Inspetor Max (2004)
A beloved Portuguese family crime drama following Inspector Jorge Mendes and his extraordinary dog Max through seven seasons of mystery and adventure.
Inspetor Max - Series Information
- Original Title: Inspetor Max
- First Air Year: 2004
- Last Air Year: 2024
- Created by: Virgílio Castelo
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Action, Adventure, Family, Crime
- Content Rating (US): NR
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (45 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 7
- Number of Episodes: 143
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Portuguese
- Spoken Languages: Portuguese
- First Air Date: March 14, 2004 (United States - NR)
- Networks: TVI
- Alternative Titles: Inspector Max (PT)
- Production Companies: Produções Fictícias, Coral Europa
- Production Countries: Portugal
Inspetor Max - Plot
"Inspector Max" is a Portuguese television series created by Virgílio Castelo e Produções Fictícias and broadcast on TVI. Its story is a dog called "Max", who is caught by Inspector Jorge Mendes' two sons (Fernando Luís). Jorge Mendes is a lonely man whose wife died when his children were still small. He works at the DIC of Setúbal, Department of Criminal Investigation, in the 1st season. The successful DIC team from Setúbal was invited to go to DECC (Special Department for Combating Crime) and started the 2nd season. His boss, Graça Madureira (Fátima Belo), after some cases resolved in the DECC, was invited to join Interpol. In the 2nd season, the place is occupied by actress Sílvia Rizzo. Max, Jorge and Sérgio, Jorge's best friend, constitute the victorious trio. A series based on mystery and case solving.
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Inspetor Max - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Virgílio Castelo
Main Cast
- Fernando Luís
- Rui Santos
- Ruy de Carvalho
- Marco Costa
- Luís Esparteiro
- Quimbé
- Tiago P. de Carvalho
- Tobias Monteiro
- Paula Luiz
- Heitor Lourenço
Writers
- Patrícia Müller
Inspetor Max - FAQs
What role does Max the dog play in the series?
Max is the heart of the show — a clever, loyal dog who becomes the unlikely partner of Inspector Jorge Mendes. Far from a sidekick, Max actively helps crack cases, making him the true star of the series and the reason it resonated so strongly with family audiences across Portugal.
Is Inspetor Max worth watching for families?
Absolutely. Inspetor Max strikes a rare balance between genuine crime mystery and wholesome family entertainment. The combination of a lovable canine hero, warm character dynamics, and engaging case-of-the-week storytelling made it one of TVI's most enduring productions, running across seven seasons over two decades.
Where can you watch Inspetor Max online?
Streaming availability for Inspetor Max varies by region. For the most up-to-date viewing options in your country, check JustWatch, which aggregates current streaming, rental, and purchase options across all major platforms.
How many seasons and episodes does Inspetor Max have?
The series ran for seven seasons and 143 episodes in total. Early seasons were notably longer — Season 1 and Season 2 each contained 52 episodes — while later seasons became progressively shorter, with Season 7 wrapping up the story in just three episodes.
Who created Inspetor Max and when did it first air?
Inspetor Max was created by Virgílio Castelo and produced by Produções Fictícias in collaboration with Coral Europa. The series premiered on the Portuguese network TVI on March 14, 2004, and continued airing until 2024, making it one of Portugal's longest-running drama franchises.
Did Inspetor Max change departments between seasons?
Yes — a notable shift happens between seasons. Inspector Mendes and his team begin at the DIC (Department of Criminal Investigation) in Setúbal during Season 1, then transition to the DECC (Special Department for Combating Crime) from Season 2 onward, reflecting the team's growing reputation and expanding scope.
Who are the main actors in Inspetor Max?
Fernando Luís leads the cast as Inspector Jorge Mendes, joined by Rui Santos as his best friend Sérgio Calado and Ruy de Carvalho as Dr. João Ferreira. Supporting roles include Marco Costa, Luís Esparteiro, Tobias Monteiro, Paula Luiz, and Heitor Lourenço, among others.
What shows are similar to Inspetor Max?
Fans of Inspetor Max may enjoy other family-friendly detective and adventure series such as Lassie (1954), Hunter Street (2017), Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983), Kojak (1973), and Leverage (2008) — all sharing that blend of mystery, action, and accessible storytelling for broad audiences.
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