The Returned: A Comparison Of The American And French Versions

I have said numerous times that I L-O-V-E-D the French version (known as "Les Revenants") and am anxiously awaiting season 2 (should it ever arrive). I even voted it my favorite TV show of 2013. See my reviews here Unfortunately I dont have as warm a feeling for the A&E version. Dont get me wrong. It's not horrible. If I hadnt seen the French version first I'm sure I would like the American more. Below are the main differences between the two. Please let me know in the comments if I missed anything.

Episodes: Season 1 of French version has 8 episodes. The American version has 10.
Location: The French version takes place in a small resort town in the French Alps. The American version is in the town of Caldwell in Washington state.
Atmosphere: The cinematography in the French version is much darker and spookier. It's way too bright and sunny in the American version. Little known fact--the French version only filmed between 4 and 9 PM in order to maintain it's eerie appearance.
Actors: As a whole I enjoyed the French actors much more than their American counterparts. The exceptions are Simon and Helen. The actors playing Simon in both versions are very similar. I liked them both. Helen is one of the best parts of the American version. Michelle Forbes really brings the character to life. The French Victor seriously outcreeps his counterpart.
Ages:The twins Camille and Lena are older in the American version.
Names: Jerome is renamed Jack in the American version.
Lucy: Lucy plays a similar purpose in both versions (having an inside connection with the undead). But in the French version she seems to be their leader by the finale.
Julie: In the American version Julie is a doctor. In the French version she is a nurse. In the French version she is also must more withdrawn. In the American version Victor almost kills Julie's girlfriend Nikki. This scene does not occur in the French version and the girlfriend is named Lare.
Victor: In the American version Victor disappears after Julie takes him to the house where he was killed. He later reemerges on the side of the road for another lonely woman to pick up. Apparently that's his MO. And to make matters worse, he's killed several of his caregivers. Oh dear. In the French version he is still with Julie at the end of the season.
Peter/ Pierre: In the American version Peter is revealed to be one of the returned (having died 29 years ago). In the French version we're not really sure what he's up to (other than being cray cray) and his name is Pierre (instead of Peter).
Rowan/ Adele: Simon's baby mama is named Rowan in the American version. She's Adele in the French version. Tommy is a still a creeper in both versions.
Adam: Adam is still a serial killer who kidnaps Lena but he doesnt disappear while swimming across the lake with brother Tony.
Mural: The mural painted in 1986 as a remembrance of all those who died is not a feature of the French version. I supposed it's meant to reinforce that these people are D-E-A-D (in case we didnt already get that).
Sexy Times: In the American finale, Camille and Ben have sexy times. Unfortunately she kills him during the act. I dont recall this happening in the French version. Hopefully I would remember such a thing.
New Characters: In the American version a journalist from the "Truthvox" arrives in town. She says the dead reappear before a major incident in which a community is wiped off the face of the earth (such as Roanoke). There is not a French counterpart to this character.
Finale: Episode 10 of the American version ends with Helen trying to blow up the town's dam but is mysteriously locked under the dam. Simon is on a mountain (after recovering from being hit in the head with a tire iron by Helen). He sees water from the dam descend upon the town (but it turns out to be a vision). He screams and runs full speed down hill. The French version has the undead attacking the living in a mountain retreat under cover of darkness. The survivors go outside int the morning to find their town below flooded. Have all their lives just been saved by the undead?