Season 1 |
Episode Guide
Episode 1 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 2 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 3 -| Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 4 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 5 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 6 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 7 -| Review Score – 3/5
Transatlantic is the latest historical drama on Netflix, split across 7 episodes and attempting to marry comedy and drama together against the backdrop of World War II. Unlike something akin to Life Is Beautiful, the two states are awkwardly shuffled together, with a lurching tone that isn’t quite sure what sort of story it wants to tell. As a consequence, this series turns from quirky and offbeat to disappointingly cliched the longer the series continues.
The story takes place in Marseille, right in the heart of France. With refugees stuck from all over Europe, the town has turned into a melting pot of foreign influence. Unfortunately, that’s not to the liking of the local police, nor to the Germans who are swiftly increasing their efforts in invading France.
At the heart of this is Mary Jayne, an American woman who works for the Emergency Rescue Committee. Alongside a charismatic man named Varian Fry, they work to try and save as many refugees as they can, smuggling them on boats, leading them over the mountainous region into Spain and any other way they can think of.
Standing in their way happens to be Frot, the police chief, who works alongside American opportunist Graham Patterson to detain and arrest these refugees before they can leave Marseille.
This sets up a cat and mouse game of sorts, as the authorities work to try and catch the refugees, while Varian and Mary Jayne work together to try and evade them, and simultaneously save as many as they can.
The story works well for a while but during the latter periods, veers off into bizarre waters, exploring the life of several different refugees living at a villa, which is being used as a sanctuary for those needing help. It’s here where the comedy comes into full view, but it never really works as effectively as it should, feeling more awkwardly contrived than genuinely funny or offbeat.
This is something only compounded by the narrative, which throws up a number of weak cliches, including a forced romance between two of the main characters. Varian Fry’s affair with Thomas is quite well written by comparison, but Mary Jayne’s romance with Albert – one of the refugees who turns into a key resistance fighter whom we follow across the season – falls flat. The pair have very little chemistry together and the narrative woven through their ties together just doesn’t have the necessary pizzazz to stand out.
Aesthetically, Transatlantic looks great. The production design is excellent, while the costuming, music and visuals really live and breathe 1940’s France. The changing accents from German to English and across to French again only reinforce the authenticity of the project, while there’s some pretty neat camera work too.
It’s a pity that the tone and the overarching narrative falls flat because there are numerous facets of this production that stand out. The great visuals, the actual premise with the refugees and the length of the show are all notable winners. While Transatlantic is far from a bad show, it’s not a particularly great one either, especially when you compare it to so many other war dramas of its kind. If you love your historical fiction, you should find enough to sink your teeth into here, just don’t expect to come away with a sizable chunk of material that’ll really whet the appetite.
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Verdict - 6/10
6/10