narrative arc contained within a single story.
Casting
No Limit represents Vincent Elbaz's debut as a regular television actor, earning widespread acclaim as one of the series’ standout features. Although initially doubtful about comparing the show to American productions, Elbaz was persuaded by Luc Besson’s involvement and the project's scale. He characterized his role as "James Bond with everyday struggles," portraying a multifaceted character who balances inner turmoil with humor. Inspired by Bruce Willis’s role in Die Hard, Elbaz undertook rigorous training in Pencak Silat and Krav Maga, executing most of his own stunts despite having acrophobia. He acknowledged that while TV rarely matches cinema standards, No Limit distinguishes itself within French television.
Anne Girouard assumed her second leading role on TV after six years portraying Guinevere in Kaamelott. Her performance was considered a strong asset, although her pregnancy limited her participation in physically demanding scenes.
Nineteen-year-old Sarah Brannens portrays Elbaz’s fifteen-year-old daughter and was heavily promoted as Luc Besson’s latest female talent discovery following stars like Natalie Portman and Marion Cotillard. The father-daughter relationship between their characters is central to the narrative. Brannens also appeared in Main Courante, which aired on rival channel France 2 immediately after No Limit.
Initially planned for only two episodes, Damien Jouillerot’s character Tony Massart was retained due to his strong impression on the production team.
Filming
Production commenced on April 9, 2012, in Marseille at 3:30 AM and continued for approximately four and a half months, concluding by mid-August. The entire shoot was conducted within the Marseille area, with the opening sequence set in Mali filmed on the plateau of Vitrolles. The initial two episodes were finalized within a fortnight, while the subsequent four required twelve days to complete. Direction responsibilities were shared between Didier Le Pêcheur, who handled the first two and last two episodes, and Julien Despaux, who directed the middle two episodes and served as second unit director for the opening pair. The cinematography was managed by Ludovic Colbeau-Justin, a collaborator of Le Pêcheur’s from previous projects such as Les Bleus and La Commanderie. The production design was overseen by Jean-Jacques Gernolle, noted for his contributions to EuropaCorp’s Taxi series and Wasabi.
Stunt coordination was led by Alain Figlarz and his team, whose expertise stems from works like The Bourne Identity, Taken 2, and Brotherhood of the Wolf. Figlarz also fulfilled the role of second unit director for the final four episodes; lead actor Vincent Elbaz engaged in daily stunt training under his guidance. According to Le Pêcheur, Luc Besson’s participation was limited to occasional remarks and approvals throughout filming and post-production.
While most scenes utilized real locations, the Hydra headquarters was constructed on a soundstage tailored for extended steadicam sequences. Collaboration with the French Armed Forces allowed access to military sites, including a frigate interior that doubled as a submarine set.
Post-production
Editing of the first two episodes was carried out by Christine Lucas Navarro, recognized for her work on EuropaCorp titles such as Taken and the initial two films in the Transporter series. She was supported by co-editor Olivier Gourlay, whose background includes films like Alexander and Gothika. The following two episodes were edited by Yves Beloniak, a frequent collaborator with director Didier Le Pêcheur and César nominee for La Vie en Rose, while Navarro returned as sole editor for the final pair of episodes.
Visual effects supervision was led by Thierry Delobel, who brought experience from projects including Amélie and Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra. The musical score was composed by Erwann Kermorvant, known for his work with Olivier Marchal and on television series such as R.I.S, police scientifique. Sound mixing concluded on October 20, 2012.
Season 2
Development of season two began prior to the premiere of season one, with lead actor Vincent Elbaz awaiting script approval before confirming his participation. The writing team intended to delve more deeply into character backstories. Official approval for both seasons two and three was granted on November 29, 2012. Season two consists of eight episodes, with filming scheduled to start in spring 2013 and airing anticipated in fall 2013.
Critical response
The press screening for season one occurred on October 24, 2012. Overall critical feedback was positive, particularly emphasizing Vincent Elbaz’s performance while noting inconsistencies in the script quality.
Geneviève de Wergifosse from Belgian weekly Moustique offered a mixed yet generally favorable evaluation, awarding two out of four stars. She praised aspects such as casting choices, cinematography, and directing style but expressed reservations about the plot's credibility. In L'Express, Sandra Benedetti highlighted strong performances from Elbaz, Anne Girouard, and Damien Jouillerot alongside efficient direction by Didier Le Pêcheur—especially praising episode five—while critiquing the storyline and Julien Despaux’s direction.
Corinne Calmet of Télé Z also commended Elbaz's acting and directing efforts for sustaining audience interest. Isabelle Magnier from Télé 7 Jours regarded the series as promising despite requiring viewers to suspend disbelief. Nathalie Chuc in Le Figaro described No Limit as effective television, drawing favorable comparisons between its directing style and that of 24.
On the other hand, Adrien Maillard writing for Le Nouvel Observateur found the series underwhelming due to its clichéd premise, lackluster action sequences, and uninspired dialogue.
Ratings
| Episode | Air Time | Position | Audience Share | Viewership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monday 10:05 p.m. | 1st | 18% | 217,130 |
| 2 | Monday 11:15 p.m. | 1st | 20.5% | 120,100 |
| 3 | Monday 10:05 p.m. | 1st | 17.4% | 197,700 |
| 4 | Monday 11:15 p.m. | 1st | 23.4% | 158,300 |
| 5 | Monday 10:05 p.m. | 1st | 17.8% | 214,700 |
| 6 | Monday 11:15 p.m. | 1st | 24.8% | 159,600 |
| Season One Average | 20.3% | 177,922 | ||
| Episode | Air Time | Position | Audience Share | Viewership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thursday 8:50 p.m. | Top spot | 27.5% | 7,071,000 |
| 2 | Thursday 10:00 p.m. | Number one | 33.2% | 6,225,000 |
| 3 | Thursday 8:50 p.m. | First place | 26.1% | 6,859,000 |
| 4 | Thursday 10:00 p.m. | Leading position | 29.2% | 6,500,000 |
| 5 | Thursday 8:50 p.m. | Ranked first | 25.7% | 6,883,000 |
| 6 | Thursday 10:00 p.m. | Number one ranking | 27.7% | 6,300,000 |
| Average for Season One | 28.2% | 6,639,667 | ||
Prior to its French television debut, creator Luc Besson voiced concerns about audience retention given the freedom to change channels—unlike the captive cinema environment. Nonetheless, the series emerged as a significant hit for TF1, securing the highest-rated Thursday evening premiere since the year 2010.
Broadcast history
No Limit made its initial appearance in Belgium on RTL-TVI starting November 5, 2012, with a schedule of two episodes each evening over a span of three weeks. The French launch took place in Marseille at the "Les 3 Palmes" cinema on November 8. Subsequently, the Paris premiere was held on November 13 at UGC George V cinema located on the Champs-Elysées. The series began airing on TF1 from November 15, featuring two episodes per week during prime-time slots on Thursdays for a duration of three weeks.
On the international front, No Limit was introduced to Thai audiences via digital channel MONO29 beginning October 25, 2015. In Australia, seasons one and two were broadcast by SBS, commencing January 10, 2015.
See also
External links
- Official page at TF1