The premiere episode of Netflix's limited series "Anthracite," titled "Still on Fire," plunges viewers into the heart of a mystery that has haunted the French Alps town of Levionna for three decades. The episode masterfully sets the stage for a tale of cults, murder, and dark secrets, weaving a narrative that is as chilling as it is compelling.
The story begins with a flashback to 1994, where a GIGN raid on the Écrins cult compound uncovers a gruesome scene: the cult leader, Caleb Johansson, is found choking on his own blood, with the rest of the cult members dead. Johansson was accused of murdering a young girl, Roxane Vial, in a ritual that involved smearing her face with anthracite, a black mineral that becomes a sinister motif throughout the episode.
Fast forward to 2024, and journalist Solal Heilman is revisiting the case, delving into old footage and evidence stored near Levionna. His investigation is cut short by a violent attack, and the episode shifts to his daughter, Ida, who arrives in the Alps to search for her missing father. Ida, a "web-sleuth," is determined and resourceful, quickly identifying Jaro, a young man on parole working at a nearby ski resort, as a person of interest.
Jaro, originally from Paris, is trying to start fresh after a run-in with drug dealers, but his past and present collide when he is implicated in the disappearance of Emma, a young woman last seen with him. The local police lieutenant, Giovanna, questions Jaro, but Ida vouches for him, and together they set off to meet Caleb Johansson, who has been incarcerated for the past 30 years.
At the asylum, Johansson's cryptic ramblings about Jaro's mother, Juliette, who committed suicide in a house fire when Jaro was a child, send a chill down Jaro's spine. Johansson's prophecy of flames consuming Jaro and his descendants adds a layer of supernatural dread to the episode.
Ida, who has been keeping a dark secret, is revealed to be terminally ill with cancer. Her urgency to find her father is not just about solving a mystery but also about her own mortality. As the body of Emma is discovered in a frozen lake, her face smeared with anthracite, the connection to the past cult murders becomes undeniable.
The episode culminates in a party at Johansson's old cult house, where Jaro, high on drugs, begins to question his recent decisions. A fight breaks out, and Jaro, accused of Emma's murder, seeks Ida's help to clear his name. Ida reveals that Jaro's mother was connected to the cult and that her father and Jaro's mother both believed Caleb was innocent.
As Ida and Jaro start to unravel the threads of this complex mystery, their investigation is interrupted by a violent explosion in Ida's room, setting it ablaze. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, with Jaro and Ida fighting for their lives amidst the flames, leaving viewers eager for the next installment.
"Still on Fire" is a gripping start to "Anthracite," establishing a moody atmosphere and a complex web of relationships and secrets. The episode expertly balances character development with plot progression, ensuring that viewers are as invested in the fates of Ida and Jaro as they are in the central mystery. With its haunting setting, compelling characters, and a plot that twists and turns with every revelation, "Anthracite" promises to be a thriller that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.