Drops of God: Legendary Entertainment’s Apple TV+ Drama Scores Big with Critics
The world of fine wines and gastronomy takes center stage in Drops of God, a new Apple TV+ drama from Legendary Entertainment. Unlike shows about dynastic power struggles or media empires, this 8-episode adaptation of the popular Japanese manga series offers a high-stakes narrative that surprised me with its Succession-style drama, all revolving around the passing of a French wine aficionado.
What’s even more impressive is that I’m not the only one hooked on this show, which was written by wine enthusiasts with impressive collections of their own. Critics and fans alike have given Drops of God a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, praising the drama for its unique approach and likening it to “Succession: The Wine Snob Edition.”
Although he may not be as bombastic as Succession’s Logan Roy, Alexandre Léger’s death sets the stage for Drops of God, an Apple TV+ drama that centers on the world of enology and fine wines. Léger, the creator of the famous Léger Wine Guide and a world-renowned figure in the industry leaves behind a $148 million wine collection and two potential heirs: his estranged daughter Camille and his protege, the brilliant oenologist Issei Tomine.
To determine who will inherit Léger’s empire and wine collection, the two contenders must compete in three wine-related challenges. Camille, who has never tasted wine before, starts at a disadvantage and must spend a month in a French vineyard to learn about the different flavors and aromas of the wine.
The first two episodes of Drops of God, now streaming on Apple TV+, will likely appeal to fans of the similarly ambitious Pachinko. The drama boasts cinematic visuals and a multilingual cast, filmed in French, Japanese, and English, that adds to its immersive quality.
Drops of God succeeds in large part because of its richly drawn and compelling characters, Camille and Issei Tomine. The show offers an immersive look at the world of high-end wines, capturing its complex beauty and making for a much more captivating experience than I anticipated. Beyond the wine, the show weaves in interesting family stories and themes of identity that add depth and richness to the narrative.
As The Financial Times notes, while the central premise may seem contrived at first, Drops of God is a show that can be appreciated by both wine connoisseurs and novices alike. It’s a rich, full-bodied narrative that offers notes of passion, beguiling old-world beauty, and the universal search for one’s identity.
