Created by Julien Leclercq, Elite Force is a French thriller revolving around the country’s elite GIGN tactical unit. The drama follows David, a veteran GIGN commander who is preparing to retire after decades of serving under dangerous conditions. His retirement plans are blown away when a devastating attack targets the unit. This forces him to get back into command. Matters become complicated when Max, David’s godson, joins the elite forces despite David’s ardent attempts to keep him away from this dangerous profession. As an unknown terrorist launches personal attacks, David is forced to confront not only him, but some of the most painful memories from his past, not to mention his constant urge to look out for Max.
One of the greatest strengths of Elite Forces is the authenticity with which they have created the whole show. There is no unnecessary exaggeration of action just to gain viewership. Even the ones shown feel pretty close to reality. The makers have shown the discipline of France’s real-life GIGN. The scenes that show the tactical operations unfold feel very much believable, with genuine consequences of wrong action being depicted as well.
The only issue is that the plot is too predictable and offers nothing new. The makers of Elite Force have traded on similar waters with a plot that, though it feels real, sadly doesn’t really give us a chance to see something novel. We have seen so many plots dealing with the concept of “last mission,” and Elite Force too feels nothing but that. At one point, things start to feel boring once you manage to figure out what is up with David’s past. The way the show has been executed, I was hoping for something better when it came to plot. However, that is one aspect where I was left slightly disappointed, and many can feel the same.
The cast, on the other hand, has done a commendable job of portraying their roles. Tomer Sisley is compelling as David. The writers have ensured that he doesn’t come across as someone who can do nothing wrong. Instead, he has had his share of fallouts. He struggles to balance duty with personal issues. This makes him a character who feels relatable to many. There is also a conflicting relationship he shares with Max. This relationship adds another layer of angle and intrigue to the overall plot of Elite Force. What we get to see is experience vs. youthful ambition, which sometimes is reckless. And their subplot is worth a watch.
The pacing is good. There are all types of scenes that one can expect-from self-introspection moments to battle ones. But in none of them do we see that the pacing doesn’t follow what is being shown. That is a rare finding in shows like Elite Force where the pacing often falters and a lot of time is devoted to just showing battle scenes. The makers have indeed mindfully executed those aspects of the show.
Even the scenes that show altercations aren’t the highly dramatic ones. Instead, they also, to a great extent, feel as real as they can get. So dear viewers, though the predictability persists, that doesn’t mean that the show is not worth a watch. If you are someone who loves thrillers involving counter terrorism operations, Elite Force is just what you need to watch.
Final Score - [7/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Choudhuri
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times