Episode 7
THE PENDENT IS IDENTIFIED. This could be the development that puts us in motion of finding out the killer. In typical writer’s fashion we’re still not going to be privy to this information – at least not in the opening of the episode. OK, I was wrong. Two minutes into the episode and they’ve cornered Mr Berti, the racetrack manager. When it’s pointed out that they looked in love when he bought it for Léa, Berti responds with “oh we were just mucking around”. OK . . . strange sense of humour to have between instructor and pupil no? He still maintains that he was in Grenoble; nowhere near her murder. Road trip! Rose sneaks her way onto this trip with her father. Awww father-daughter bonding. All Rose has to do is say that she prefers to spend time with him rather than her friends, at the cinema, and he’s dropped the brood and melted into a satisfied smile. Take note, Camille *ahem*.
Camille is busy questioning Mrs Berti about her husband’s activities and whether he spoke about Lea. A man infatuated is most likely to never stop going on about the object. Mrs Berti plays it cool though. They never discuss work matters at home – clever. How, convenient. Poor Romain is left with multiple truth bombs in terms of photos. Lea had some saucy shots in a hotel room with Berti, both in their nightgowns and kissing! Quel scandale! In one picture Berti’s looking at the camera like he thinks he’s some sort of player. Well, he’s married so technically he is. So, after the way Léa flipped out about Romain’s one-time thing with Chris, she was doing the exact same thing more than once. After confronting Berti about it, Romain takes the evidence to the police. Berti is questioned and Molina drops the pregnancy on him, expecting him to have been keeping it a secret (thus it being the motivation), alas he’s actually shocked. Naturally, hearing that Berti is in custody, Julien once again launches into investigator mode. Only, he pinches the file on Léa’s murder when Camille’s called away. How is he able to get away with all of this? Yes, it’s an interesting way of writing – but still. Julien finds out about Léa’s pregnancy in the worst possible way. It triggers his feelings on Florence’s abortion and he separates from his wife. The children aren’t gluey enough. Molina is way too soft on Julien, admitting he would do the same if he were in his position. OK, but this guy’s numerously obstructed the case; he should at least get a formal warning. Julien’s learned nothing. In fact: he’s turned the restaurant office into a creepy Léa’s-murder den, which Florence doesn’t stumble upon; it’s the friggin’ restaurant office!
Meanwhile, Thomas explodes at Chris for taking over Léa’s life. He doesn’t want to be “like a brother” to her, he wants his sister back. Julien is also contemptible towards Chris, especially when she says she’s not going to England anymore after Léa’s death, having not posted the money. The only people who are happy to have her around, are Zoé and Florence. It’s only when she brazenly dates Romain that you begin to understand Thomas’ anger. Yeup. That’s right. They’re dating as If nothing’s happened. I suppose it’s easy for Romain now, knowing that she was having affairs behind his back.
Mrs Berti admits she checked her husband’s emails because she knew he was having some fun on the side. Léa said she had news and wanted to meet him at a hotel. Could this woman have thumped her for being the mistress/mistress-with-the-bun? She tricked Léa into meeting up so that they could have it out. Despite being in the wrong, Léa acts like a wronged brat. Any remaining sympathies on the audience’s behalf are draining quickly.
Episode 8
So basically, after the previous episode, we’ve worked out Jean was behind the murder somehow. He knows Léa was hit by a brick and that’s something that is only known by those who’ve read the file. He phones Chris who’s waking up from a “fun night” with her dead cousin’s boyfriend, checking up on her. It’s pretty clear who is behind Léa’s death. Now we just await Molina’s ability to close the case. Chris really looks like Romain’s the cream. I suppose it’s all OK now because Léa cheated on Romain. Everything is now OK!
Molina did f*** up the case a little bit, in the sense that he jumped on the Nicholas/Nico bandwagon so mercilessly that he didn’t look for any possibility that he could be innocent. Just in case. Fortunately, his long-suffering girlfriend Elodie kept most of his things, demonstrating a mixture of foresight and denial. It’s up to Camille and Molina to clear his name. Speaking of crappy boyfriends: Jean really is a piece of work isn’t he? He’s been stringing his bit on the side for two years now, going to her place when he needs to “get some” and then pretending she doesn’t exist. Although, a couple of episodes ago, Camille gave her a look that said: what the Hell are you doing with him? Why are you accepting this? You’re asking for it. I agree with all if the above. But the majority of the blame lies with Jean. A**hole. Said A**hole has the police turn up to arrest him, so the truth is underway. Julien tells Thomas not to tell Chris about the arrest as he hurries off. No problem. He hates her anyway.
Jean admits to orchestrating the whole thing. Manoeuvring Léa’s body, getting shot of Jenny the Prostitute, bumping off Dead Nick. Well, there’s 30 minutes of the episode left so this is not the whole story. The sequence of the whole family finding out is eerie. The press’ suggestion that the operation was haphazard is brilliantly shut down by Molina, who uses a journalism analogy about the content of an article being more important than trying to just fill up lines. Like a boss he leaves his supervisor to deal with them further. No love for a man who does what Molina basically criticised; cutting corners.
Chris’ presence in the Morel household continues to get to the men. Thomas is making an effort to be civil at least. Julien, on the other hand, is getting testier by the minute. Florence has to remind him that Chris isn’t taking Léa’s place *snort* and it’s not her fault.
OK. Breathe. There’s a woman with a sparkly top remarking on Molina’s apartment while he’s popping open the champagne. Could this be . . . ? YES. Camille and Molina on a DATE. I called it from the very beginning, and was quite satisfied when I first saw this scene. Fanservice. Yes. Molina finally stopped being a grumpy sourpuss. Well, for now. And, because he’s intent on pulling, he’s showing off his cooking skills having made them his mother’s paella recipe. Camille: you’ve hit the jackpot. Rose is invited to the date, of course. Rose and Camille get on; it’s clear that Molina has a “we come as a package” rule, which any responsible parent does. Although, on their first date? He’s lucky Camille is cool with it. I do love Molina’s reaction to Camille’s impressed look. He’s like: yeah, that’s right. I’m the man. They both ditch Rose when it becomes apparent during their date talk that Jean is covering for someone.
Pesky little Zoé actually serves a purpose other than being by turns cute and irritating. Her insistence on helping herself to anything owned by Léa or Chris has resulted in Florence seizing Chris’ earrings and putting two-and-two together. Her approach towards Chris is filled with tension; Florence’s face is what propels it. It dawns on her why Chris was behind it as she watches Chris merrily dance away in Lea’s room. What we figured out all along: she wanted Léa’s life. All of it. Chris evades capture, losing her life for it. The next scene, like that of the discovery of Léa’s death, is extremely challenging to watch. It’s absolutely heartbreaking that Chris calls Florence “Mum”. Chris has to be one of the first villains (if you may) whom you can really sympathise with. Particularly due to the fact that Léa provokes Chris by taunting her about her dead mother. It just kills off any last feeling for Léa. Yes, Chris inserted herself into the family as Léa’s replacement, however she only did so because she longed for that family unit. Léa, up until this point, has made it quite plain that she was an awful person. Chris’ mind is completely caput. ‘Chris hurt me’ she tells Florence while reaching for her hand. Her death is poignant: both Morel men understand what it is to lose a daughter.
Ahh. But it’s all well that ends well. Camille and Molina flirt their way into the future. The restaurant runs as usual. Florence and Julien make it work for their kids and themselves. Florence’s co-worker blooms in pregnancy. Everyone has their closure.