The Perfect Mother Season 1 Episode 1 Recap

The show begins with Anya Berg (Eden Ducourant) having a flashback as she walks down the sidewalk. In the flashback, she is hanging out in a nightclub. While dancing, she bumps into Damien Carnau (Charles Crehange) who refills her glass with alcohol. They leave the nightclub on a motorcycle.

Berlin – Matthias Berg (Andreas Pietschmann) apologizes to Helene Berg (Julie Gayet) for being late. She tells him that she assumed they would be safe since it is Sunday. He claims to have encountered issues during surgery. She asks the patient. He says she is expected to be fine.

Anya continues having flashbacks of her time with Vincent.

Lukas Berg (Maxim Driesen) and Matthias sing Happy Birthday to Helene. He suggests they take a selfie for Anya. In a flashback, Anya periodically looks back as she descends the stairs. She hunkers down under the stairs. Back to the present, she looks at the selfie from her family. Matthias presents Helene with a ring. When she admits it isn’t something she’d wear, he tells her it is a gift for her to have, not to wear. Lukas asks what’s the purpose if she doesn’t wear it. Matthias tells her the ring is for all the times he doesn’t thank her enough. Lukas gives her a custom family photo. She describes it as “beautiful.” She checks her phone to see if Anya called. Matthias assures her she will call her tomorrow morning.

Mia (Emilia North) arrives to meet with Lukas. Helene greets her as Luka makes an appearance. He promises Helene that he will text her before they leave. Anya calls Helene to inform her of the police want to talk to her about something that happened. Helene admits to being confused about what she is saying. Anya explains how woke up after a few drinks to discover blood everywhere. Matthias asks how she met the boy. She tells him that he attends the university. She claims the guy’s sister gave the police her number. Helene assures her that they are there for her. She suggests the police believe she is the killer. Helene tells her that she didn’t do anything. She tells them she wants to come home. They remain on the phone as she enters the police station.

Capitaine Julien Mani (Cyril Guei) arrests her on suspicion of murder. Anya informs them of her location before giving the officer her phone. As Helene packs her luggage, Matthias books their flight. He assures her that it isn’t necessary for him to go because Lukas needs him. She reminds him of his patient, Farida.

Helene arrives at the police station. Anya tells Julien that she disposed of her bloody clothes near the metro. He asks why she didn’t immediately notify the police. She claims her cellphone wasn’t immediately accessible. He asks why she didn’t make the call when she did get her cellphone. She tells him that she thought the man was still there, so she fled. He questions why she thinks the dealer killed Damien when she was hiding. She reminds him of what she said previously about them being in the middle of something. He asks if she could identify the dealer. She tells him it was too dark but remembers he hit her.

When Helene is being refused access to Anya, she runs past an officer. She encounters a man who tries to calm her down. Anya stands up when she hears her mother’s voice. Helene runs past him until she sees Anya. She demands to know what Anya did. Julien informs Helene of Anya’s refusal to hire an attorney. She turns to see a photo of Damien lying in a puddle of blood. She assures him that Anya couldn’t have killed him. He suggests hiring a defense attorney.

Helene visits the office of Vincent Duc (Tomer Sisley). The receptionist, Ana tells her his schedule is booked. She tells her that he knows her. Ana continues to explain how he is busy when he enters the room. Shocked, he asks why she is there. She assures him it is important. He escorts her to his office. She fills him in on Anya’s arrest. He reminds her of it being 25 years with no contact. He orders Ana to cancel all his afternoon appointments.

Duc speaks with Julien about Anya’s case. He tells Helene that Anya’s medical examination was good. He says her place is being searched. She assures him that Anya had nothing to do with Damien’s murder. He informs her that he worked with the lead detective before he left the department. Helene is permitted to see Anya. Upon entering the room, they embrace. Anya asks if Matthias came. She tells her that he stayed home with Lukas. Anya explains how she and Julie Gauthier (Ines Spiridonov) went to a local club to celebrate the completion of Julie’s thesis. She hooked up with Damien from the university and went to his place. They were making out when the dealer arrived. A verbal and physical altercation took place. The dealer hit her when she tried to get involved. Damien orders her to lock herself in the restroom. Her cellphone was in the living room.

Anya says Damien didn’t answer when she yelled his name. She tells her that she must have fallen asleep. When she went downstairs, blood was everywhere. After slipping in the blood, she grabs her clothes and runs downstairs. Helene tells the detective that Anya is being treated like a criminal.

Duc assures Helene that it is just police procedure to validate Anya’s version of the events. He reminds her that Anya opted to not report the incident to the police after she got her cellphone and refused to tell the police where she disposed of her clothes. Helene tells him that Anya is traumatized by what happened.

Duc watches surveillance footage of Damien and Anya. He asks Julien if it is a crime to flirt. Julien tells him that the dealer never appears in the footage. He says an expensive watch is missing.

Helene tells Mattias that the lawyer believes Anya will be all right. He asks how they know each other. She says they went to school together.

Duc updates Helene on Anya’s case. He tells her that Damien’s wallet and a $15K-watch. She asks who Damien is. He says Damien is an heir to a wealthy family. He informs her that the police are waiting for Anya’s toxicology report. He assures her that the surveillance footage didn’t show anyone. She suggests the dealer utilized a different entrance. He tells her the forensics test may detect DNA from a third person. She says they still won’t release her. He says a neighbor possibly heard something. He promises to check other surveillance cameras in the neighborhood. She tells him that he would’ve convinced her to stay if she came back to him. She describes her state of mind back then as “fragile.” She says losing him was something she had to accept.

Berlin – Lukas and Mia meet up at school. Helene calls Lukas to alert him of her emergency trip to Paris regarding a problem with Anya. She assures him that Anya will be all right. Mia watches as Lukas run down the steps. He tries to call Anya. When Matthias arrives at the school, Mia informs him that Lukas is gone.

Helene tells Matthias that she is waiting on Anya’s attorney. He says they need to prove her innocence. He offers to get a plane to Paris, but she suggests he stay with Lukas because he needs him. She asks about Lukas’ exam. He admits not knowing because he hasn’t seen him. A news segment about Damien airs on the local news. The news anchor identifies Damien as a Sorbonne University student and the son of Claire Carnau. He is the heir to the cosmetic company, Elligence Group. Claire describes her son as a “remarkable young man.” She speaks of Anya without mentioning her name.

Duc pays a man to access the roof of a multi-story building. He looks out of the city.

Franck (Sylvain Dieuaide) asks Helene if she is visiting Paris for the first time. She acknowledges prior visits. He continues asking her questions. As he tries to move closer, she tells him that she is waiting for someone. The man makes his exit as Duc arrives. Duc informs her that Damien’s apartment is accessible from the roof. Franck appears to be watching them. Duc explains how the apartment can be accessed via a building next door. He says surveillance cameras are installed in the lobby of the building. She asks if he was able to access the surveillance system. Holding up his police badge, he explains how he was not asked to surrender it to the department. He says the manager didn’t question when he requested access.

While they watch the surveillance footage, Duc explains how five people passed through the lobby between 1am and 6am. Zooming in on an unidentified man in black, he suggests he may be their dealer. She asks if it is possible to have the man identified. He suggests the man creates doubt that might prove Anya’s innocence. He tells her that they need to keep the police from saying there is a sole suspect, Anya. She asks if he has presented the footage to the police. He suggests letting them discover the footage to avoid antagonizing them. When she tells him that she doesn’t want to wait around, he suggests they search the dorm.

Helene speaks with the Gardien residence (Philipee Richardin) to convince him to let her access Anya’s dorm room to retrieve her medicine.  Duc points out that Anya’s statement shows she and Julie went out the night she met Damien at the nightclub. The officer tells her that Anya’s room is number 42. Duc assures her that they will find Julie. Helene encounters a Soumia (Maimouna Toure) in Anya’s room. She asks her if she knows Julie Gauthier (Ines Spiridonov). Soumia tells her that Julie lives in the next room over, but she is working at a bar near the metro. When Helene says she doesn’t recognize Ayna’s things, Soumia claims to be subletting the room from Anya to escape her abusive husband. She claims to have lied to the police about Anya living there because subletting is against the rules.

Helene informs Duc of Anya subletting the room. She questions if the police are aware of it. He tells her that it wasn’t in Anya’s police file. When they enter the bar, he informs her that he is prohibited from investigating. Helene approaches Julie who is bartending. She asks her if she was with Anya last night. Julie walks away but Helene isn’t ready to give up. She asks her to validate Anya’s statement that she had gone home with Damien. She says yes. Duc asks if she and Anya had drinks or drugs at the bar. She denies either of them used drugs. Helene asks if she and Anya live together. She says Anya lives in the dorm. Helene tells her about meeting Soumia.

Duc asks Helene if she ever regretted leaving Paris. She assures him there were no other options. He tells her that he figured she left because of him. Matthias reaches out to Helene to get an update on the case. She informs him that her parents had a complicated relationship. She says her mum delayed telling her about her father’s death for 10 days. She admits leaving was the only option in putting distance between them. He snows her a photo of his 10-year-old son, Noah. He tells her about his wife moving to Spain with a teacher.

Julie is working in the bar when Franck approaches. He asks if she was in the bar with Damien last night. He offers to pay her for information. She shoots him the bird before walking away.

Matthias reminds Lukas of his exams tomorrow. Lukas tells him about Anya being arrested. He suggests not to worry. Lukas reminds him of what he said about her being assaulted. He assures her that Helene and Duc are there with Anya.

Duc promises Helene that he will make sure she and Anya are on their way home tomorrow.

Anya is startled awake by a nightmare of Damien’s murder. Julien informs her that the police have extended her custody by 24 hours.

Duc contacts Helene to inform her of Anya’s custody extension. He says forensics detected Anya’s DNA on Damien’s body and the murder weapon. He says Anya lied to them. She reminds him of Anya’s claims that she stepped in between Damien and the dealer. He says forensics also detected skin that matches Anya’s DNA under Damien’s fingernails.

Helene receives a call from Soumia to ask if Julie provided her Anya’s address. She tells her that Julie wouldn’t give her any information. Soumia claims a volunteer gave her the address, which she found surprising. She says Anya was living at a battered women’s shelter.

Helene meets with Celine (Clotilde Daniault) at the women’s shelter. Celine informs her that Anya teaches the abused women’s children French. Helene asks if Anya withdrew from her classes at the university to teach French. Celine tells her that she takes online classes. She questions when she began working there. Celine says she started in January while escorting her to Anya’s room. Helene searches her room when she discovers a photo of Anya and two other people. She has a flashback of what Duc said about identifying the man in the surveillance footage. She slams the locker doors shut as the episode comes to an end.

 

The Perfect Mother Review

I was drawn in by the intriguing plot but sorely disappointed by the cinematography. The scenes didn’t create a perfectly flowing story. Instead, we get a hot mess. I will still say, the premise is enough to entice me to watch the next episode.

The crew did a good job with what they were given. The lazy writing leaves viewers with more questions than answers. None of the characters were identified and it didn’t help that the camera failed to focus on the actors’ faces. We were provided lateral shots, rarely direct face shots.

While the pace was satisfactory, some of the scenes were insignificant. Some filler is acceptable but when it interferes with how the story is told, it becomes problematic for viewers.

The characters appear to be talking at each other, not to each other. It is difficult to stay focused on what the characters are saying when they are not really communicating.

The final five minutes of the episode were the best. The episode deserves a 5.5. Get more The Perfect Mother recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link to learn more.