Capitani Season 1 Episode 1 Oh You, Up There
- October 1, 2019
Capitani season 1 episode 1, titled "Oh You, Up There," begins with a hauntingly beautiful landscape of a small village named Manscheid located in the Luxembourgish Ardennes. The episode opens with a man named Luc Capitani, portrayed by Luc Schiltz, arriving in the village. He is a detective with the local police department. He has been sent to this peaceful valley village to solve the mystery surrounding the death of a teenage girl named Jenny Engel.
Jenny was a 15-year-old girl who was found dead in the woods on a gloomy Sunday morning. Her death has shocked the entire community, and nobody knows what happened to her. Her parents, school principal, and friends are all devastated, and she seems to have been a beloved girl in the village. To top it off, the autopsy report has not revealed anything suspicious. Authorities have termed her death as an accident, but there are some questions that Capitani intends to answer in the course of his investigation.
As Capitani starts exploring the village to get a sense of the place and people, he meets an array of characters. There are farmers, imported laborers, a young couple who are struggling to keep up with their daily routine, and an elderly man who runs the local cab service. Capitani makes inquiries, but he is met with pure hostility from the villagers. Everyone wants him and his investigation to leave the village and let Jenny's case rest. But Capitani persists, and with each interview and interaction, we are given a closer look at how Manscheid works.
The episode then introduces us to Capitani's personal life. He is married to Elsa, and they have a teenage daughter. Elsa is seen to be somewhat cold towards Capitani, as she is worried about him getting involved with work much too often. Capitani also has a troubled history with alcohol, which seems to affect his personal relationships as well as his job performance.
As the investigation deepens, Capitani's suspicion about the villagers starts to grow. The dead girl's diary reveals that she had a secret admirer, and this opens a window of inquiry into the private lives of the villagers. The small-town dynamics begin to unravel, with everyone from farmers, children, shopkeepers to the local pastor, coming under the investigation's lens.
Throughout the episode, the spectacular landscape of the Ardennes serves as captivating scenery, contrasting with the underlying theme of loss, grief, and secrets. The show manages to bring forth an atmosphere of despair effortlessly. Capitani maintains a persistent and determined demeanor, and his character is that of a traditional, old-school detective.
Towards the end of the first episode, there is a significant revelation regarding Jenny's death, which comes as a shock for both Capitani and the villagers. The episode ends on this cliffhanger, leaving the audience eagerly waiting for the next installment.
Capitani season 1 episode 1 is an excellent start to the Luxembourgish crime-drama series. The slow-paced storytelling and the reserved characters make for an intriguing watch. The story is intense, full of twists and turns, with the added bonus of stunning cinematography. With a thrilling soundtrack and a gripping storyline, this show is highly recommended for fans of true crime.