Mortel

{{Short description|2019 French supernatural television series}}

{{Infobox television

| image = Mortel small.jpg

| genre = {{Plainlist|

}}

| creator = Frédéric Garcia

| based_on =

| director = {{Plainlist|

  • Edouard Salier
  • Simon Astier

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| opentheme =

| composer =

| country = France

| language = French

| num_seasons = 2

| num_episodes = 12

| executive_producer =

| producer = {{Plainlist|

  • Gilles de Verdière
  • Régis Vallon

}}

| location =

| runtime = 50 minutes

| company = Nico Bogue

| network = Netflix

| first_aired = {{Start date|2019|11|21|df=y}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2021|7|2|df=yes}}

| related =

}}

{{langnf|fr|Mortel|Mortal}} is a French supernatural television series. The plot revolves around three teenagers, two of whom have acquired superpowers after making a deal with a supernatural being in order to solve a murder. The show premiered on Netflix on 21 November 2019.{{cite web |url=https://meaww.com/mortel-release-date-plot-cast-trailer-netflix-original-november-2019-new-tv-show-scifi-supernatural|title=Mortel: Release date, plot, cast, trailer and all you need to know about Netflix's original sci-fi show|first=Shireen |last=Honmode|date=13 November 2019|work=MEAWW}} The second season premiered on 2 July 2021.{{Cite web|last=Khan|first=Iram Sharifah|date=2021-07-01|title=Mortel Season 2: The supernatural French series is set to return to Netflix!|url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/07/01/mortel-season-2-the-supernatural-french-series-is-set-to-return-to-netflix/|access-date=2021-07-03|website=HITC}}

Synopsis

Two teenagers, Sofiane and Victor, make a pact with a voodoo god Obé to allow them solve and avenge the apparent murder of Sofiane's brother, Reda. Sofiane is given the power by Obé to manipulate other people's actions, while Victor can read their minds. Both however must be present near each other for their powers to work.{{cite web |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2019/11/8875656/what-is-mortel-netflix-episode-1-plot-summary-recap |title=What The Heck Is Mortel, Netflix's Spooky-Sexy French Teen Show?|first=Ariana|last= Romero|date=22 November 2019|work=Refinery29 }} They then enlist the help of Luisa, who practices voodoo with her grandmother, so they may be free of the grip that Obé has on them and banish Obé from the world.

Cast and characters

  • Carl Malapa as Sofiane Kada
  • Némo Schiffman as Victor Wanderwelt
  • Manon Bresch as Luisa Manjimbe
  • Corentin Fila as Obé
  • Sami Outalbali as Reda Kada, brother of Sofiane
  • Firmine Richard as Elizabeth, Luisa's grandmother
  • Anaïs Thomas as Audrey Jourdant
  • Raphaëlle Agogué as Celine Wanderwelt
  • Marvin Dubart as Bastien Duponchel
  • Léa Léviant as Melanie
  • Assa Sylla as Nora Cissoko
  • Stéphane Brel as Herve
  • Daouda Keita as Ousmane Blanchard

Episodes

{{Series overview

| color1 = #000000

| link1 = #Season 1 (2019)

| episodes1 = 6

| released1 = {{Start date|2019|11|21|df=y}}

| color2 = #404763

| link2 = #Season 2

| episodes2 = 6

| released2 = {{Start date|2021|7|2|df=y}}

}}

=Season 1 (2019)=

{{Episode table |background=#000000 |overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 1

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Title = Super Bad

| DirectedBy = Edouard Salier

| WrittenBy = Frédéric Garcia, Yann Le Gal, Lola Roqueplo & Fanny Talmone

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|21|df=y}}

| LineColor = 000000

| ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 2

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Title = Hot. Hot. Hot.

| DirectedBy = Edouard Salier

| WrittenBy = Frédéric Garcia, Yann Le Gal, Lola Roqueplo & Fanny Talmone

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|21|df=y}}

| LineColor = 000000

| ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 3

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Title = Nothing Nudes Under the Moon

| DirectedBy = Edouard Salier

| WrittenBy = Frédéric Garcia, Yann Le Gal, Lola Roqueplo & Fanny Talmone

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|21|df=y}}

| LineColor = 000000

| ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 4

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Title = Don't You Know That You're Toxic

| DirectedBy = Simon Astier

| WrittenBy = Frédéric Garcia, Yann Le Gal, Lola Roqueplo & Fanny Talmone

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|21|df=y}}

| LineColor = 000000

| ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 5

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Title = La Solitudine

| DirectedBy = Simon Astier

| WrittenBy = Frédéric Garcia, Yann Le Gal, Lola Roqueplo & Fanny Talmone

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|21|df=y}}

| LineColor = 000000

| ShortSummary =

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 6

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Title = The Puppets' Tears

| DirectedBy = Simon Astier

| WrittenBy = Frédéric Garcia, Yann Le Gal, Lola Roqueplo & Fanny Talmone

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|21|df=y}}

| LineColor = 000000

| ShortSummary =

}}

}}

=Season 2 (2021)=

{{Episode table |background=#404763 |overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 7

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Title = Super Good

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|7|2|df=y}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 404763

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 8

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Title = Entwined With You

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|7|2|df=y}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 404763

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 9

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Title = Impossible To Leave

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|7|2|df=y}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 404763

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 10

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Title = The Marriage of Obé

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|7|2|df=y}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 404763

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 11

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Title = Qumran

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|7|2|df=y}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 404763

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 12

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Title = Aprézan nou lyanné

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|7|2|df=y}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 404763

}}

}}

Reception

The show received a mixed reception from the critics.{{cite web |url=http://www.allocine.fr/series/ficheserie-23566/critiques/presse/|title=Mortel |work=AlloCiné }}{{cite news |url=http://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/series/mortel-nouvelle-serie-francaise-sur-netflix-c-est-kechiche-qui-rencontre-buffy-21-11-2019-8198397.php |title ="Mortel", nouvelle série française sur Netflix, "c'est Kechiche qui rencontre Buffy" |first=Michel |last=Valentin |date= 21 November 2019 |work=Le Parisien}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ecranlarge.com/saisons/critique/1151867-mortel-saison-1-que-vaut-la-serie-fantastique-francaise-de-netflix |title=Mortel saison 1 : que vaut la série fantastique française de Netflix ? |first=Mathieu |last=Jaborska |date= 22 November 2019|work=Ecran Large }}

GQ magazine, despite some reservation about its special effect, praised the skill of the story-telling, the acting of the principal actors, as well as the soundtracks. It considered the show to be the best French series since the launch of Netflix and deserving of a second season.{{cite web |url=https://www.gqmagazine.fr/pop-culture/article/mortel-on-a-enfin-vu-une-bonne-serie-francaise-made-in-netflix |title=Mortel : on a enfin vu une bonne série française made in Netflix |work=GQ |first= Jérémy |last=Patrelle|date=21 November 2019 }} Télérama was highly critical, considering the series more laughable than a hit, and its music failed to hide its stylistic flaws.{{cite web|url=https://www.telerama.fr/series-tv/mortel,-sur-netflix-une-serie-ado-plus-loupee-que-stylee,n6509413.php|title="Mortel", sur Netflix : une série ado plus loupée que stylée |first=Marie-Hélène |last=Soenen |date= 21 November 2019 |work=Télérama.fr}} Premiere thought the series veered awkwardly between teen drama and its supernatural elements but was nevertheless successful stylistically.{{cite web |url=http://www.premiere.fr/Series/News-Series/Mortel-pas-tout-a-fait-mais-pas-mal-quand-meme-critique |title=Mortel : pas tout à fait, mais pas mal quand même (critique) |date=20 November 2019 |first= Charles|last= Martin |work=Premiere }} Based only on its first episode, the Decider found the series to be too muddled to continue watching a second episode.

{{cite web|url=https://decider.com/2019/11/21/mortel-netflix-stream-it-or-skip-it/ |title=Stream It Or Skip It: 'Mortel' On Netflix, A French Drama Where High Schoolers Wield Voodoo Powers To Try To Save A Soul |first=Joel |last=Keller |date=21 November 2019 |work=Decider }}

References

{{reflist}}