User reviews

It's a little ironic in a way that a subject so steeped in taste and smell gets represented in a medium that can deliver neither of these - the fact that this isn't really a problem is a tribute to the brilliance and craft of those responsible for making this show.

For the most part Drops of God has a carefully sculpted aesthetic.

It's a multi-level approach - location plays a key role, but sound, lighting, and cinematography are elevated to convey the additional information - combined with a motif element to account for the filing of information on smell and taste.

Some great acting, and a great story - with a script that is a little clunky at times but mostly works well.

Considering that three languages are managed quite seamlessly and transparently, and that the end result is very satisfying, it's clear that this is a work of high accomplishment.

One episode to go and I'm hanging out to see which way the chips will fall.

Finally something original... feels... fresh!

Loved the setting in different countries and the concept of multiple languages used at once. Characters fit their role perfectly, the contrast between the Japanese and French (European) culture is very well defined and not overblown.

It's a smart watch, and you can also learn a thing or two about wine. Definitely a must-see for wine lovers, both in theory/academics or just people who enjoy drinking wine.

The romance as a subplot is alright, it doesn't take the main stage and lingers in behind the main story just to spice things up a little...

The tests keep you guessing and you never really know who's gonna win until the last episode at which point it becomes clear rather early in the episode.

After lots of twists and smart intrigue, the ending feels like a nice closure.

I can only hope we get to see more original shows like this one.

Across 3 languages is no easy feat. It is intriguing & the characters you think are wooden but not. Especially if you travel you understand as well as the source material. The Test/ challenge is main thread (securing an incredible inheritance) of the series. Pitted between the deceased's daughter (who does not drink) and a Master Sommelier of Japanese Heritage. It can keep you concern for who will be the winner with out the violence that most films series require in a competition. The cast is not known and that is refreshing as well. It ticks all the boxes for love, food, wine, wealth, family dynamics, betrayal and compassion. It could be considered artsy/ independent because of all of the above. Enjoy.

In an ocean of overdone cartoons, vacuous gore, CGI, true stories and star wars-type productions, here we have a unique fictional story with an original plot, spanning across geographical boundaries and time periods, deeply human, with whatever darkness or light that carries along, beautiful photography, attention to detail in the production and complex characters who slowly unfold through an intricately unpredictable and quite addictive narrative full of twists about a side of the wine industry few are familiar with. Contemporary, smart, entertaining and just beautiful to watch...A true breath of fresh air.

The show has intriguing characters, smart dialogue, excellent visuals, and a very interesting context or subject matter.

It's culturally interesting-and I feel it's also culturally honest.

It is so lovely to see a show that you can enjoy without being distracted by poor choices; it is consistently pleasing to watch and listen to.

The process of getting to know the characters through the stories being told is what makes it worth my time. It's also nice that I feel I learn a little while being entertained.

I highly recommend this show. It's as good and riveting as Black Bird. I look forward to watching the last two episodes.

I wasn't impressed with the trailer but started watching out of curiosity. What a surprise! It's hard to describe, it isn't like anything else.

I've read comments about it being pretentious but i really don't feel that way. Maybe the fact that it's mainly in French and about wine makes some people feel a certain type of way?

The casting is excellent, apart maybe from Camille's mother that feels a bit less credible to me. Fleur Geffrier is wonderful in her part and I'm curious to see how Tomohisa Yamashita's character will develop.

The show also looks really beautiful. Like really beautifully shot and directed. The music score has some very mesmerizing moments too (in episode 2 especially).

So far one of my favorite show this year!

What a strange idea. A psychosomatic issue doesn't allow a woman to drink any alcohol but when her father passes she has to compete in a wine competition for an inheritance. The character work is great, the information about wine is something I had no knowledge of and was really interesting, though I have no idea how accurate it is. I like that it bridges Japanese and French, the production values are great.

The only downside is that it moves sometimes slowly, but there is payoff for that buildup in both character development and plot, so I ended up very happy with it. Apparently it's based off of a manga, which I'm now curious about.

This show has been such a joy to watch so far. The cinematography is beautiful, the writing is on point, the casting is well done (including the casting of the younger version of the cast members), and just the overall story is so unique and fascinating.

It's not common to see shows with multiple primary languages (in this show it's French and Japanese, with a bit of English), but they do it so well and the chemistry with the characters is so natural.

They make each episode so intriguing, making you long for the next episode to see what happens next. The way the directors make you feel their senses and emotions while observing the wine is really well done as well.

Can't wait to see where the story goes!

I was skeptical to watch this show at first but by the end of the first episode, I was enthralled with it. Just a great all around show, I hated waiting for the next each week but gave me something to look forward to. I love the characters development, locations, languages and especially about wine. They did a great job on casting for this series. If this is the one and only season, I'll still be happy because it was perfect. I would love to see these characters again but it would have to capture the charm of this season. Apple has finally gotten some great shows this year and I would recommend giving it a try even if you don't think it's a genre you would like.

I just love this show so far. It has pretty much everything - family drama, high stake competition, beautiful scenery, mix of cultures (french vs japan) and wine ... a lot of it :) The casting is particularly excellent. Fleur Geffrier is just magnificent and stunning and so is her main "rival" portrayed by Tomohisa Yamashita. Both actors are new to me and I will definitely check out their other projects. Supporting cast is amazing as well, Manon Maindivide shines as a young Cammile. While the show itself is rather slow burn it is such that keeps audience (at least me) captivated and asking for more - particularly as I know nothing about wine and the world of oenology/sommeliers etc. I find it rather fascinating. I guess I will have to buy a bottle of wine to appreciate next episodes even more :D.

I have really enjoyed watching this series about wine and heritage. I also enjoyed living in France, Italy and some countries in Asia. The connection of cultures is ingeniously achieved. As a young European couple, they immigrate to Japan and try to find their place at a professional level starting from scratch. The man achieved success thanks to his knowledge, instincts and the woman, his partner, although they separate.

They have a daughter who is the pillar to show the success story. She starts as the father from scratch in the world of wines and has to compete with her father's student. They must compete to win the inheritance of Japan.

This series educates us more about the culture of wine.

It proposes not only to take wines from famous countries, but also from the old countries, small winemakers, to know their stories and to support them.

We are wine lovers. We had to open a few bottles during the days we watched the episodes.

Of course, we tried and a Bordeaux wine.

"Drops of God" is the delightful confluence of high-stakes wine tasting and familial drama, and if you're a fan of "Star Wars," you'll find some amusing parallels in this intoxicating tale.

Imagine if Darth Vader traded his lightsaber for a sommelier's corkscrew, and you've got the enigmatic Alexandre Léger. Much like Anakin Skywalker, Alexandre started as a revered figure, revolutionizing the wine world with his expertise. But alas, the grapes of wrath took over, and he ended up orchestrating a grand, posthumous competition from beyond the grave, pitting his estranged children against each other. Talk about a dark side twist!

Enter Camille, our unsuspecting Luke Skywalker, who has lived blissfully unaware of her true heritage. She's more adept with her nose than a lightsaber, yet her journey from Tokyo to the vineyards of France is nothing short of an epic hero's quest. Her adversary? The suave and seasoned Issei Tomine, who, like Leia, doesn't initially know they share a deep, vinous connection. Fortunately, there are no awkward romantic overtures here-just pure, undiluted rivalry.

Standing in as the Emperor of this fermented galaxy is none other than the shrewd Italian restaurant owner, Luca. With his devious palate and cunning strategies, he manipulates the competition from the shadows, much like Palpatine plotting the rise of the Empire. Luca's restaurant is the Death Star of dining establishments, where one wrong sip could mean the end of a career.

"Drops of God" keeps you at the edge of your seat, wondering who will ultimately emerge as the true heir to Léger's legacy. Will it be Camille, the underdog with an uncanny nose? Or Issei, the trained and formidable wine warrior? And just like any good space opera, it's the journey filled with twists, turns, and plenty of fine vintages that makes it all worthwhile.

The show masterfully blends the intricate world of wine with dramatic, often humorous storytelling. It's not just a battle for a wine empire, but a saga of personal discovery, identity, and family. So, whether you're a "Star Wars" fan or a wine aficionado-or better yet, both-"Drops of God" offers a compelling narrative that's sure to satisfy your palate. May the terroir be with you!

Whenever they focussed on the Japanese protagonist, the story more or less got interesting. The French lead though is an unlikeable character, whose story is built on a series of very tired cliches around the apprentice kind (remember Karate Kid)? She also seems to be learning all there's to know about wines around the world, in a month. She also appears to have retrained her neurological responses to food and wine in a matter of a few sittings with some sort of psychologist. The whole story is completely unrealistic and hard as I wanted to accept the premises, the series just kept on becoming more and more cliche and utterly, utterly predictable.

Since the beginning it stars with good momentum that it builds up to the final episodes it's just a really good series , one of the few were it isn't eccentric, one that allows you to enjoy each episode and at the same time leaves you wanting more of it.

The performance of the actors and actresses are really good as well as the production of the series you can also learn some aspects related to wine industry as well as some cultural differences between cultures such as Europeans (Especially French) and Japan.

In terms of the ending of the series I'll believe it's will retain its good value if they don't make a second season of it .

Drops of god is a show about the journey of a french young woman who has to confront her problematic past with her father after his passing. This confrontation triggered by her fathers will that promises her 150 million dollars if she undergoes certain sommelier trials takes us the viewers through a journey of sense and taste in the for me at least very unknown world of winery and the restaurant industry.

It is a joy seeing how much attention to detail was put into every aspect of these trials, describing each time a side of the wine making and tasting process no one ever really cares about. The most interesting aspect of this series is exactly this, every single trial is a culinary puzzle the viewer unravels by learning alongside the protagonist on how to differentiate taste, memory and association. It is an unexpected thrill. Not to mention, the series is beautifully shot with long track shots bringing us along the journey, creative expressions on how the protagonist perceives taste and smart cuts, scenes that never drag.

The acting could use a little help, also the dialogue. My main complaint here is one that often appears when international casting and multiple languages happen to be in a movie. The dialogue done in one language culturally and colloquially does not fit the other. So you will see a lot of English dialogue spoken by a french/japanese person, who apart from the language has no bond to the culture, speaks like an american teenager for some reason. It is this disconnect that bothered me time and time again, only when the actors spoke in their own native tongue did it seem authentic.

Still this show is a thrill to watch and absolutely recommended.

Very original and different from other show, especially from standard Netflix trash I can't excuse anymore. I like it a lot, characters are interesting especially the main one. Yes it is slow but it is not an action or thriller movie, I really doesn't get the bad reviews here, sincerely they make no sense. It is also curious that it is based on a manga, this captured my attention for sure, the trailer is nice but maybe it is the issue for angry reviewers.

AppleTV+ continue to be an incredible service with quality over quantity, Almost all series are well written, original or at least interesting.

Great show! The first few episodes really caught my attention. I liked how the story unraveled bit by bit. And a competition focused on tasting wines and food - Yes, count me in.

Though I'm a novice at recognizing any kind of wine since I only like wines that are homemade and sweet, I understand why enology is an interesting subject. Imagine tasting a bottle of fermented grape juice and being able to discern how, when, and where it was made. That is crazy!

Anyway, this story manages to intertwine the dying wish of an eccentric wine collector with the lives of two talented and equally eccentric people who could benefit from his death.

Some parts of the show seem a bit drawn out, but the final episode was quite moving.

If you love wine culture and family dramas, this is for you.

"Drops of God" is one of those rare series that rapturously scratches the itch of the most discerning viewer. It succeeds in enthralling, whilst simultaneously ensuring deep, addictive satisfaction (for its viewers). From the very first episode, "Foundation", the viewer is transported into cinematic excellence where the scenes are sharply focused, the dialogue pivots on a knife's edge, and the story is intense and fragrant. All of the characters are well fleshed-out, but great respect and appreciation must be bestowed upon the two main protagonists; Fleur Geffrier as "Camille Leger" and Tomohisa Yamashita as "Issei Tomine". Both of these actors do something that is incredibly rare in a series: they command "the everything, and the everyone", and create an atmosphere of relatability in this ultra niché nouvelle-aquitaine and Provençal Tokyo world. With 4 episodes down, and 4 remaining, it is evident that it is series like this that are the exceptionally priceless embodiment of perfect pacing, concise direction, A-level acting, and thoroughly brilliant story-telling. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Note: since this series is mainly in French and Japanese make sure to only watch with the HC subbed English links...unless of course you are fluent in French and Japanese!

What a wonderful show! So good that it actually compelled me to write a review which I have never done before. I loved the character development . The flow of the story line. Although I thought it dragged a little bit around the 5th episode but it went full steam ahead towards the end. Thoughtful scenes like the one where Tomine prepares a celebratory dinner for everyone where he admits he's never had a joyous occasion around the dinner table before. Seeing that he was raised in an upscale traditional Japanese family where you held tight to any opinion you might have had that went against the family. All in all an absolute gem of a show.

It is no surprise that this series finds its way to AppleTV as there's a general type of series that seems to fit the ethos and culture of AppleTV and what it tries to curate as fitting content for its brand. It can be a positive in certain respects but it is often pretentious and this series encompasses the two.

In brief, the story centres around the world of wine and sommeliers, or oenology, being the study of wine. It follows the daughter of a dead man, a wine expert who tried to raise his daughter with the same passion for wine and it's supposed miriad nuances. An event took place when young and she has lost her "super" ability to know the wine, as confirmed by some dodgy science in the form of MRI scans, confirming something technical that shows she has a brain that is overly reactive to scent, and this is presented as akin to some superpower. In fact, the ability to memorise and recall scents is something we all have as humans, an inherent instinctual sense not limited to special individuals. This is presented here as something ephemeral almost, as if a special ability or gift. It sets the tone for a high amount of pretentiousness and hogwash around aromas, scent and the ability to discern them as if something outstanding.

There is a moment in the second episode where she struggles to recall her great ability to recognise scent and there is a big, laboured buildup and nearly pregnant effort until she eventually, triumphantly, magnificently pulls from the shattered recesses of mind, Liquorice!

To be honest, I almost fell off the chair and lost a lot of respect for the show as Liquorice is probably one of the scents nearly everyone in the world would recognise easily, or at least the aroma of Anise.

And so it goes on. As a production with deep French involvement, it's unsurprising that it seeks to bolster the pretention they've built up around the wine production sector and the pomp and ceremony, some might say hyperbole, which has allowed an industry to bring what was a staple drink of the poor when water was deeply unsanitary, fermented grape juice, into the realms of a luxury product, all through the use of marketing in the main.

As entertainment, it is tedious and very predictable, although it is saved somewhat by high production values and mostly decent acting. The problem, to paraphrase the old saying, is that the writers were looking at the world through Rosé tinted glasses.

Indeed the title alone, Drops of God, is sufficient in and of itself to convey how obese with contrived importance the approach to the overall theme of wine is here. It is a love-letter in many respects from the French to themselves, an indulgence of self delusion probably best not witnessed by the public at large.

If you buy into the idea that a decent wine can have notes of a hundred different ingredients that never touched the grape, then this is right up your alley. If however, the smell of verbal incontinence is greater than the aroma of the wine, then you may decide that it's more poo-poo than grand crus and a bit of a stinker.

Edit: Having stuck with this show and having given in to the contrived nonsense around the wine industry, and we all can accept that there is a lot of nonsense around wine and wine-tasting ... so much so that those methods have seeped into the coffee industry and others, chocolate etc. Anyway, having decided to let the BS wash over me, I stuck with it and was surprised that the story, particularly on the Japanese side became quite interesting and eventually the series redeemed itself. As a result, I upped my rating by two points and feel that a solid 6/10 is the benchmark for something good and worth watching. Part of the problem with drip-releasing episodes for Apple TV is that if the early episodes are poor, people will rate appropriately. Not many, like myself, will come back to amend their ratings. Apple should take heed of that.

Drops of God is an arrogant title and one deserving an incredible story. Off the beaten path, this show uses three dimensions that create a unique experience. Three languages spoken by most actors was a fun treat that supported the romantic view of the wine world. Mystery was another gem I didn't see coming after the first episode. Although you understand what's happening soon into the series, the effect of the mystery still exists within the characters enough to keep you intrigued. Lastly, the change of the guard with antagonistic values of each characters was fun. If you're one do those people who needs to fast forward to find out what happens at the end sooner, or you google the synopsis to find reprieve with the anxiety, please don't. It culminates like you hoped but maybe not how you thought. Let it work you like a good win should.

The show is all over the place moving from France to Japan, but it makes little to no sense. First two episodes were hard sell with thin intrigue, predictable turns and very, very poor characters producing second tier drama that is not interesting to follow.

Creators made sure that the picture is perfect, but that's not enough - story seems to be close to non existing and the initial premise is so comical that it's actually hard to believe. It's not really helps that you can't root for any of the characters - they seem two dimensional and immature. It feels like there is a backstory for them, but it fails to develop within the time window when you could actually care about it. And there will be a lot of wine talk, so unless you like that kind of thing it will feel weird and forced. It's a miss for Apple TV for sure.