Summer ’36 Review: While the first episode of French drama Summer ’36 might make viewers see this as a breezy, seaside vacation, the series picks up steam soon after and guarantees that there is more to the story than meets the eye. When a prosecutor is murdered under mysterious circumstances in Côte d’Azur amid the changing social climate of 1936, four unlikely women band together to get out of a sticky situation.
The series mixes the aesthetic beauty of Nice with a gruesome murder and instantly elevates the viewing experience. The stylish and elevated French design and culture are apparent in every scene, making it all the more enjoyable to watch. The Riviera setting isn’t just for a murder or the looks, however, as important topics are discussed, including tensions due to the newly introduced paid holidays, female solidarity and long-buried secrets. While it does get repetitive sometimes, it’s highly entertaining.
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Who is in the Cast of Summer ’36 Netflix Show?
Julie de Bona, Sofia Essaïdi, Nolwenn Leroy, Constance Gay, Miou-Miou, François-Xavier Demaison, Pascal Elbé, Sam Karmann, Simon Ehrlacher, Assaad Bouab
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Who is the Director of Summer ’36 Series?
Frédéric Garson
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What is the Original Title of Summer ’36?
L’Été 36
The series has 6 episodes, with a runtime of 60 minutes each.
Summer ’36 Review
A Murder Mystery Framed by Social Change
The series opens during a pivotal moment in French history as the working class were given paid vacations for the first time, bringing in new visitors to the exclusive French Riviera. The wealthy elite are immediately unhappy and unsettled by these new visitors, showcasing the class division that existed at the time. With the coastline no longer their private playground, things, of course, take an even worse turn when Prosecutor Adrien Jacquart is murdered.
In this shocking situation, four women with seemingly no connections to one another find themselves entangled in the mess. With secrets tumbling out of closets and the truth just a grasp away, they band together to get to the bottom of the mystery. The series’s mishmash of different genres works well in its favour as it creates a very varied viewing experience. While the murder adds to the thrill, the evolving relationships are just as compelling and make the whodunit even more enticing to watch. Moments of anger and rivalry slowly evolve into something deeper and more intimate, making this female-led show so much more enjoyable to watch.
At the heart of the story is the murder investigation, through which personal secrets, romantic complications and family tensions intertwine to make things more complicated. The combination of drama and mystery is balanced quite well in the series, elevating it from a simple murder-mystery to something more. The historical setting also feels like a part of the murder, as the influx of new people to the bourgeois French Riviera adds more complications to the situation.
Four Distinct Women Carry the Story
The ensemble cast is the best part of the show as it highlights different perspectives and divides its attention among them. As a result, their intersecting lives, bound together by circumstance rather than friendship, are interesting to watch evolving through the course of the runtime. While the murder is the foundation of the mystery, it’s these women who make it all the more enjoyable to watch through their life circumstances and zeal to see the situation through. Every character’s perspective is shaped by class, ambition and personal struggles that make a dangerous combination when brought together.
The emphasis on female perspectives is one of the best parts of the show and will definitely intrigue audiences deeply.
The French Riviera Has Rarely Looked Better
Visually, Summer ’36 is beautiful. The recreated 1930s aesthetic feels authentic and lived in, as everything in the series captures the beauty of the era without being overly polished. The cinematography makes full use of the beautiful Mediterranean backdrop but balances it with the dark murder investigation that is unfolding. The production values alone are fantastic and make for an even more immersive experience.
The Mystery Keeps You Watching… Even If It Doesn’t Reinvent the Genre
Of course, Summer ’36 has its moments that aren’t the best. The murder mystery and the way it is explored might feel repetitive and obvious for some. The series tries to keep viewers on their toes by bringing in new suspects and hidden motives at every turn. Although predictable, it’s definitely extremely enjoyable as the emotional stakes keep viewers on their toes. The series also surprisingly focuses on how the crime exposes inequalities, buried resentments and difficult choices that different characters have to make along the way.
Final Verdict
The series is, of course, not a reinvention of the whodunit genre and is not fast-paced enough to be enjoyed by everyone. However, its female-led, character-driven storytelling adds a uniqueness to the runtime that drives the series forward. The reveal at the end is more emotional than shocking, and that’s something new for whodunits. Overall, this one’s very enjoyable.
The series is streaming right now on Netflix. What are your thoughts on the whodunit? Let us know in the comments below!
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