Represent season one was a surprise entry into one of the best satirical comedies to come out of Netflix in a long time. A show that out and out questions how the politics of France has changed over the years with immigration and the rise of right-wing politics. The first season was good at addressing these matters in a satirical, humorous fashion and presenting an unlikely character who joins the French presidential race and even wins it. The second season is also created, written, directed by, and stars Jean-Pascal Zadi and released on the streaming platform on 29th August 2024.
The second season began from where the first one left off. Stéphane Blé is now the new President of the Republic of France, elected by the people of the nation. As he is the first head of state who is an immigrant and of African descent, there is still a lot of prejudice against him from the ultra-right-wing supporters and subsequently a threat to his life for the same reason stated above. However, despite having many who are against him, he chooses his opponent, Corinne Douanier, to be his prime minister to help him run the country. However, Stéphane has a rough start, and he ends up getting in the bad books of many who are close to him. Stéphane’s estranged wife Marion is back living with him at Elysee, the presidential palace, and just for the sake of his office, she begins to suggest some new taxes that will benefit the African community and address many issues concerning them. Is Stéphane built for politics, or will he have to embrace the situation and transform himself for the sake of doing the kind of work he wants to do? Is the relationship between him and his wife going to get better? Is there a plan to overthrow him and replace him with someone who is far more power hungry?
The best part about the show is the humor. The humor is never lost in translation. French politics, which is inherently inclusive, is what makes it worth the watch. The second season, just like the first, is layered with so much satirical humor about right-wing ideology, the history of the nation, islamophobia, cultural appropriation, racism, and prejudice. There is no one false note when it comes to handling all of these subjects in a humorous manner. The problem lies in the fact that there is a lot of beating around the bush for Stéphane’s character, who came across as being a leader with no political skills. He comes across as naïve and stupid in the first season and does the same in the second. There is no character growth as Jean-Pascal Zadi has relied only on his tried and tested character traits.Â
The whole point of season two for Stéphane is for him to become better at leading the country and taking informed decisions instead of depending on his luck or fluke which seems to have played a major role in pacifying the people they are targeting. The repetition of tropes from season one makes the show exhausting and predictable for much of its duration. Also, there is an angle that makes Marion look bad because of a mistake. This subplot is uncalled for in a story that glorifies the lead’s bad decision-making process. The plot involving Marion could have been avoided and presented in a manner that didn’t feel forced, or like her character was being thrown under the bus just to make Stéphane look good. This time they could have tried to show him as a character with a little moral ambiguity, but Jean-Pascal Zadi had to take the safe route and make himself look like he is a nice guy through and through. The hero worshiping is an unnecessary part of the show. The writing of Jean-Pascal Zadi, François Uzan, Alpha Diallo, Elise Ayrault, Déborah Hassoun, and Dorothée Lachaud shines in the last episode as finally events of significance take place that will pave the way for the third season.Â
The direction all through the second season could be considered slightly off. There is no sense of urgency or interest in knowing what Stéphane and his team are up to because the screenplay is very predictable. The direction by Jean-Pascal Zadi could have been worked on, and the comparison to the first season is bound to happen. Representing season one was a game changer for the right reasons. The second season could have pushed the narrative into bolder territories, but sadly, that did not happen. Politics is something Jean-Pascal Zadi did not miss out on in the second season as well. A lot of topics come up, including the right wing being given a platform now to voice their vile ideas to the public in support of the ideology of colonialism. The show does not shy away from pointing out the problem with right-wing ideology and how it has become okay to criticize a community based on prejudice and not on logic. The lack of a solution to their concerns is what Jean-Pascal Zadi is focusing on. Racism will never leave the system, nor will it leave the people which is also the most pointed-out aspect in Represent. It keeps coming back in many shapes and forms, which is alarming.
The editing in Represent season 2 is insanely good, as the job of keeping the episodes short and crisp is a monumental task. Thankfully, Jean-Pascal Zadi did not take the usual route of increasing the run time of each episode in the second season. They remained thirty-one minutes long, and the edit of the show remains tight even in the second season.
The performances, however, just like in the first season, are not that great. Even though we get it, the nature of the show is such that there is not much heavy lifting required from the actors. Most of the work is done by writing. Jean-Pascal Zadi as Stéphane is good at only certain parts of the show, as he is more dependent on the narrative than putting in any effort into his performance. The same could be said about other actors on the show as well. Even though there is a reason for their presence in Stéphane’s life, the narrative and their performance could not do justice to their characters.
Represent season two could have been a great sequel to an interesting premise set by the actor, writer, and director Jean-Pascal Zadi. Sadly, the second season could be termed lukewarm, and it did not live up to our expectations.
