As the second episode of All The Light We Cannot See begins, Reinhold Von Rumpel (Lars Eidinger) fires his gun before telling Marie-Laure (Aria Mia Loberti) that he cannot shoot her. Reinhold turns on the light and grabs Marie who bites his hand. He tells her that her father told him about the Sea of Flames. Marie believes her father is still alive because she hears his voice.
Paris – June 14, 1940 – Daniel LeBlanc (Mark Ruffalo) tells Marie to stay close. It is her birthday so she doesn’t know why they have to hurry. Daniel explains that the Germans have decided to invade Paris on her birthday. They watch the soldiers march through the streets. As they go inside, Daniel tells his daughter that the Germans will take anything of value. He wants to save what they can before saving themselves. Daniel intends to give the stones to some people he trusts to take them out of Paris. He promises they’ll have cake when they get on the train. They’re heading south to the home of a friend Daniel can trust.
Before they can leave, they learn the Germans are at the public door. Daniel tells a friend to let them in and make them coffee. Then, he tells Marie that he is going to use his ten-franc raincoat to carry diamonds and jewels and send them to Geneva in the head of a T-Rex. As they flee, Daniel promises this’ll be one birthday she never forgets.
Present – Marie tells Reinhold there was a truck waiting for the jewels. She doesn’t know if the one he is looking for was in there though. Reinhold puts her head underwater briefly before telling her to stop lying to him. He believes her father gave it to her. Reinhold claims it was her father’s fault she went blind because the Sea of Flames is blessed and cursed. Marie hits him in the head with a rock and attempts to flee. As she escapes, Werner (Louis Hofmann) gets rid of Schmidt’s body. Captain Mueller (Jakob Diehl) returns to check on Werner who is busy cleaning up. Werner claims Schmidt went looking for a spare fuse when theirs blew. When Mueller notices that the equipment is working, Werner pretends he found a spare fuse in the basement. Mueller realizes that someone is broadcasting.
He puts on the headphones and hears Marie speaking. Mueller believes Werner already knew that the girl’s code is directing the bombs. He accuses him of killing Schmidt when he found out before asking why. Mueller takes Werner’s gun. After Werner denies being a spy, he is asked to explain. Werner says he did it to protect a memory and a place of hope. Mueller admits he can’t kill him because he is the only radio operator in Saint-Malo. Mueller says they’re going to find the location of the person who’s broadcasting. Then, he will make Werner kill the girl. Before they can get to work, the broadcast stops. Mueller says they have the whole day. Mueller tells him that he checked on him and his instructor says he was a genius. He orders Werner to get his equipment.
Viktoriastrasse Orphanage – Essen, Germany – June 14, 1940 – Werner works in class when a Nazi soldier arrives outside. Jutta warns Werner it is probably the radio police coming to get him for listening to illegal broadcasts. The Commander enters and asks how many children listened to the radio today. He says they would’ve heard the glorious news that German troops entered Paris. The French gave up the city without a fight. The Commander asks if they listened to any other broadcaster. Jutta stops Werner from raising his hand. She quickly claims he was going to say that since the Brandenburg Antenna has been raised, only the national signal can be received.
Herr Seidler says clever people can get around that. He says it might be clever people like Werner. Seidler (Ed Skrein) knows Werner is a genius who is half-boy and half-radio transmitter. He is there because he has a friend whose radio is broken and he wants Werner Pfennig to come fix it. Herr Seidler Seidler takes him to the most beautiful house in Essen where Helga says she wants her radio back. Seidler explains they got his tools that he has been using to make illegal radios. They found one tuned to shortwave frequency 13.10. Werner says the professor only talks about the truth and beautiful things. Herr Seidler says they know what he has been doing and he knows the punishment is death. Werner can fix his wife’s radio or die. Werner says the connection has gone bad so he is going to need solder, but Seidler says there is none.
He orders Werner to fix it or die. Werner manages to fix the radio using bubblegum.
Gare Saint-Lazare Train Station – Paris – June 14, 1940 – Marie and Daniel move with the baggage. They learn that the train has already left. Daniel and Marie see German soldiers put up a flag above them. Daniel says they’re going to have to walk. When he takes her luggage, he finds out that she is bringing her radio because she wants to see what the professor has to say. Daniel insists they cannot take it. Marie says they claim on the radio that the Nazis hate anyone who is different. Daniel explains that being unseen during war can keep you alive. They continue until it gets dark and they set up a camp. They pretend they’re at a fancy hotel.
Daniel has decided they’re going to Saint-Malo. Marie wonders how they’re going to get there since everyone has become evil at the same time. Daniel says not everyone. He reminds her it is about time for the professor. They listen to him together while Werner listens to him at the orphanage. Jutta can’t believe he is still listening after everything that happened. Frau Elena (Rosie Hilal) rushes in to warn Werner that soldiers are there and they want to speak to him. Outside, Elena says he was chosen because he is so clever. She believes he’ll do something great. Jutta (Luna Wedler) tells him he will stay the same even though he is often annoying. In the car, Seidler tells Werner fixing the radio was a test and he passed with flying colors.
He will go to a place where they will turn him into a soldier. Daniel finds a vehicle and gets Marie to drive it. Werner goes to the National Political Institute of Education. Seidler says only the superhuman survive there. He takes Werner to see Dr. Heinrich (Pascal Ulli). Seidler tells Heinrich that Werner is a German Aryan. The doctor knows he was in an orphanage so he wants to know about his father and mother. Heinrich says the boy will have to be examined so they can determine his racial genetic makeup. Seidler leaves him at the institute. Heinrich approaches Werner to tell him he can stay because he is not a Jew. As he is shown around, he is attacked by another boy. The other boys are told to give him the traditional welcome. One of them tells him to run. He writes to Jutta telling her not to worry about him.
The boys catch up with him and beat him. An adult breaks it up and tells everyone to be gentle with Werner because the Reich has high hopes for him.
Present – Mueller warns Werner that his sister will also die if he fails. As Marie broadcasts, Werner tries to lead Mueller to her location. Marie says she will never give up hope. Werner leads Mueller to a house as Marie looks down from the window above. Mueller tells Werner it is time to meet his friend.
All The Light We Cannot See Review
The second episode of All The Light We Cannot See provided more insight into the backstories of Werner and Marie-Laure. In the present, Mueller found out about Werner who is being forced to find Marie. Otherwise, he and his sister will face death. The series has many good points with the performances by Aria Mia Loberti and Louis Hofmann standing out. The show looks authentic for the time period.
On the other hand, there seems to be a disconnect between viewers and the characters due to a lack of emotional build. There just seems to be a lack of connection to the characters when one should genuinely care about them. Regardless, the series is well done to the point that both episodes have been easily watchable. It may not reach an emotional climax, but I am interested in seeing how everything plays out in the end.
Time will tell whether the series can hit an emotional high before the finale ends. With two more episodes, there is time for that to happen. This episode scores 6 out of 10. Recaps of All The Light We Cannot See are available on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn more about advertising on Reel Mockery here. Discuss this show and others at the Reel Mockery Forum.
Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.
