I found these four presentations of Simenon’s Inspector Maigret very enjoyable. While I've seen older versions that were perfectly acceptable, this interpretation of the character really caught my attention. The shows have a wonderful atmosphere and mood, and I appreciated the dialogue and how the characters interact with each other. There is some variation in quality between them, but I’ve watched all four multiple times. Keep in mind that the episodes run for 90 minutes each, so they feel like watching four films—you'll need to set aside enough time for viewing. Atkinson’s acting style is what I would describe as understated, which might be especially noticeable if you are familiar with his comedic roles. It seems fitting for this character, though there’s more to his performance than just holding back. The way he moves and speaks in a deliberate manner means that subtle shifts in his facial expressions can convey a lot. All four shows were good, but the three written by Stewart Harcourt stood out as particularly excellent, with sharp dialogue and careful development of the storylines. I appreciate how Maigret has such a solid marriage. I get weary of police dramas creating artificial tension by portraying dysfunction in the lead detective’s relationship—either through obsession with their job or having the wife become involved with someone else (often with the predictable double standard of the detective himself having cheated). It might reflect reality sometimes, but it feels overdone at this point. Beyond Maigret's wife, the supporting characters are also well-developed, from his officers to the interesting and knowledgeable forensics specialist—you may recognize him from Lark Rise to Candleford. I want to specifically mention the episode "Maigret’s Dead Man," which is not only my favorite but also one of the best police procedurals I've seen in quite some time. Atkinson was excellent, as always, and it was nice to see Maigret’s wife become involved in the investigation. The dynamic between Maigret and his team, along with the inspector from another department, was handled well. It was clever when his sergeant—I think that was his rank—correctly guessed that Maigret would be drawn into and take on the case. And toward the end, there’s a brief speech given by Maigret to the killer about his victim that is one of the most memorable short monologues I've encountered in a film. I expect I will watch these again.

Source on TMDB