“The Grave” on Salto, an intriguing series between thriller and science fiction

Long invisible here, Israeli series are now regularly appearing on our TV screens, via traditional channels or streaming platforms. The latest one is called “The Grave”, it is available since Thursday on Salto. We owe it to a producer and director, Omri Givon, presented as the star of his country’s “showrunners”, and whose name was perhaps retained by those who appreciated two of his previous fictions: “Hostages”, seen on Canal +, where the family of a surgeon having to operate on the Prime Minister was taken hostage, and “When Heroes Fly”, the story of four former soldiers meeting to elucidate a mysterious disappearance, to be found on Netflix, awarded at Canneseries festival 2018.

A well-brought-about drama

Under the somewhat boilerplate title of “The Grave” (the grave, in French) hides an intriguing plot, which uses the codes of thriller and thriller to tell us a story that ultimately comes from the purest science. -fiction. That of the discovery of three skeletons, in a nature reserve in northern Israel, during an earthquake. Problem: not only, the three individuals had been murdered by a bullet in the head but, in addition, their DNA corresponds to that of people still alive, and who do not have a twin!

After two episodes ticking the boxes of the thriller, “The Grave” operates from its third segment a clear turn towards science fiction, via a dramatic twist. But also thanks to various little clues scattered here and there, like the name of this suspicious company, which will speak to those who have some notions of physics or read Science & Vie.

A second season in writing

But the main thing, as in any good story, is the characters. And those of “The Grave” are very well portrayed. We get attached to the hero, Yoel (played by Nadav Nates), who lost his wife in a car accident, is raising his little boy alone, and has – at first – no idea why his DNA can match that of a corpse. Opposite him, Chava is a police inspector (played by Michal Kalman) who, under an imperturbable appearance, knows how to show humanity, but can also send off his hierarchy. Two actors who seem to be loyal to Omri Givon, since they already appeared in the series mentioned above.

While the final episodes seem to lead to a conclusion where all the side plots come together, the ending leaves many questions unanswered. The door open to a possible season 2, especially as “The Grave” obtained very good audiences in Israel? During an interview with the American trade magazine Variety, Omri Givon said he was taking advantage of the confinement to work on the rest of the series. “I have the whole story in my head. I know exactly what will be the next step and what will happen in the second season. “

EDITOR’S RATING: 4/5

«The Grave», Israeli series by Omri Givon, with Nadav Nates, Michal Kalman, Liana Ayun … 8 x 45 mn. On Salto.