Research Unit 2006
- Status
- Returning Series
- First Aired
- May 11, 2006
- Last Aired
- October 23, 2025
- Format
- 16 seasons · 171 eps
- Total Runtime
- ~171 hours (60 min/ep)
- Highest Rated Episode
- S2E5 "Episode 5" (★ 9/10)
- Created By
- Steven Bawol, Dominique Lancelot
- Network
- TF1
- Where to Stream
- France Channel Amazon Channel
What is Research Unit?
Research Unit is a French television series that premiered in 2006. The program centers on the Section de recherches, which is a specialized unit operating under the Gendarmerie nationale.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 2006
- Status
- Returning Series
- Episodes
- 171
- Runtime
- 60 minutes
- First aired
- May 11, 2006
- Last aired
- Oct 23, 2025
- Original language
- FR
- Origin
- FR
- Networks
- TF1
- Genres
- Crime
- Updated
At a glance
- Rating
- ★ TMDB users: 8.2/10 from 14 votes
- Format
- 16 seasons · 171 episodes
- Episode runtime
- ~60 minutes
- Status
- Returning Series
- Network
- TF1
Where to watch in United States
Free
Stream
Free
With ads
Streaming availability data provided by JustWatch via TMDB. Availability changes by country and date; verify on the provider before subscribing or purchasing.
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 171 episodes and an average 60-minute runtime.
Trailer
No official trailer is available for this title yet.
Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
Research Unit is a French television series that premiered in 2006. The program centers on the Section de recherches, which is a specialized unit operating under the Gendarmerie nationale. This group is tasked with managing the most complex criminal cases. The investigators handle a variety of serious matters, including child abductions, disappearances, sexual crimes, and other heinous offenses. The setting of the series shifted over time, with the unit based in Bordeaux from 2006 until 2013, before relocating to Nice in 2014. As part of their investigative process, the team is authorized to pursue leads and search for witnesses beyond the borders of France. The show documents the daily professional lives of these investigators as they address these high-stakes situations. By focusing on the operations of the Gendarmerie nationale, the series provides a look at the procedural challenges faced by this specialized division as they work to resolve difficult cases throughout their jurisdiction and internationally.
Should you watch it?
“A specialized Gendarmerie unit tackles the most complex criminal cases across France and beyond.”
- focuses on high-stakes investigations
- explores diverse criminal cases
- subject matter involves sensitive crimes
Watch it if you enjoy procedural dramas centered on specialized law enforcement units.
The series features themes involving child abductions, disappearances, and sexual crimes.
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Cast
Episode guide
Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
Season 1 · 4 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc May 11, 2006
- E2 Episode 2 Core May 11, 2006
- E3 Episode 3 Core May 18, 2006
- E4 Episode 4 Mytharc May 18, 2006
Season 2 · 8 episodes
Open the complete Season 2 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Sep 6, 2007
- E2 Episode 2 Core Sep 6, 2007
- E3 Episode 3 Core Sep 13, 2007
- E4 Episode 4 Core Sep 13, 2007
- E5 Episode 5 Core Sep 20, 2007
- E6 Episode 6 Core Sep 20, 2007
- E7 Episode 7 Mytharc Sep 27, 2007
- E8 Episode 8 Mytharc Sep 27, 2007
Season 3 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 3 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Nov 20, 2008
- E2 Episode 2 Core Nov 20, 2008
- E3 Episode 3 Core Nov 27, 2008
- E4 Episode 4 Core Nov 27, 2008
- E5 Episode 5 Core Dec 4, 2008
- E6 Episode 6 Core Dec 4, 2008
- E7 Episode 7 Core Jan 22, 2009
- E8 Episode 8 Core Jan 22, 2009
- E9 Episode 9 Mytharc Jan 29, 2009
- E10 Episode 10 Mytharc Jan 29, 2009
Season 4 · 14 episodes
Open the complete Season 4 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Sep 10, 2009
- E2 Episode 2 Core Sep 10, 2009
- E3 Episode 3 Core Sep 17, 2009
- E4 Episode 4 Core Sep 17, 2009
- E5 Episode 5 Core Sep 24, 2009
- E6 Episode 6 Core Sep 24, 2009
- E7 Episode 7 Core Oct 1, 2009
- E8 Episode 8 Core Oct 1, 2009
- E9 Episode 9 Core Feb 25, 2010
- E10 Episode 10 Core Feb 25, 2010
- E11 Episode 11 Core Mar 4, 2010
- E12 Episode 12 Core Mar 4, 2010
- E13 Episode 13 Mytharc Mar 11, 2010
- E14 Episode 14 Mytharc Mar 11, 2010
Season 5 · 14 episodes
Open the complete Season 5 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Mar 10, 2011
- E2 Episode 2 Core Mar 10, 2011
- E3 Episode 3 Core Mar 17, 2011
- E4 Episode 4 Core Mar 17, 2011
- E5 Episode 5 Core Mar 24, 2011
- E6 Episode 6 Core Mar 24, 2011
- E7 Episode 7 Core Mar 31, 2011
- E8 Episode 8 Core Mar 31, 2011
- E9 Episode 9 Core Apr 7, 2011
- E10 Episode 10 Core Apr 7, 2011
- E11 Episode 11 Core Apr 14, 2011
- E12 Episode 12 Core Apr 21, 2011
- E13 Episode 13 Mytharc Apr 28, 2011
- E14 Episode 14 Mytharc Apr 28, 2011
Season 6 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 6 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Apr 26, 2012
- E2 Episode 2 Core Apr 26, 2012
- E3 Episode 3 Core May 3, 2012
- E4 Episode 4 Core May 3, 2012
- E5 Episode 5 Core May 10, 2012
- E6 Episode 6 Core May 10, 2012
- E7 Episode 7 Core May 17, 2012
- E8 Episode 8 Core May 17, 2012
- E9 Episode 9 Mytharc May 24, 2012
- E10 Episode 10 Mytharc May 24, 2012
Season 7 · 16 episodes
Open the complete Season 7 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Feb 28, 2013
- E2 Episode 2 Core Feb 28, 2013
- E3 Episode 3 Core Mar 7, 2013
- E4 Episode 4 Core Mar 7, 2013
- E5 Episode 5 Core Mar 14, 2013
- E6 Episode 6 Core Mar 14, 2013
- E7 Episode 7 Core Mar 21, 2013
- E8 Episode 8 Core Mar 21, 2013
- E9 Episode 9 Core Mar 28, 2013
- E10 Episode 10 Core Mar 28, 2013
- E11 Episode 11 Core Apr 4, 2013
- E12 Episode 12 Core Apr 4, 2013
- E13 Episode 13 Core Apr 11, 2013
- E14 Episode 14 Core Apr 11, 2013
- E15 Episode 15 Mytharc Apr 18, 2013
- E16 Episode 16 Mytharc Apr 18, 2013
Season 8 · 12 episodes
Open the complete Season 8 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Feb 27, 2014
- E2 Episode 2 Core Feb 27, 2014
- E3 Episode 3 Core Mar 6, 2014
- E4 Episode 4 Core Mar 6, 2014
- E5 Episode 5 Core Mar 13, 2014
- E6 Episode 6 Core Mar 13, 2014
- E7 Episode 7 Core Mar 20, 2014
- E8 Episode 8 Core Mar 20, 2014
- E9 Episode 9 Core Mar 27, 2014
- E10 Episode 10 Core Mar 27, 2014
- E11 Episode 11 Mytharc Apr 3, 2014
- E12 Episode 12 Mytharc Apr 3, 2014
Season 9 · 12 episodes
Open the complete Season 9 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Feb 5, 2015
- E2 Episode 2 Core Feb 5, 2015
- E3 Episode 3 Core Feb 12, 2015
- E4 Episode 4 Core Feb 12, 2015
- E5 Episode 5 Core Feb 19, 2015
- E6 Episode 6 Core Feb 19, 2015
- E7 Episode 7 Core Feb 26, 2015
- E8 Episode 8 Core Feb 26, 2015
- E9 Episode 9 Core Mar 5, 2015
- E10 Episode 10 Core Mar 5, 2015
- E11 Episode 11 Mytharc Mar 12, 2015
- E12 Episode 12 Mytharc Mar 19, 2015
Season 10 · 13 episodes
Open the complete Season 10 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Jan 28, 2016
- E2 Episode 2 Core Jan 28, 2016
- E3 Episode 3 Core Feb 4, 2016
- E4 Episode 4 Core Feb 11, 2016
- E5 Episode 5 Core Feb 18, 2016
- E6 Episode 6 Core Feb 25, 2016
- E7 Episode 7 Core Feb 25, 2016
- E8 Episode 8 Core Mar 3, 2016
- E9 Episode 9 Core Mar 3, 2016
- E10 Episode 10 Core Mar 10, 2016
- E11 Episode 11 Core Mar 17, 2016
- E12 Episode 12 Mytharc Mar 24, 2016
- E13 Episode 13 Mytharc Mar 31, 2016
Season 11 · 14 episodes
Open the complete Season 11 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Jan 5, 2017
- E2 Episode 2 Core Jan 5, 2017
- E3 Episode 3 Core Jan 19, 2017
- E4 Episode 4 Core Feb 2, 2017
- E5 Episode 5 Core Feb 9, 2017
- E6 Episode 6 Core Feb 16, 2017
- E7 Episode 7 Core Feb 23, 2017
- E8 Episode 8 Core Mar 2, 2017
- E9 Episode 9 Core Mar 9, 2017
- E10 Episode 10 Core Mar 16, 2017
- E11 Episode 11 Core Mar 23, 2017
- E12 Episode 12 Core Mar 30, 2017
- E13 Episode 13 Mytharc Apr 6, 2017
- E14 Episode 14 Mytharc Apr 13, 2017
Season 12 · 14 episodes
Open the complete Season 12 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Mar 1, 2018
- E2 Episode 2 Core Mar 1, 2018
- E3 Episode 3 Core Mar 8, 2018
- E4 Episode 4 Core Mar 22, 2018
- E5 Episode 5 Core Mar 15, 2018
- E6 Episode 6 Core Mar 15, 2018
- E7 Episode 7 Core Mar 22, 2018
- E8 Episode 8 Core Mar 22, 2018
- E9 Episode 9 Core Mar 29, 2018
- E10 Episode 10 Core Mar 29, 2018
- E11 Episode 11 Core Apr 5, 2018
- E12 Episode 12 Core Apr 12, 2018
- E13 Episode 13 Mytharc Apr 19, 2018
- E14 Episode 14 Mytharc Apr 26, 2018
Season 13 · 14 episodes
Open the complete Season 13 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Mar 7, 2019
- E2 Episode 2 Core Mar 7, 2019
- E3 Episode 3 Core Mar 14, 2019
- E4 Episode 4 Core Mar 14, 2019
- E5 Episode 5 Core Mar 28, 2019
- E6 Episode 6 Core Mar 28, 2019
- E7 Episode 7 Core Apr 4, 2019
- E8 Episode 8 Core Apr 4, 2019
- E9 Episode 9 Core Apr 11, 2019
- E10 Episode 10 Core Apr 11, 2019
- E11 Episode 11 Core Apr 25, 2019
- E12 Episode 12 Core Apr 25, 2019
- E13 Episode 13 Mytharc May 2, 2019
- E14 Episode 14 Mytharc May 2, 2019
Season 14 · 8 episodes
Open the complete Season 14 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Jan 28, 2021
- E2 Episode 2 Core Feb 4, 2021
- E3 Episode 3 Core Feb 11, 2021
- E4 Episode 4 Core Feb 18, 2021
- E5 Episode 5 Core Feb 25, 2021
- E6 Episode 6 Core Mar 4, 2021
- E7 Episode 7 Mytharc Mar 11, 2021
- E8 Episode 8 Mytharc Mar 11, 2021
Season 15 · 2 episodes
Open the complete Season 15 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Apr 16, 2022
- E2 Episode 2 Mytharc Apr 16, 2022
Season 16 · 6 episodes
Open the complete Season 16 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Feb 1, 2024
- E2 Episode 2 Core Feb 1, 2024
- E3 Episode 3 Core Sep 5, 2024
- E4 Episode 4 Core Sep 5, 2024
- E5 Episode 5 Mytharc Oct 23, 2025
- E6 Episode 6 Mytharc Oct 23, 2025
Frequently asked questions
What is the show about?
It follows a special unit of the Gendarmerie nationale tasked with solving complex criminal cases.
Where is the show set?
The unit operated in Bordeaux from 2006 to 2013 and has been based in Nice since 2014.
What kind of crimes do they investigate?
The team handles cases including child abductions, disappearances, and sexual or heinous crimes.
Can the team investigate outside of France?
Yes, the investigators are authorized to extend their work beyond French borders.
When did the series begin?
The series premiered in 2006.
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