Mythomaniac (2019–2021) User Reviews

Season 1: Loved it

[oohlala-21627 · 8/10 · 30 November 2019]

Some reviewers, such as "The French are funny!", seem to be reviewing something else, not the french series "Mythomaniac". Elvira doesn't have cancer, neither she has an infant, her children are still in a high school. Not sure what that person was watching and reviewing. Also not sure why many are fixated on Anne Frank.

The youngest child Virginie, brilliantly played by Zelie Rixhon, is not obcessed with Anne Frank. She is a victim of the modern day "too much negative information" that hits children from all sources of mass information: internet, TV, social networks, etc. She is Anna Chlumsky (My Girl, 1991) of 21st century and suffers from anxiety.

2 older children, Carole, played by Marie Drion and Sam, Jérémy Gillet are still in high school, have their own, "modern day" problems. Both are exceptionally good actors.

Elvira, a mentally worn-out, but still beautiful mother, inadvertently, got herself into a mess which dramatically changed the dynamics of her household. Her cheating partner, the father of her kids, have found no other options as to further destroy his kids sense of wellbeing by revealing the "truth". Meantime his own lies remain unknown to his children. Brigitte, the father's lover, plays crucial role in the disfunction of this family and is plotting more destruction under pretense of "helping". The mother is in the corner and there is no easy way out. After years of being taken for granted, indifference from her family, she experiences short period of "love", care and affection which then were replaced by hatred. Meantime her lying and cheating partner remains a "good" parent for his children. A new character comes into play in the last episode. Looking forward to season 2.

Cruel world

[zsuzsanna-s · 8/10 · 4 December 2019]

This is a very sad story of a woman, who never get any attention or appreciation from her own family, even though she gave her whole life to them. She finds a way, quite unintentionally, to feel their love. Even though her action are not fair, her family wont forgive her, wont understand her, and frankly, it seems they dont even love her. At all. At the end she watches how her previously disfunctioning family became a better one - without her. Probably as the result of her actions, and it seems she became excluded forever. It is her sacrifice for her happy family. "What's a mother to do!"

Terrific...

[laurent-saletto · 8/10 · 2 December 2019]

To the reviewer who thinks it is okay for a french film, wow. How superior of you? And it is a series, not a film... As for Ann Frank, it is hardly making fun of her at all. Tis the book and the child's anxiety (caused by the shenanigans around her) that the mother decides to make disappear ... not the story. This series is a delight and a cross between comedy and drama, very well put together and a lot of fun. Great soundtrack... as for the cancer thing, the ploy was far stronger in Breaking Bad. I get it that for some people it wont work because it has subs, it is of a different culture viewpoint and doesn't fit into the usual series. But if you like quirky, charming and fun give it a try. Oh, and it helps if you are a bit more open to 'different'.

Very good family drama

[Vindelander · 7/10 · 10 May 2020]

Thoroughly enjoyed this series and whilst the storyline is somewhat quirky it builds to an intriguing climax. The acting, casting and script are all solid - in fact Marina Hands shines and I'll watch out for her other films.

I'd recommend this and would watch again when my goldfish memory has done its usual trick.

Love the series

[elin22 · 7/10 · 17 December 2019]

Very original and lovely series, great actors, beautiful scenery. This is definitely worth your time if you are into a little drama.

Fantastic!

[spikeypoet · 9/10 · 13 January 2021]

I'm a TV snob. I normally know within the first episode whether a show is a hit or a miss. I immediately liked all of the characters in this programme. None of them grated on me; I felt something for all of them, and the lead actress is superb in this role. I'm actually surprised how believable this series is. I think that it achieved this by everyone fulfilling their individual parts so well, which in turn means that the end product is cohesive. Completely surprised by this find.

I don't know if I love or hate it...

[lisamazzone · 6/10 · 20 December 2019]

A very original story. Looked very promising. But the characters annoyed me. Especially daughter Carole who made a character change from one moment to the next. And for my idea there are so many loose ends where too little attention has been paid. Left a little confused. And don't know yet if I'm jumping for season 2 ...

I loved it

[myotherpetisdog · 10/10 · 29 November 2019]

Great performances, children-actors are brilliant. Compelling story. Can't wait for the next season.

Decent drama

[jeff-yates · 7/10 · 21 January 2020]

It's hard to add to what the above reviewer wrote ... I'm almost in complete agreement. I would stress that it builds nicely so don't be put off if you're not 100% hooked after E1. The only thing I'd add is that you don't have to watch the dubbed version. You can (as I did) watch in original French with English subtitles turned on. So, not one to return to again and again like the classics; The Sopranos, The Wire or (dare I say) GoT but a pretty entertaining series, if a tiny bit lightweight ... but hey, sometimes that's exactly what you want.

Started off well but it sucked

[Gonnabe2015 · 4/10 · 12 November 2021]

Started off amazingly. Rude. Crazy. Silly. Funny. I don't think they expected it to ever have a sequel. In the second season everything plummets. The characters are completely different and there is no logic to their actions or one that explains their previous ones. Like a completely different show. Terrible.

Modern life drama

[marclondon-76265 · 8/10 · 3 April 2020]

I really enjoyed these series. I have always had a thing for french movies. They seem so more real than American ones. It tells the story of our modern life and all the typical characters we meet in life or read about .

Trans representation failed

[alexzuno · 9 February 2021]

Didn't director and producers think it was possible to cast a trans actress to play Sam role? I guess they don't give a damn about trans representation or they didn't watch Euphoria or Pose.... Another cis actor with a wig playing a trans woman :/

I wasn't

[Headturner1 · 7/10 · 9 November 2021]

Going to make a review until I read the comments. All the experts about French films etc and LGBT and Anne Frank! Lol! Most of the people complaining about the acting and dialogue probably don't even realize it's dubbed! Or that dubbing is mostly atrocious and makes the acting and dialogue seem horrible. It's hard for me to find a decently dubbed foreign fil or show ( Nobody's watching) was probably one of the better dubbed shows I've seen. I watched about 5 episodes before I fell asleep. I think it's decent and I'm going to finish it tonight and update if necessary.

Starts good and then goes downhill

[ella_kelbert · 5/10 · 3 November 2022]

The story and actors are interesting in the beginning until around the 4th episode, when it starts going nonsense, dark and kind of boring. Seems like they changed its genre completely or even the writer.

It has some loose ends, like stories about the kids which go nowhere.

So after around 4th episode it also adds a secret or criminal component about the main character younger life which seems very improbable. I think they did that to justify a second season, bit it's just weird.

I watched it until half episode of s. 2 but it's to unbelievable and boring.

It's unfortunate because as I said, it started very promising.

It's ok to practice french though, it's easy to understand :-D.

Good story but annoying French male/female stereotypes.

[sharonwarren-98114 · 7/10 · 6 November 2023]

French films can be tiresome for the character stereotypes they keep portraying. While the plot in this series is well written and very interesting, are we really expected to believe that this unattractive, whiny, hairy dad, with absolutely no job prospects can attract the gaze of 3 (so far) beautiful women who all seem to want to sleep with him? It is so unbelievable it nearly spoils the series. All I could think of was EEEWW anytime one of the ladies kissed him. I really had to put that aside to try and joy what is otherwise a funny but also dark story. Once you can do that it becomes quite interesting.

Worth a view

[sess_uk · 8/10 · 24 December 2019]

After watching so many series on Netflix, it was great to finally find one that I looked forward to watching the next episode. I nearly didn't continue after episode 1, but it got better each episode thereafter. I can't comment on the references to cancer or how correct the facts in the story line are, but felt able to relate to the lead characters role in regards to motherhood and struggles with everyday life and mental health. I was shocked to see it only had 2 stars on Netflix, please don't let that put you off! Well filmed, good cast and characters. Just a shame it was dubbed, as maybe some of the depth is lost in translation.

I REALLY Liked This... and Don't Know Why

[hilaryjrp · 9/10 · 24 December 2019]

I gave this a "9." It probably deserves a "10." First, the bad: the series begins with actors doing "cute" too much, a fault I find with many French dramas. Repeat--DRAMAS. The term "meet cute" is why I'd rather have teeth pulled than watch American comic romances. But with "Mythomane," we're talking DRAMA. I was actually repelled by the first two episodes and the breezy infidelity, the "quirky" and unfunny minor characters, the politically correct transgender stuff.

Now, the great (feminist) stuff. Marina Hinds is magnificent in her role of someone who may be a psychopath but whose psychopathy-if indeed it is that-is caused by abuse. She is taken advantage of by her common-law husband, father to her three children, treated like a maid by all three of her odious millennial kids, regarded as something to be gotten rid of as quickly as possible even by her gynecologist. And worse. Watching "Mythomane," you wonder why more twenty-first century women in Elvira's situation don't become even more lawless.

The scene that sold me on "Mythomane" comes at the climax in the sixth episode, where Marina's loneliness and humanity are laid low by absolutely everyone in her family. The humiliation of being rejected by one's own children and judged by these brats is just a devastating scene I'll remember a long time.

The point of "Mythomane" is that we are all liars, not minor league. We are all in our own ways major league sociopathic traitors. The transgender son, the cruelest to Marina of all-who lies like a rug about his sexuality to the extent where an innocent German boy is traumatized maybe for life-has no problem telling his mother, his staunchest supporter, he would have preferred she had died rather than shame the family. The star of the family, a little girl obsessed with Anne Frank, ends up lying like crazy to her huge, presumably YouT*be audience about her mother's problem. A tough teenage daughter dares a friend to risk a jump that makes him fall into a coma-but joins a Scient*logy-like cult. With a mom who lies even about her name (it's not "Elvira"), and a father who treats two women-Elvira and an Asian mistress-like disposable toys, maybe apples don't fall far from trees. But everyone is revolting. So when everyone is revolting, there's no choice but to look for what is redeeming.

I loved--and hated--"Mythomane." The one thing I didn't feel was bored. This is *not* an easy series to like. It will not appeal to American audiences who judge too easily the French sense of humor. But for those who appreciated "Desperate Housewives," this may just be what the doctor ordered. Life is hard for women on whatever the French words for Wisteria Lane are.

transphobic tv show

[debtunes-77943 · 2/10 · 19 November 2021]

Not only they did not cast a trans woman to play a trans character, but there are many instances where sam's identity is depicted as a "lie", and equaled to the lies other characters tell. It is really offensive, and I kept waiting for the series to show how wrong it was for somebody to hit her because of her genitalia or just that it was not her fault if she had suffered violence, but it never did. Just do better, it is not that hard to a) cast a trans actor to play a trans role 2) consider people's identities as valid.

How to screw-up your average life/ societal existence !

[Elisabetha49 · 8/10 · 19 October 2019]

So far ... so good, however more than ' to be expected ' ... Awaiting season 2 and it's conclusion ... ?

Not a Bad series.

[FluffydaMovieslayer · 5/10 · 21 October 2021]

The acting is pretty good. The story is interesting .

Its actually better than most of the new stuff Netflix is throwing out and around.

When I seen this on the up and coming, My initial response was "oh cool" yeah I could wash the dishes with this playing in the background.

A remarkable genre blender

[danybur · 9/10 · 24 November 2021]

Summary

The second season of this remarkable series maintains the unclassifiable quality that characterized it in the first: a true blender of genres very difficult to summarize as a simple black comedy or tragicomedy, that maintains its audacity and its ability to bother, its melancholy, its depth, in its approach to relationships, qualities that allow it to continue being one of the most original series on Netflix.

Review (includes information from season 1)

The story of Elvira continues, the wife and mother fed up with her family using and ignoring her and who invents a cancer to capture their attention, regain their affection and save her marriage.

Season 1 of this French series had ended with Elvira "refugee" in a neighbor's house (and without a job) after leaving her home for having confessed her deception and looking out the window as the enigmatic young Italian introduced himself to his family.

The unpredictable Elvira (the incredible and captivating Marina Hands) continues to live with her neighbor and watch over the movements of her family. Her family nucleus continues to be angry with her. On the other hand, each member of its rich gallery of characters is a world, sustained by admirable performances, each with their great moments: Patrick, her depressed ex-husband (Mathieu Demy), their trans daughter and their two daughters (notoriously grown) , her Italian father, her brother-in-law, her disturbing ex-boss, the sinister neighbor and her strange sect (among the most disturbing of the series), the sensitive neighbor, her beautiful tarot reader friend and, of course, the enigmatic young Italian and others who are will be adding.

After a somewhat hesitant start more focused on comedy, the season recovers its juxtaposition of genres and climates, its audacity and its capacity to bother, its melancholy, its depth in the approach of the bonds, qualities that allow it to continue being a of the most original Netflix series.

So many mothers and wifes around can see themselves in her , maybe at least until she made up her cancer

[sonyachnik · 8/10 · 13 December 2020]

I love it even better BECAUSE it made by France 🇫🇷. It has different flavor ,often more deep and funny than American series would be. Being wife, mother, provider , as many of us are , we know how we sometimes don't matter in what we do daily for the family. Loving,cooking , cleaning, caring, helping , studying, working for your family to stay afloat , we are at the same time can be invincible and don't matter. And God forbid we sleap and do some mistakes! Father of children having his affair showing here like it some minor mistake of his. But effect on mother is profound. It was painful to watch her suffering quietly and traying so hard. But no one noticed! This is what our society became! Self centered , disconnected people ! I really love mother's character, and acting is supreme on actress part. When she made up cancer , I was surprised but still my sympathies on her side , and I wish that she didn't feel the pain she had. Awaiting for season 2 with anticipation of good season.

horrible everything

[dilarakaragozlum · 2/10 · 30 November 2019]

The story is very unbelievable and inaccurate. First off, when someone actually has a tumor and it isn't yet clear if it's benign or not, you don't speak of cancer. I feel everyone does know this? Or at least should.

Secondly the way they - unlike a series like Euphoria - still use a non trans person to depict a trans character is disgusting.

The sound design is complete rubbish too. The crickets are too overdone and often completely out of sync when a door opens or closes, which is not how it sound works. Especially since often the sound stops before a door is closed.

The dialogues are very shallow and staged, like a pre schooler playing with barbies. It lacks realness, believability and maturity.

Acting isn't great either.

Honestly I have no clue what would be good about this series. Too many characters, with too little dept.

Insane to think I'm now 6 episodes in and it still has not touched anything, compared to a show like After Life, where in little time you feel for more than one character so deeply you have to laugh and cry soon and throughout. Whereas here you're constantly reminded you're listening too crappy dialogues, poorly acting out a very unbelievable and somehow shallow storyline.

Really unique series

[LukeCustomer2 · 9/10 · 18 June 2020]

First, this is a "French" series. It is dubbed. That alone can make it uncomfortable for USA audiences. That being said, this was an important series that I wish was more widely watched.

The story concerns some of the most selfish people in the world and their poor put upon mother who finally, after years of abuse, tells them a lie so they will be nice to her. I would say about 90% of current mothers in the world are this woman. It is a brutal mirror to society and cautionary tale for most young women starting a family. The main character has three insanely self absorbed and bratty kids. At every point in this series, everything that happens is viewed in how it will effect them. Their father is a such a selfish moron that he can't even be bothered to marry the mother of his children, is having an affair, and runs a photo shop -- an indulgence - while his wife holds a real job with an abusive boss to make sure they have money. As she makes clear in a speech with them at the end, it is like nothing she does is important, like no reason to ever do anything with her.

Eventually she tells them she has breast cancer. The change in behavior is so wonderful she can't bring herself to tell them the truth and has a plan to just tell them she is cured. But is found out before.

The reaction? No compassion for mom. No, husband gets to work right away with his lover on figuring out how to get evidence of the lie for any court case, he tells the kids so they will be sure to hate her - of course, they do. Immediately it is all about them. They even have the guts to state that they "never asked her" to do things like the laundry or work -- so clearly it is her fault. All her fault. What BS.

No one should be made to turn selfish to keep other selfish people from taking advantage of them.

The ending was a little odd and I am not sure what to make of it but... it makes me interested in a season 2.

So so

[karimnn · 5/10 · 29 November 2019]

Anne Frank? Really? Is that what the little girl identifies with? What does Anne Frank have anything to do with this story? Does the little girl identify with Anne Frank? How in the world can this bourgeois girl possibly identify with Anne Frank. An insult to Anne Frank.