I keep saying that Germany is the harbinger of brilliant stories. Not just historically but also presently.
If you have watched Dear Child or Dark, you probably know what I am trying to convey.
Another German series, The Signal, has been released on Netflix.
It is a psychological, mystery thriller, involving space travel, which has only four episodes but almost each of them runs for over an hour.
The Signal Synopsis
Paula’s family awaits her return from outer space after she went on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS). But what lies in store for her husband and daughter is complete misery.
Directed by Sebastian Hilger and Philipp Leinemann, it features Florian David Fitz (Sven), Peri Baumeister (Paula), Yuna Bennett (Charlie), Hadi Khanjanpour (Hadi), Sheeba Chadha (Benisha), Katharina Schuttler (Nora), Nilam Farooq (Mira), Meret Becker, and others.
What Works for The Signal?
Occasionally, while starting a new series, there’s an inherent, indescribable desire to finish it in one go, without even knowing anything about its plot.
The Signal falls in this bracket. It has a novel concept to set off the engine and begin a long drive to heaven.
A woman goes on a space excursion to the International Space Station. However, the mysterious crash of her return flight puts her family at risk of being called terrorists. What happened in space? And what implications does it carry?
The Signal Outline
The Signal executes an idea that’s quite literally out of the world. However, we have seen partly similar themes on several occasions in the past.
The series has a savory storyline to consistently attend to the viewer. It makes things as realistic as possible.
You feel the impulsive detonation of the tale as things move forward. There aren’t many buildups to aggravate the burning sensation of the narrative.
But that’s not required when the plot is already sitting on a mysteriously draped chair.
What’s needed is the execution of a father-daughter-mother dynamic, the acceleration of space thrill, and the suspenseful blending of the same with a psychic background.
The Signal aces these aspects comfortably, helped by a dark ambiance, resulting in fascinating upheavals of the narrative.
It has the ability to lead the viewer convincingly.
Nurturing the screenplay with subdued affability, the show takes the path less traveled.
It builds emotions underneath the shadow of a captivating thrill.
Eventually, The Signal delivers a strong message about the original aspirations of humankind, how we have strayed from our goals and dreams, and how world leaders continue to lead us into disarray.
When the story culminates finally, it leaves you with a feeling of sorrow and longing.
Somewhere down the line, the show reminded me of All the Light We Cannot See.
How are the Performances?
Florian David Fitz plays Sven in The Signal. He has a stealthy countenance that might not come across as sturdy.
But the plot is so beautifully divided between all the lead characters that everybody has their time. With Fitz, the different thing is, he doesn’t ever put his foot down.
His slightly buoyant aura balances the tension in the air. The actor strongly nourishes his screen presence to become the sailor of the ship in this German show.
Peri Baumeister in the role of Paula concocts a psychic personality with that of a determined, independent woman.
Her gritty portrayal influences you positively. Peri is never loud or overly dramatic. She focuses on her mellow expressions while building a contrary personality from the outside.
Yuna Bennett is sweet and skillful as Charlie. The child actor will leave you in awe of her acting acumen. Be it expressions or delivery, Bennett aces all the blocks.
The Indian actor, Sheeba Chadha, plays a cameo in The Signal. An acting behemoth, she wonderfully navigates the different shades of Benisha Mudhi.
What Doesn’t Work for The Signal?
The series can be a little predictable towards the end. Despite mastering the middle phase, the makers fail to keep the suspense under wraps in some crunch situations.
But I feel this won’t impact the viewer experience as such. Because the idea was already open to contemplation by then.
Moreover, some people might find the pace a bit on the slower side, particularly due to its length.
A glaring downside to the show is its inability to perfect the exhilaration in the initial hour.
It falls a bit short of capturing the viewer in totality.
Stream or Skip?
Undeniably, The Signal is a must-watch series.
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