Is this technically a gay show? Even after getting through the whole thing, that's still kind of tricky to answer. There's never any physical intimacy shown between the two leads, not even a single kiss. What it gives you instead is something that goes way deeper than that. It traces an emotional bond that spans a full decade between two guys who are both dealing with their own baggage, and what they share basically amounts to being soulmates. The story moves across Japan, South Korea, and Berlin. Honestly, whether people want to call what they have a romantic relationship or not doesn't really matter to me. A relationship doesn't need a label like boyfriends attached to it to actually mean something. And closeness doesn't need to be physical to feel genuine. What this show captures is something quieter but way more powerful, a bond rooted in understanding, respect, and just showing up for each other. Across eight episodes, each running 35 to 45 minutes, this is one...
A fatal car crash happens in rural France. Back in Paris, we see cops come to famous author's Manuel Ortega's home to inform him that his husband of six years had a fatal accident in rural France. Manuel is baffled because his husband Aymeric was supposedly on a business trip to Brussels. We soon learn that Aymeric is the son of a wealthy marquis who’d inherited the title and responsibility for running the family business and properties, of which Manuel knew nothing. As we begin to know the family members, they are snobbish, bigoted in multiple dimensions and devoid of normal human values or emotions. The said family are a despicable bunch of privileged homophobes and entitled bigots, so when they learn that Aymeric was married to a man they’re shocked and outraged. When the family’s lawyer reads the will, the news that Aymeric has left all responsibility for the vineyard to his husband is met with predictable fury. His late father and the rest were so homophobic that Aymeric could never even let them know he was gay, much less married. We have the rude and unpleasant mother, a somewhat unhinged brother Joffrey, widow of his younger brother who also dies under mysterious circumstances and his son. A cop Richard has suspicions on Aymeric's death but the wealthy and connected family seem reluctant to allow a full autopsy and request that his body is returned immediately. He is one day from retirement and so he starts his own investigation and before you know him and Manuel are partnering on finding out the truth. Through six episodes, we learn more and more sordid details of Aymeric’s and the family’s past, including other questionable deaths before and during the course of these events. There are enough secrets and subplots and slowly the pieces all come together. Manuel’s mind is buffeted by what he learns, sometimes showing Aymeric as the good guy he’d loved, and others indicating a dark side he’d never imagined possible within in his partner.
The pace of the show is a little slow and gives out a soap-opera vibe; but honestly, since I knew that his is just 6 episodes, I did not mind it at all. In fact, I was fully invested and really wanted to know what happened here! Over the course a lot of characters are introduced, including some local folks besides the immediate family and they all contribute to the story. The essential flashbacks are skillfully blended in the narrative for our understanding and plot advancement. The series builds to an exciting and surprising climax. The way each layer is peeled by Robert and Manuel is just fantastic. It is also good to see how slowly the cop Robert comes out of his prejudices against gay men and starts respecting Manuel and his love for Aymeric. These two are definitely the leads here and carry the series on their shoulder. But all the other actors fit their roles really well. I enjoyed how initially everyone despises Manuel for taking over the estate (including himself) . But Aymeric makes sure in his will that Manuel will have to do it at least for 3 months and then he can reject. Master plan because this is when Manuel eventually finds out the truth about each member of the family. And in a fitting finale, he hands over the property to one who truly deserved. Every other character adds interesting mystery, right from the main maid to the pastor, to drug lord, to Aymeric's sister in laws and many others. The deaths in last episode were maybe a little over the top and an easy way out. I wished their conclusion was in some other ways, but hey thats just minor quib. Sure, this is not a gay series but Manuel/Aymeric being a gay couple is quite central here and important. If you enjoy slow burn murder mysteries, this one is definitely for you. I would recommend this for sure. (8/10)
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