You've probably seen a dozen "bad guy gets out of prison" shows, but Ennemi Public (or Public Enemy for those of us watching with subtitles) feels different. It’s cold. It’s misty. It feels like the Belgian Ardennes is actually trying to swallow the characters whole. Honestly, the reason it works isn't just the creepy monastery setting; it’s the Public Enemy TV series cast and how they handle a story that is, frankly, pretty uncomfortable to sit through.
The show is loosely inspired by the real-life horrors of the Marc Dutroux case, which is a heavy burden for any actor to carry.
The Core Players: A Study in Tension
At the heart of the storm is Angelo Bison as Guy Béranger. Let’s be real: he is terrifying. Bison doesn't do the over-the-top villain thing. He doesn't need to. He plays Béranger with this soft-spoken, almost gentle stillness that makes your skin crawl because you know exactly what he's done. He’s a child killer released on parole to a monastery, and Bison plays him as a man who is constantly observing, filing away weaknesses for later use.
Then you have Stéphanie Blanchoud as Chloé Muller.
She’s the detective assigned to watch him.
Blanchoud is incredible here.
Her character is basically a raw nerve.
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Chloé is obsessed with her own sister’s disappearance from years ago, and Blanchoud plays that trauma not as a "TV sad" trope, but as a jagged, antisocial edge. She’s short with people. She’s obsessive. When she stands across from Bison’s Béranger, the air in the room feels like it’s being sucked out. It’s one of the best "unlikely duo" dynamics in modern crime TV because they don't like each other—they barely even trust the ground the other walks on.
The Monastery and the Village
The show needs a moral compass, and that usually falls on Clément Manuel, who plays Brother Lucas. He’s the young monk who actually believes in redemption, or at least he wants to. Manuel has this "boyish but tired" look that works perfectly. He's the one trying to help Béranger acclimate to the abbey, and you spend half the series wanting to tell him to run away and the other half hoping he's right.
The village of Vielsart is full of people who—understandably—want Béranger gone or dead. Philippe Jeusette plays Patrick Stassart, a local who has a lot to lose if the village’s reputation is trashed. Jeusette brings a very grounded, working-class frustration to the role. It’s not just "villager with a pitchfork" energy; it’s a man trying to protect his family and his business from a monster.
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Why the Casting Choices Mattered
If you look at the wider ensemble, you’ll notice a lot of familiar faces if you’re into European cinema.
- Jean-Jacques Rausin plays Michaël Charlier, the local cop who has to deal with Chloé’s big-city intensity. He provides a much-needed local perspective.
- Vincent Londez (who you might recognize from Lupin or Into the Night) plays Vincent Stassart. He brings a different kind of volatility to the screen.
- Daniel Hanssens as Frère Joseph gives us that classic, stern authority that makes the monastery feel like a place of secrets rather than just a church.
The show expanded significantly in Season 2 and Season 3 (which recently hit MHz Choice), bringing in Pauline Étienne as Jessica. If you’ve followed the series from the start, you know how high the stakes are regarding her character. The cast had to evolve from a "small town murder mystery" vibe into a sprawling conspiracy thriller involving the "Toy Maker," and the actors managed that shift without losing the grit.
Realism Over Hollywood Polish
What most people get wrong about the Public Enemy TV series cast is expecting them to act like "stars." They don't. These characters look tired. They have bad skin days. They wear heavy coats and look like they actually live in a damp forest.
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The chemistry between Stéphanie Blanchoud and Jean-Jacques Rausin is a highlight. They feel like real partners who have seen too much. Honestly, the way the cast handles the French-language dialogue—which is often sparse—is a masterclass in "showing, not telling." You see the history of the Ardennes in their faces.
Essential Insights for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the show or the careers of these actors, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Watch the French version. Even if you prefer dubs, the vocal performances of Angelo Bison and Stéphanie Blanchoud are half the character. The way Bison whispers is half the scare.
- Check out Blanchoud’s music. Fun fact: Stéphanie Blanchoud is also a very accomplished singer-songwriter. Knowing she has that creative, soulful side makes her performance as the rigid, icy Chloé even more impressive.
- The Stassart Family. Pay close attention to the Stassart family tree (Patrick, Lucas, Vincent). Much of the show’s emotional weight in later seasons relies on their internal friction.
To get the most out of the series, start by revisiting the first season's tension-building episodes where the cast is still feeling each other out. Pay attention to the background monks—many are veteran Belgian stage actors who bring a weight to the abbey scenes that you don't get with extras. If you've finished the series, look into the 2023-2024 projects from Blanchoud and Bison to see how they've shed these heavy roles.