Marseille

Brimming with political intrigue and scandal, digs deep into the heart of the Marseille, a port city located in southern France, is Netflix's 2016 release, "Marseille". This French television series, the first of its kind from Netflix, eloquently dances between the drama and crime genre while exercising its grip on viewers with its uncanny ability to comment on pertinent social issues through the prism of an engaging narrative.

"Marseille" bids its hat to the world of politics, where power, sex, and money form the palpable tension in the air. At the fulcrum of the plot, stands Robert Taro, an experienced and accomplished mayor who has been reigning over Marseille for an impressive 25 years. However, as he gears up to pass the baton of power in the forthcoming elections, viewers are served with a vivid canvas of conspiracies, deceit, and drama, enough to leave them on the edge of their seats.

A masterstroke of the series lies in its portrayal of the titular city as a dynamic character rather than a mere backdrop. The eponymous city of Marseille plays a role as pivotal as any human character in the series. A city renowned as much for its cultural richness as the societal and cultural challenges it faces, it echoes across every twist and turn in the plot. From stunning visuals of historic monuments to gritty shots of the city's underbelly, the series showcases Marseille in all its complexities, adding a striking feel of authenticity to the storyline.

Adding layers to the narrative, the series also delves deep into the struggles inside the Taro family. Taro’s wife, Rachel, is depicted with a battle against her health conditions, with Taro's daughter, Julia, also plunging into a vortex of covert investigations and personal turmoil. The complexities within the family and their struggles to navigate through personal and public challenges add depth to the series and offer an intimate perspective into the lives of the main characters.

In its zeal to showcase the political machinations, the series also opens up the canvas to illustrate the strong rivalries that characterise politics. On the one, Taro's protégé and handpicked successor, Lucas Barres, emerges as a dominant force with his own set of ambitions, who is convinced he can take up the mantle and better serve Marseille. The on-going tug-of-war between mentor and protégé forms the central tension of the series, adding a perpetually crackling undercurrent of suspense to the narrative.

"Marseille" gains momentum from its stellar cast, which ensures that the gripping plot finds its match in performances. Gérard Depardieu, a titan of French cinema, breathes life into Robert Taro with his commanding screen presence. His nuanced portrayal of Taro's ambitious and idealistic nature, coupled with his unnerving lust for power, stands as a high point in the series. On the other hand, Benoît Magimel, who plays the ambitious Lucas Barres, impeccably matches Depardieu's charisma, adding fuel to the fiery battle of power.

Embedded within the series' narrative are themes of corruption, greed and the pervasive influence of organised crime in the picturesque port city. These darker themes are given substantial weightage, revealing the city's underbelly, stratified by gangsterism and drugs, thereby presenting the more complex and raw reality of Marseille. It is this stark contrast between the beauty and the beastly, the ideal and the real, that create a depth of narrative that is rare and riveting.

The series has a total of two seasons, with each episode running approximately for an hour, encapsulating viewers with its intensity and pace. It successfully capitalizes on its well-scripted characters, engaging storyline and magnificent cinematography, making it a riveting viewing experience.

"Marseille", in essence, brings forth an intoxicating mix of drama, crime, and politics swathed in the intricacies of personal relationships and the charming panorama of the French city. With its intriguing narrative style, expert storytelling, brilliant performances, and veiled commentary on corruption, politics, and societal issues, it stands testament to a novel, dynamic form of French television that is set to leave viewers contemplating long after the credits roll.