Only a few weeks left to hold before returning to the terraces of summer evenings; But while waiting for the return of better days, there are always the series to occupy our long evenings. And in this month of April rich in novelty, everyone will find his pleasure to bingewatcher in peace.
Émilie's April Series: The Snake on Netflix
Addicted to the adrenaline that a good thriller provokes? The Snake is the series for you! We find Tahar Rahim in the skin of serial killer Charles Sobhraj, who raged on the Asian continent in the 70s. His modus operandi? Pretending to be a benefactor and a dealer in precious stones to European tourists with desires elsewhere, coaxing them … To the point of poisoning them so that they can steal their papers, passports and money, before committing horrific murders. With Jenna Coleman, who plays Marie-Andrée Leclerc (Dr. Who, Victoria), they form a charismatic couple, but formidable, this one turning a blind eye to the Machiavellian acts of her companion. We can only salute the performance of this duo of actors, more than convincing in their play. If Tahar Rahim excels in each of his roles, going from A Prophet to Samba, he is more than impressive in this interpretation, despite the difficulty of embodying such a character. The narrative is interesting, oscillating between the present moment – the investigation to bring down Sobhraj worthy of those of Narcos – and the crime scenes of the serial killer. The series thus plays on several temporalities which, like a puzzle, reconstruct the story over the episodes. An addictive series not to be missed! Find the full review of the Snake here and discover its trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVciDIvAOmE
Aubin's April Series: Invincible on Amazon Prime
This is undoubtedly the best superheroic proposal on the small screen since The Boys. And that's good, because it's an Amazon Prime Video production again. Adapted from the eponymous comic book by Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead), Invincible tells the complicated daily life of Mark Grayson, who must couple his teenage life with his double identity as a superhero. Animated series written by Robert Kirkman, produced by Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen, and voiced by Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons and Sandra Oh, Invincible is a hit every Friday on the platform. In eight episodes, the show traces Kirkman's cult comics with a licked staging, absolutely stunning action scenes and extremely endearing characters. The rhythm is surgically precise, and despite a few weaker episodes, it's overall bombshell. And then, there is a little Last Man side also for amateurs. As for Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen, they are also working on a live-action feature film adaptation of Invincible. And that's promised! Check out the trailer for Invincible : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bfAVpuko5o
Agathe's April series: Made for Love on HBO Max
This month, I fell in love with the American series Made for Love broadcast on HBO Max since April 1st. The series is adapted from a book of the same name by the American Alissa Nutting released in 2017, and for the production of the series, we find the novelist. This is one of the elements that immediately made me want to watch the series because this detail confirms that the plot of the story will be respected. What is Made for Love? Well, this series tells the adventures of Hazel, a young woman in a relationship for 10 years in a suffocating marriage with a billionaire of technology. One day, she decides to escape when she learns that her dear husband has incorporated a chip into her head to monitor her. Looking at the trailer and the series, I immediately hooked because we find at the same time a stripping black humor, futuristic elements to the Black Mirror and also moments of emotion to the American rom'com, all this forming a sumptuous cocktail. I especially loved the performance of Cristin Milioti (Palm Springs), the actress who plays Hazel, who manages to switch between black humor and immediately after leaving in a moment of emotion in a snap of fingers. The series has 8 episodes of 25 to 30 minutes so very easy to watch in a weekend. If you like black humor, romantic comedies and the futuristic universe à la Black Mirror this series is for you! Find the review of the first episode of Made for Love here and discover its trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvWgNSLIULw
Morgane's April Series: The Baker Street Irregulars on Netflix
Sherlock Holmes and Watson are usually at the center of the story, here the heart of Tom Bidwell's new Netflix production, belongs to the Irregulars: Bea (Thaddea Graham), her sister Jessie (Darci Shaw), her friends Billy (Jojo Macari) and Spike (McKell David), as well as Leo (Harrison Osterfield). This band of orphaned and destitute teenagers (with the exception of Leo who the others don't know is actually a prince) begin working for Dr. Watson in order to earn some money, and are quickly absorbed into an adventure in the realm of the supernatural involving murderous crows, human clones grown from stolen teeth, and other horrific events that all signal a great and powerful disruption between the mortal world and the realm of the dead. Watson, meanwhile, is a tough and somewhat malicious character, if not an adversary for much of the series. Royce Pierreson gives the doctor a beautiful wickedness, while Henry Lloyd-Hughes' Sherlock is a fundamentally broken and somewhat pretentious but endearing individual. In addition, Clarke Peters adds an element of mystery to the role of an American telepath who comes into contact with Jessie and helps her control her abilities, which adds another layer to the expansion of the Holmesian world. With this series putting Holmes and Watson in the background, followers may want to stay away, but for those who remain, the Baker Street Irregulars transport us to a terrific new version of this universe. It can sometimes waver but the charisma of the cast and the energy that the characters generate as an unlikely team turn the difficulties into a story that I think is just as worth seeing as the usual Sherlock Holmes investigations. Find the full review of The Baker Street Irregulars here and check out its trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17WYxtXbmis
Julie's April series: The Nevers on OCS
The Nevers is the fantasy series I've been waiting for for several months. Personally, when I was told: superheroines, nineteenth century and Joss Whedon, I could only fall in love. For starters, the cast is really excellent. Laura Donnely, and Ann Skelly, heroines of Outlander and Vikings, are magnificent in their roles. The aesthetics of the series caught my eye from the first episode. We can see a real effort of the production to immerse the viewer in Victorian London. The only complaint: the dialogues. Some passages are anachronistic, which is still a shame, especially since the costume designer has done a crazy job to ensure that the costumes are the most faithful to reality. For a comic book fan like me, I couldn't miss the strong resemblance to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or X-Men. Have you also made the connection? I hope that the rest of the series will manage to find a charm of its own, because there is really a lot of potential behind The Nevers ! Find the full review of The Nevers here and discover its trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs-ODufnJ8Y
Elisa 's April Series: The Way of the Apron on Netflix
This month, I fell in love with the manga The Way of the Apron broadcast on Netflix since April 8. Basically, it's a manga written and illustrated in February 2018 by Kōsuke Oono, and it's studio J.C. Staff who had the chance to produce it in series for the Netflix platform (and in a fabulous way). We follow the totally crazy story of Tatsu, the leader of a yakuza clan, also called "the immortal dragon", who decides to leave this violent world of gangs to become a terribly exemplary and scary housewife at the same time, and thus help his wife Miku. The synopsis itself is very comical, and allows you to laugh in the face of normally banal situations that become as epic as a fight, such as when he cooks. I particularly loved the drawings of the manga, the universe and especially this main character totally amazing. If you like short, funny and original manga, I strongly advise you to watch it for a good time assured! Check out the trailer of The Way of the Apron: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lR4VDKNyqQ
Lucille 's April series: Zero on Netflix
Zero is a brand new Italian series that has joined the Netflix catalog. We follow Omar, a young teenager of Senegalese origin who lives in the difficult neighborhoods of Milan with his father and sister. Pizza deliveryman, his real passion is drawing, and his dream is to be able to make a living from it. Nothing spectacular so far, but Omar actually has a very special gift: he can disappear when he is in the grip of a strong emotion. Following an accident, his entire neighborhood is plunged into darkness, and the town hall asks for 10,000 euros for this to be restored as soon as possible, otherwise the inhabitants will be forced to wait in the dark. It is then that Omar finds himself on a mission to save his neighborhood with his gift, under the impetus of his brand new friends, Sharif, Sara, Momo, and Innocent. Refreshing, this series is touching and does not give a feeling of déjà vu. Filled with hope, Zero shines a light on "those we don't hear", people from disadvantaged backgrounds. And yet, we discover with wonder their solidarity, their fighting spirit and their love for each other. With eight episodes of about twenty minutes, I was left hungry. And I am convinced that this will be the case for you too! Check out the trailer for Zero: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc1r33vc004
The April series of Mazarine : Shadow and Bone on Netflix
I was able to discover with great pleasure on Netflix the series Shadow and Bone: the Grisha saga released on April 23 in eight episodes. This series created by Eric Heisserer is based on the Grisha trilogy and the literary saga Six of crows by Leigh Bardugo. Throughout the series we follow the adventures of Alina Starkov, orphan and cartographer for the army of the kingdom of Ravka. This kingdom is cut in two because of a terrible curse, the Fold, a dark, dark and evil wind that tears apart a country therefore very risky to cross. This curse has ruled Ravka for millennia. However, Alina will discover during the series of powers that can fight this curse. Thus, she will be recruited by the Grishas, powerful magicians to accompany them in their quest and fight the Fold. You will be dazzled by the world of Alina, between the sumptuous sets and exceptional costumes offered by Shadow and Bone, a real favorite. Check out the trailer for Shadow and Bone : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1WHQTbJ7vE
David 's April Series: The Mighty Ducks or Little Champions Game Changers on Disney+
It was not necessarily my first choice since the series was released in March on Disney +. However, episode 6 aired on April 30, 2021 of this new variation of the Mighty Ducks is one of those nostalgic moments that plunge us back into mythical moments that we were able to live younger. Compared to the various series mentioned above, intrinsically, The Little Champions is probably the least qualitative show of this selection. In the 90s, the franchise was one of the Disney movies that gave pride of place to good feelings. We followed a group of children little esteemed by others… A brilliant lawyer played by Emilio Estevez (whose fame was important at the time) finds himself coach of this team of "broken arms" following a major mistake on his part. He will work with them to create a team that will rub shoulders with the heights of junior hockey. Many years later, the Mighty Ducks rose from the ashes on the Disney Plus platform as a series. We find the bubbly Lauren Graham as a single mother who will do everything to allow her son to be able to practice the sport of his dreams. Their path will cross that of Gordon Bombay fallen into oblivion. He owns a lackluster ice rink and wants nothing more to do with the sport after many disappointments. As you might expect, over time, the mindset of the famous coach of the Premier Ducks will change. Episode 6 was an opportunity to find some of the children who played in the first films. With the musical theme of the films in the background, we remember with some ease the thrills felt when these children took their first steps on the ice. FYI, the leader of the first ducks was Joshua Jackson. Yes, it is the actor who played in Dawson, Fringe and many other famous shows… Check out the trailer for The Mighty Ducks or Little Champions Game Changers : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTMhsAisV2c&ab_channel=DisneyFR
Barbara's series: the seventh season of The 100
The seventh and final season of The 100 is available since April 1 on Netflix. Good news since it has been broadcast in the United States for a few months already. And for this last season, the directors have done well in science fiction, between space-time travel, passage from one world to another or invisibility, we are served! Season 6 ended on a huge cliffhanger where we wondered who was this young Hope, appeared from nowhere, but also where Octavia had gone. Thanks to these 13 episodes of about an hour each, we better understand what is happening, even if despite everything, some questions still hover in the air… The positive point to note, which we had lost in recent seasons, would be the returns to the past to explain how the natives appeared on Earth as well as this famous language, Trigedasleng. These flashbacks really make a link with the first season, the circle is closed as they say… Of course and as in every season, the directors do not hesitate to surprise us with the death of important characters… This is what allows us to be so captivated by the series: the twists and turns in each episode, all as wacky as each other. We must admit that it was not easy to follow this season, a lot of information is given in a fairly limited time to be able to understand everything. The episodes deserved to be more numerous to take us smoothly in these crazy adventures. Another small complaint that could be made would touch the scenario that brings back to the surface old characters who are mainly there to please the fanbase than to advance the story … Nevertheless, to stay on a positive note, we definitely binge watched this season, with a slight nostalgia in the throat given that this was the last time this fine team of adventurers were grouped on screen. And for those who want to know more about season 6, it's here ! Check out the trailer of The 100 season 7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQaFKClCUpo
