As the finale of All The Light We Cannot See begins, Marie-Laure (Aria Mia Loberti) attempts to escape Reinhold von Rumpel (Lars Eidinger). Reinhold suspects she barricaded herself up there. He explains the Americans are at the city walls so there is no time for games. Werner (Louis Hofmann) looks at the aftermath of the bombing. Etienne LeBlanc (Hugh Laurie) admits the professor is not okay. He is bleeding from the stomach. Etienne believes this is a good place for the last lesson from the professor. He says when your soul is leaving this Earth you know it. You can see your whole life laid out in moments.

Four Months Earlier – Etienne listens to the radio while Madame Manec (Marion Bailey) and Marie eat downstairs. Marie reminds Manec to take her tablet since she knows she only shook the bottle. She warns her that the doctor said her heart would give in if she didn’t take the tablets. When asked about being blind, Manec says she believes they’ll see it if God wants them to see it. Etienne comes down to tell them that the BBC from London just read the “Autumn Song” by Paul Verlaine. He explains it is the agreed signal that the British and Americans are coming. Etienne says they have a lot to do.

Manec suggests Marie can help by collecting messages. She instructs Marie to go to the model her father made and familiarize herself with the city’s streets leading to the church and bakery. Later, Etienne wants Marie to ask her again. Once she asks, Etienne agrees to go out with her. Manec gives Etienne his old hat. Outside, Etienne admits he was once a tiger. Marie tells him he will be again. At the shop, Etienne lets Caron (James Dryden) know he’ll be collecting the bread from now on. Sophie seems to be having difficulties by the time they return. Etienne shows her the message in the bread before he heads back out with Marie. He takes Marie to the water and tells her about the ships. Two German soldiers approach them and ask about Marie’s homework.

They make Marie read it to them before leaving. Etienne admits it sometimes frightens him how good Marie is at this. As they return home, they notice smoke coming from their house. Etienne puts out the fire and finds Sophie on the ground. He believes she waited to know he could take her place before passing. Etienne promises to finish her work.

Present – Marie says over the radio that she is trying to finish what Sophie Manec started, but she can’t do it without Etienne. Reinhold yells that enough is enough. Etienne tells Werner to go to Marie and protect her until the Americans come. He asks him to tell Marie that a tiger is happier dead than in a cage. Werner is also told to thank her from Etienne. Etienne tells Werner not to let this war break him. Reinhold asks Marie if she wants to know what happened to her father. After he left her there, he went to Paris to throw the Gestapo off his trail.

Paris – July 1943 – The Gestapo had other plans. Reinhold finds Daniel (Mark Ruffalo) and says he is coming with him. Reinhold offers to give him one key so he can unlock the door and walk. He tells Daniel that he is tasked with gathering every precious stone in Europe and delivering them to the Reich. Daniel suspects he is sick and he wants the stone for himself. Reinhold threatens to shoot him if he doesn’t tell him where the stone is. He doesn’t think Daniel would give up his life for a simple piece of rock. Reinhold knows he can find the stone if he finds Daniel’s daughter. Daniel argues that the Sea of Flames will not give him eternal life because death will come for him. Love is what will outlast it.

Reinhold attacks him and lays out the tools he’ll use to torture him.

Present – Reinhold asks whether pain is stronger than love. He yells that Daniel did not tell him anything despite torturing him for three hours. He killed him as a result. Werner moves through the city while trying to avoid bombs. Marie insists her father isn’t gone until she is gone. Werner seems to get hit. Marie tells Reinhold that she has a gun. She threatens to shoot him if he comes through the door. Marie shoots through the door and knocks him down. Reinhold tells her that he is going to use the grenade to stun her. As Werner lies on the ground, he remembers listening to the radio. He gets up and begins running towards Marie’s house. Marie says they are not going to die today.

As Werner gets closer, he sees the explosion caused by Reinhold’s grenade. Marie frantically feels for the gun. Once she gets it, Werner storms into the building and yells to ask if she is okay. Reinhold shoots at him but misses. He steps on a piece of glass and nearly gets shot by Marie. Werner yells that he is a German soldier but a friend. Reinhold believes Marie has one bullet left. He says he’ll deal with the traitor and return for her. Werner dodges Reinhold’s bullets and notices a radio nearby. Marie yells to tell Werner where Reinhold is before he grabs the radio. Werner takes the radio apart and makes something he can use to strangle Reinhold. He attacks Reinhold from behind.

Reinhold eventually breaks free and holds Werner at gunpoint, but Marie ends up behind him with her gun. She manages to shoot him in the head. Werner tells Marie that he isn’t anything anymore except alive thanks to Marie. He notices a diamond on the ground that must’ve been inside the model. Marie quickly tells him not to touch it. After briefly talking about the professor, Werner tells Marie what Etienne said about a tiger being happier dead than in a cage. He admits it was as if Etienne was his father. Werner used to see this place when he closed his eyes. Marie says she did too. They repeat that the most important light is the light you cannot see. Werner is hungry so they agree to eat peaches. As he begins fixing the radio, he asks if Marie has the music the professor used to play.

Elsewhere, Jutta (Luna Wedler) hears and remembers the music. Werner uses the radio to tell her that he is still alive. He tells her that he met the professor and will try to come home. Werner says he is sitting in the professor’s chair with the girl with the most beautiful eyes. Then, Werner and Marie dance and kiss. Werner tells her they are close. Marie says she knows the city very well so she knows the secret pathways. He worries she will be shot as a collaborator if she is caught with him. Werner says they will meet again on shortwave 13.10. When the war is over, he will come if she wants him to. Marie thinks he should surrender to the Americans because the locals will kill him. She agrees to go with him. He tells her he will be listening before he steps outside.

Marie goes inside and picks up the diamond using a cloth. Then, she goes outside where the locals are celebrating. Marie goes to the water and throws the stone into it.

 

All The Light We Cannot See Review

The four-part series, All The Light We Cannot See, had ups and downs with the finale easily being the highlight of the series. Although I have not read the novel, I’ve read bits about it and there are significant differences. The series gives a slightly happier ending since there is the possibility that Werner and Marie will see one another again. Aria Mai Loberti and Louis Hofmann have been outstanding from start to finish.

The story was a bit dull in spots, but the finale made up for it by bringing everything together in an emotionally satisfying way. The war was only in the backdrop as Marie and Werner’s stories took center stage. That culminated with Werner finally coming to Marie’s rescue when Reinhold broke into her home to retrieve the Sea of Flames. Even Reinhold’s motives had less to do with the war and more about wanting to survive.

At times, I found Werner’s story to be more compelling but that didn’t matter much in the end. Everything clicked into place when Werner and Marie were finally face-to-face. The third episode was probably the weakest because it felt a little tedious at times, but again the finale really made up for any of the previous complaints and made the series feel worthwhile.

On an emotional level, All The Light We Cannot See turned out to be one of the more successful shows in recent months. At four episodes, it feels just right and the performances by Aria Mia Loberti and Louis Hofmann truly bring the scenes to life. The fourth episode scores a 7.5 out of 10. Recaps of All The Light We Cannot See are available on Reel Mockery here.

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