It has been many years since I read the short novel that this episode is based on. So I cannot testify to the accuracy of all the plot points. But if you are familiar with the Simenon Maigret novels, at all, then you know that plot is often secondary to characters and their motivations. And in that regard, this episode feels very true to the Simenon style of story telling.
Bruno Cremer is not my conception of what Maigret would look like, But Cremer's mannerisms and moods are "spot on", imo., Bruno Cremer makes an excellent Jules Maigret.
The plot is that pieces of a naked body are found in the river by a small French town. What is ultimately missing is the head. The pieces are of a man--which causes Maigret to nod slightly and puff his pipe, saying "That's different!"
Who is the dead man? Who is the killer? These are clearly important questions to Superintendent Maigret, But equally important is "Why go to all this trouble?"
Watching Maigret slowly piece together the "Why" is part of the pleasure of this episode. But equally enjoyable is watching the war of patience and wits between the suspects and Maigret.
For instance, when one suspect asks why Maigret is interested in a seemingly unrelated and irrelevant matter, and asks, "Why do you want to know?" Maigret shrugs, "I like to understand. It is why I do this job, to understand".
For many viewers, this episode may seem plodding and dull. For viewers looking for "action", they should look elsewhere (and should also avoid the Simenon entire Maigret series of novels). There is little or no action, to speak of, in this episode--the killing itself happens before the episode even begins.
But if watching characters, suspects and otherwise, act and react--or in this case, attempt NOT to react--is something you find enjoyable, then I would recommend looking for this 1992 episode of Maigret, and, very likely, the entire Bruno Cremer Maigret series.