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.
isn’t allowing that to cloud his judgment. It technically is a requirement of officers to remain professional, but allowances should be made for their humanness. So far, Molina is coping well. Cracks do appear when they’re trying to analyse the voicemail; both faces are softened. Only now is Molina considering a kidnapping. Still, Molina’s not convinced it could be Léa’s voice. He surmises that they could be hearing what they want to hear, and when Camille questions if he would react the same if it were his daughter, he reckons after days of separation that he would mishear.
forensic scientist, a woman, just about maintains her professional state – her eye contact reveals that she is interested in Molina *ahem*. Camille’s face looks unimpressed, her eyes rolling from the scientist to the evidence. I love how she’s just about in the frame, pushed out of an exchange she would rather be involved in rather than just observing. Their (Camille and the scientist) parting exchange is priceless: Camille is literally looking at her in a way that screams “Back off, he’s mine”. Lo and behold, the following day (I presume) Camille strolls in with a pink top and curly hair free to fly. She 
looks quite nervous as well *wink*. I like this, she’s upping the game. You go girl, get yo man! The moment moves aside for a serious discovery: at 3 A.M. Thomas is spotted on CCTV leaving the train station – something he never revealed in his statement. Thomas is in trouble now; the fact that he’s been secretive certainly works against him. Unfortunately, a discovery of Jean Morel bringing his car for a part at a garage (weakening his alibi) sets Molina’s temper off, taking out his frustration on Camille that the whole family keeps lying to him.
plot is driven forwards. He has a long-suffering girlfriend who’s told not to be so paranoid. Well, if you’re obsessed with another girl then she has plenty of reason to be suspicious. When Julien questions Chris about him, she once more becomes the Oracle/punch bag. Chris is the keeper of everything Léa related; one wonders how she truly feels about that. Nicholas has tried it on with Léa in the past.
Questions now arise as to her links with Léa, and if she was killed because she knows something about her whereabouts while Nico listens on. These bits of dialogue combined with camera shots of telling looks toy with us. Meanwhile, Molina and Camille are trying to piece these links together. They examine Jenny’s belongings only to find Léa’s phone. How does Molina know? His daughter informed him about the symbolism behind the lotus that Léa had tattooed behind her ear. Rose may cost him credit card bills but she proved her worth by relaying insightful information. A nice 
moment of Molina asking Camille if this is the first dead body she’s faced. Their eyes lock in silent communication, with his lingering on her when she breaks it. He cares! Not so autistic-like anymore, hey Camille? They question Dupuis further and conclude that he’s an opportunist git nit behind Jenny’s murder or Léa’s disappearance.
shouldn’t. It’s an understandably delicate situation. Do they stand back and spectate in fear of tipping the boat, or do they confront her behaviour and save Florence from herself? She is having to pull everything together and hold it there for Zoé’s sake. The girl is asking more questions about her sister, and is absorbing whatever the other kids say at school.
