The greatest mystery in any French mystery drama is how the characters look so much better than any English person has ever looked. How did the cast of The Returned (more than 10 years ago now, though it feels like yesterday) look so gorgeous all the time, despite seemingly ordinary costumes, hair and makeup? Is Gallic bone structure really that different? Do clothes just hang better on the other side of la Manche? Is that why they call it “the sleeve”? Is it a clue?
Forgive me. I am consumed by this puzzle. The success of a French drama can be measured by how successfully the official narrative mystery distracts me from the conundrum, and here the new six-part series Promethea does just fine.
