REVIEW: ‘Thicker Than Water’ Is A Well-Made French Thriller

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Thicker Than Water, a French-language Netflix Original series, has been created by Nawell Madani and Simon Jablonka. It tells the story of the lead character, Fara (Madani), a news reporter whose career has potentially been ruined following an on-air outburst and who now has to risk her own life to protect her brother from the criminal underground.

The eight-part series starts with the police questioning Fara at the police station. Although, for now, it’s unclear why. But the way the officers speak to her suggests she is a witness rather than a person of interest. Whether that’s correct, though, we don’t find out until later in the series. Immediately after the opening scene, it flashes back to the day that Fara potentially ruined her career. While it isn’t the most exciting chain of events, it does highlight her moral compass and sheds light on the unfortunate discrimination many people face in the workplace.

But after publically calling out her news station live on air, she becomes the subject of abuse on Twitter. Therefore, she becomes the subject of ruthless memes, causing distress for herself and her family. Throughout the ordeal, her family stands by her, and this kind of loyalty is key throughout the entire series.

Although storylines, including drugs, death, blackmail, conspiracy, and violence, are clearly evident in Thicker Than Water, the subtle nature of family loyalty stays strong in the eight episodes as well. So much so that when Fara says in the first episode that “family comes before anything,” it sticks in your mind. Yet, the show isn’t just about Fara’s family attempting to remain loyal. It’s about them fighting to survive. And it’s a battle that feels very personal to watch thanks to the inclusion of Ramadan, family conflict, and the emphasis on French crime.

Amongst all the deep issues and themes, it could have resulted in a hard-hitting series with no room for laughter. However, the show creators successfully manage to blend the tension and plot of Thicker Than Water with small doses of humour that help make the show stand out even more. This is clear through the inclusion of the character Ketchup. His intimidating nature matches the tone of the show, yet it’s full of scenes where he brings humour. In the final episode, when he raps at the character he has kidnapped, it brings an uplifting and lowkey funny element to an otherwise highly intense interaction between characters.

And even though there are small glimpses of humour, the show’s reflection on what people have to endure in desperate times makes Thicker Than Water all the harder-hitting, especially the way the actors intensely portray their characters in dark times. The car on fire in episode one or the shootout in the final episode are perfect examples. Whilst the plot doesn’t sound the most original or inspiring, the emphasis on family loyalty and the inclusion of a storyline centred around succeeding and failing in the workplace help makes the drama stand out much more than it would have otherwise.

Overall, Thicker Than Water is a strong show to watch. It doesn’t have the strongest of starts, and it may not wow you within the first 20 minutes. However, give it chance to grow, and soon you’ll find yourself hooked on the show. By the end of the eight episodes, you’ll be glad that you have invested your time into the show.

Thicker Than Water is streaming now on Netflix.