The Last Wave

I had this recorded but looking at the reviews I nearly didn't bother - (I'm French living abroad for the record) A lot of French series have left me cold, particularly The Revenants, a boring piece where every female character seems only fit to break nails or whinge on a manly man's shoulder - and this was compared unfavourably to it.

Anyway I'm glad I gave it a try anyway. It's a paranormal psychological thriller, with an ecological theme I suppose. The characters are maybe a bit clichéd, but they are well developed* and evolve accordingly. Like real French people, with French lives, French concerns and problems. There is excellent suspense throughout - I'm itching to see the last two episodes. It's absolutely nothing to do with a soap like someone said. Another said it's unbelievable the whole of France wouldn't be there gawking, with social media and all, but really, what is there for the media to get excited about?? A funny cloud, such as get 3k lackadaisical likes on Facebook, and ten people missing for a few hours but found again. No, no outsider would see anything bizarre. Yet bizarre it certainly is. There's also nothing wrong with any of the acting. Some people just can't cope with subtitles or anything different. It's the "act like real people" school of series, and they are believable as real people. And the lead actor is excellent.

*through the nature of the plot and what's happening, they all experience extreme changes in their lives and behaviour. This is very well done. But you'll have to watch a bit more than one episode.

Personally I highly recommend. And it's really easy viewing, don't expect boring intense intellectual stuff à la Nouvelle Vague: it's France télévision series made for family evening viewing (bear in mind there is a normal French level of sex and partial nudity: it's important to the plot anyway)

7¾

I am now waiting for the last two instalments, but straight from the first episode, it looked to have a very familiar to feel to it, and I rapidly developed a feeling that this was French TV's answer to the US series, "LOST", with both series being riddled with the inexplicable. Both series even have their own mysterious clouds, though in Lost, it was more like black smoke.

Of course, unlike Lost, this is not set on a desert island, but what looks like the South of France. That tends to make me raise questions, such as why are there no old or fat people to be seen.?

And then there is a plot line that if true, would have the whole town besieged with the world's media. yet there is no media presence at all. The unlikely events that take place, include a lighthouse being moved from offshore to a mile inland. If that can't get a few TV cameras interested, then nothing can, and yet there is no media. Where are the Politicians from Central Government, who you might normally expect to be giving unhelpful interviews?

The whole story lacks the infrastructure that one might expect if such an event ever were to happen.

Reverting back to my comparison with Lost, that was a series that I enjoyed for about the first five seasons, and I looked forward to all the mysterious events being explained. But as it continued, I got to the stage where I lost interest, and can't even be bothered to find out what happened. With that in mind, if the series ends and I have to wait for season two (3? 4? 5? 6? etc), I won't bother. The comparison is that both series are highly implausible and so you want to see the final episode to make sense of it. But I am not that interested that I am going to wait years for an explanation.

This French drama is set in the seaside town of Brizan; as its inhabitants prepare for a local surfing event a strange cloud appears offshore. While many people watch from the shore others take to the water and start surfing. Then the cloud descends; when it rises there is no sign of the surfers. A search begins but they can't be found; then several hours later they return, unharmed. They have no recollection of what happened to them but it soon becomes apparent they have changed; one's eyes have changed colour and he can see things he shouldn't be able to; another can heal people and a third can breathe underwater! The cloud still lingers offshore and the population wonders what to do next.

This is a decent enough six part series. There is a good sense of mystery concerning the cause of the strange cloud and the viewer is kept wondering what will happen next. The characters are solid enough although they all seemed somewhat dysfunctional as they constantly argue and fight. One must be able to suspend one's disbelief somewhat as no outsiders, including the authorities, appear to take any interest in the strange occurrences. The effects might not be of the standard one would get in a big budget movie but they are certainly good enough for a TV series.

Overall I wouldn't say this is a must see, we've certainly been treated to better French series in recent years, but it is enjoyable enough and at only six episodes it doesn't outstay its welcome so I'd still recommend checking it out.

These comments are based on watching the series in French with English subtitles.

Not being French and relying subtitles, I was hooked from the word go and there has to be something in it for me to continue watching. If the acting was that bad then I wouldn't watch it, but there were moments when you forgave a few things and I blame the director for that. The director of any movie/series, is the most important person and if he lets bad acting fly in, then it's his rep that's on the line. The story has good premise, there is a little over acting in some parts, but you let that go, with a roll of the eyes. There are moments where the 'pause is too long' and times you want to strangle the script writer with some of the dialogue, (subtitle translation) but you are drawn in to the story and you forgive these things. The acting was fine, the story good, and leaves you with a sense that there would be another season, or happy with the ending as is. I watch a lot of movies and series, and I can tell you that the ratings of many of these are incredible, and as for this show, I think a 7 is fair. I found it good, and it kept me watching... isn't that what is all about.

Enjoyable French TV Series. It unfolds slowly. I don't mind subtitles, and a chance to freshen up my French.