Apple TV+ ‘Drops of God’ Season 2 Episode 7 Review - An Investing Race Begins

I just finished watching “Pyrrhus,” and it left me deeply invested in the storytelling even as it nudged at some of the season’s lingering weaknesses. This episode stands at the critical penultimate hinge of the season’s arc, and on balance it delivers a satisfying rush of character exploration, high-stakes competition, and emotional resonance, even though a few elements feel strained under the weight of the show’s own ambition.

From the start, “Pyrrhus” embraces its inherited drama. The lavish Parisian setting, a televised competition spectacle, opens the episode with real energy. Camille and Issei, who’ve already endured weeks of dueling quests and inner turmoil, are thrust into a three-part challenge that feels fittingly monumental. The plot mechanics of the contest itself are crisp: we see a trivia round where Issei’s encyclopedic wine knowledge puts him ahead, and a food-and-wine pairing round that underscores the contrast between his polished sommelier instincts and Camille’s unconventional, soulful approach. These phases are staged with a confident hand; the direction and cinematography bring out the texture of the world they inhabit, from sharp close-ups of judges’ faces during tense deliberations to wider shots that capture the swirl of competition and press attention.

One of the episode’s strongest moves is how it deepens our understanding of both protagonists. Issei’s brilliance is never in doubt, yet here we see it tempered by vulnerability and self-doubt. He excels technically but struggles with emotional context, especially in the face of Camille’s audacity and charm. Camille, for her part, keeps surprising the viewer. The episode’s central twist—the act of deception she commits—doesn’t feel like a cheat in the narrative so much as a bold gamble rooted in her history of having to fight twice as hard for recognition. It reveals layers of her resourcefulness and insecurity in equal measure. Her relationships feel lived-in: the strain with Issei is real, but so are the moments when they almost connect again when forced together during the final challenge in the French countryside.

The reconciliation between Camille and her mother, Marianne, is a standout subplot in this story. That scene cuts through weeks of unresolved tension and lingering pain, and both actresses bring a grounded vulnerability that resonates. It’s one of the episode’s most affecting beats because it gives context to Camille’s drive and why success in this contest means more to her than just winning. It’s a reminder that while “Drops of God” revels in wine lore and competition theatrics, its emotional core is about fractured connections and the work it takes to heal them.

The final challenge, identifying and recreating a mystery wine by blending grape varieties, is the kind of high-concept test that the series has built its identity around, and it plays out with satisfying complexity. Here, what could have been an abstract exercise becomes a metaphor for both characters’ growth: they must confront their biases, reveal hidden insecurities, and grapple with the legacy of Alexandre Léger. The dialogue between them in this stretch is sharper than we’ve seen in previous episodes—fewer wine lecture moments and more genuine back-and-forth that feels as much about personal truth as varietals and terroir.

That said, there are some narrative pressures worth noting. Occasionally, Camille’s “deception” and the episode’s reliance on exposition to justify it can feel a bit contrived. The contest rules and sudden reveal of just how much is at stake—editor-in-chief of the Léger Guide and control over vineyards—are dramatic, yes, but occasionally come across as an over-engineered twist designed to ratchet up tension rather than emerging organically from character motivation. Likewise, while Issei’s admission that he pieced together part of his knowledge from old notes is a nice touch, the way it’s revealed sometimes reads more like clever plotting than organic self-discovery.

Another minor friction point: the pacing. “Pyrrhus” wants to do a lot in its 47 minutes—competition narrative, family reconciliation, personal revelation, and the simmering tension between Camille and Issei. Most of this lands well, but there are moments where transitions feel abrupt, or where a potentially rich subplot doesn’t quite get the breathing room it deserves before we’re pulled back into the next phase of the competition.

Still, the production values here are impressive. The Paris set pieces have polish without feeling artificial, and the shift to the vineyard in France for the final challenge brings a quieter beauty that gives the story room to breathe. The direction keeps the stakes high without resorting to melodrama, and the performances from the core cast continue to hold the viewer’s attention even when the plot feels overstuffed. Camille’s interplay of grit and vulnerability, in particular, is consistently engaging; she anchors the narrative in a way that keeps the story emotionally compelling even when the mechanics of the contest get elaborate.

“Pyrrhus” works well as a penultimate episode because it pushes characters to reckon with their flaws while turning up the pressure on the central challenge that’s been building all season. It doesn’t solve everything neatly; indeed, it throws some wrench into Camille and Issei’s already tangled relationship, but it advances the emotional arc in ways that feel earned. Some narrative conveniences and pacing bumps hold it back from feeling truly effortless, yet the episode’s heart and craft keep it engaging from start to finish. I came away eager for the finale, invested in the characters, and curious to see how this balance of risk, revelation, and reconciliation will resolve.

Final Score- [7/10]