Trips with friends are all about fun and amazement. Innumerable movies and shows have been made covering the same in an exciting manner. Netflix has come up with a new series, Two Summers, which follows a similar storyline.

The show originates from Belgium and began streaming on Netflix on 3rd June 2022. Before I get into a detailed analysis of the series, here’s an overview.

Two Summers Review Summary

Bonhomie and Friendship are combined with shades of gray in the convoluted plot of Two Summers. It won’t blow your mind; however, the series will keep you hooked through its compelling mysteries and engaging screenplay.

Let’s look at the synopsis of this Belgian series on Netflix.

Two Summers Synopsis

The show follows a reunion of best friends after a gap of three decades. They meet at a luxurious island to reminisce old times but are haunted by a tragic past and several devastating memories.

Two Summers is directed by Tom Lenaerts and Brecht Vanhoenacker. Its cast includes An Miller (Romee), Tom Vermeir (Peter), Herwig Ilegems (Didier), Inge Paulussen (Sofie), Kevin Janssens (Luc), Ruth Becquart (Saskia), Koen De Bouw (Mowgli), Felix Meyer (Mark), and Sanne Samina Hanssen (Lia) among others.

Number of Episodes: 6

Two Summers Duration: 4 Hrs 35 Mins

What Works for Two Summers?

Concept

From the outset, Two Summers seems like a regular reunion drama, which is untrue. The show’s concept is more detailed, and though the idea might not be fresh, it is appealing in nature. Moreover, a thoughtful narration helps its cause and ensures taut storytelling.

Several friends meeting after thirty years as an idea for a story sounds like a fun watch but imagine personal events of the past playing spoilsport. More than the concept, I loved the execution, involving a blend of fun and suspense.

Screenplay

The Belgian show switches between two timelines almost spontaneously. There are no warning signals or prompts for the audience. And that is precisely what keeps you hooked to the screen. Two Summers, as the name suggests, shows the events of two summers with a timeline gap of three decades.

While I did find it challenging to recognize and match characters because of their disguised appearance, the show kept me intrigued for the most part. Moreover, a decent background score and music further ameliorate the experience.

Storyline

As the title of my review says, Two Summers is jampacked with pensive writing. Characters have a good amount of depth, scenes are effected with care, and threads of the story are knitted intricately.

The story of Two Summers would never feel lousy unless you have superficial expectations. It delivers on all promised aspects. With ample twists, turns, and deliberate roadblocks, the show steers forward with success.

Performances

Two Summers is high on numbers when it comes to the cast. Every character has their younger and adult versions. Therefore, I won’t be writing about all of them but only the best performers of the series. Though all the artists have done a spectacular job, here’s who stood out.

Herwig Ilegems, who plays Didier in Two Summers, is fabulous as an old and internally wrecked individual. Everything seems fantastic, from his expressions to the resounding outcry his voice adds to the dialogues.

Herwig employs heavy emotions and pretends to go out of control, thereby leaving an incredible impact on the audience. When I first saw his character in the show, I couldn’t think of him flaunting an angry outpour. However, the able actor, rightfully, proved me wrong.

Tom Vermier as Peter contributes a defining performance to Two Summers. He doesn’t emphasize his presence but stays in the loop with effectively portrayed emotions. From the outset, Peter is a mature player, but his weaknesses are not for the world to know. That’s where Tom’s acumen comes into play.

He expresses the internal friction and fear very neatly while holding his head high when exposed to the outer environment.

Inge Paulussen as Sofie is the emotional vein of Two Summers. She never allows the narration to get rid of her. Instead, Inge gets on top of the plot to smite the viewers with her praiseworthy performance.

Koen De Bouw as Stef plays the most mature role in this Netflix series. He denounces excessive embodiments and remains true to the character’s roots. I loved how he tries to get things under control whenever there is a hint of a war cry.

Everybody else in Two Summers does a wonderful job elevating the series and taking it to a fruitful conclusion. And when a well-written plot meets astute performances, nothing can stop the results from flowing in.

What Doesn’t Work for Two Summers?

Though there is nothing entirely negative about Two Summers, I did find a point after much deliberation.

A Tad Sluggish

At times, for a minor duration, the show feels sluggish. Some scenes are stretchy, and some could have been approached differently. However, things don’t stay like that for long. Two Summers comes back with a crisp pace and striking narration.

Subtitles

Okay, so this might sound weird but I wish the Flemish language shown on objects on the screen were also subtitled in English. It would have allowed for a much better understanding for the global audiences.

Maybe, the makers will apply the same in the coming days.

Final Word

I won’t call Two Summers a compulsory watch, but you wouldn’t be disappointed while streaming it on Netflix after considering the above points. This Belgian show is compelling and mysterious; therefore, go for it if you love watching any of these genres.

FAQs

Will there be a second season of Two Summers?

No. There won’t be another season of this Belgian series on Netflix. No such announcements have been made yet and the plot also doesn’t seem to be facilitating another season.

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