A high-energy drama that it is, “White Lines” pulls you into a rubbed-off death mystery surrounding the murder of a 20-something runaway DJ from Manchester, and the self-discovery sojourn of a caring sister questioning events that happened 20 years ago.
While there is an overabundance of crime dramas in 2021, those making a bet with off-beat plots set in exotic locations are few, but could be well worth watching for a change. The first few moments of Netflix’s “White Lines” initially reminded me of the streaming platform’s “Toy Boy” and “Playing with Fire”—they feature exciting scenery, deep characters, and an interesting story trail slowly unravelling for you to follow.
What’s more, the direction sets in “White Lines” have been made so colorful and vivid, you could almost forget you’re watching a crime drama (well, it is Ibiza, mi amigos!). Wild beach parties with drugs hitting the airs; guys and gals lost in the tune of nonstop DJ; uber elites fighting for their place in the Spanish island; and whatnot. However, weaving a moving family drama out of a foreign murder mystery is not everyone’s talent; this is especially true when adding so many dimensions to it, as you witness in “White Lines.”
What’s distinctively special about “White Lines,” even further, is that it firmly grounds its theme, yet is so diverse in its narrative. Viewers stumble upon a lot of unexpected life lessons in parenting, upbringing, character, trust, and family relations—all of which surely struggle a great deal in the modern societies we live in today. The show also predominantly hits hard on substance abuse; this is especially by young adults, subtly zeroing in on its potential to cause irreparable damage to lives. And finally, as you follow Zoe (Laura Haddock) in her quest to seek answers about her brother Axel’s (Tom Harries) cold murder 20 years ago in Ibiza; each step she takes forward uncovers something unpredictable.
Owing to good characters and a no-nonsense plot, “White Lines” may score reasonably high in those parts; however, it does have a visible share of lacking in certain angles. For starters, apart from a somewhat unfulfilling progress of story events, on several occasions the dialogues between characters turn into superfluous chatter; it feels like they’re just camouflaging the slow pace of the otherwise well-written script. The script is interesting enough to hold your breath until the end; however, more often than not it feels engulfed in its complex and turbid narration pattern. Last but not the least, the show also casts a spotlight on some controversial, non-conventional ideas; it surrounds itself in family relations, which, unfortunately, have a fair chance of pushing the audience aback.
Nevertheless, “White Lines” offers a great story-telling spirit, splendid cinematography, and characters worth revering; as such, it’s bound to leave you with more than you expect it to. With positive elements and emotional appeal, it may well turn out to be a show worth clinging until the end. Watch this 10-episode limited series if you enjoy crime thrillers and family dramas.
“White Lines” is currently available for streaming on Netflix. Further, taking hints from the show’s climax, it seems unlikely that there will be a season 2 to follow.
