If you’re missing the glamorous getaways of the White Lotus resorts – alongside the mysterious escapades of the extravagant and eccentric guests, we’ve got your next watch sorted. Summer ’36 (known as L’Été 36 in French) is the superb period drama to watch this weekend – think The White Lotus with a whodunnit twist.
Summer ’36 takes us to the irresistibly chic Côte D’azur in 1936. But, it’s not all turquoise seas and oversized sun hats – four female protagonists from very different walks of life find themselves on the coastline for different reasons. But, the murder of one man, prosecutor Adrien Jacquart (Arnaud Binard) connects them all – as they each become prime suspects.
With the series recently released on Netflix, here’s everything you need to know about Summer ’36, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Summer ’36 about?
The six-part French series, which first aired in Belgium in 2026, takes us to the height of ‘oh la la’ – the fictional luxurious Riviera Hotel. But it’s not quite as exclusive as the uber-elite clientele might hope. When they step out on to the Côte D’azur, they’re in danger of stumbling across working class revellers as it’s the first summer working people in France are able to enjoy paid holidays.
The series introduces us to four women from very different backgrounds: Eugénie Berthier (Sofia Essaïdi) is a working-class mother; Léonie Morel (Constance Gay) is a police assistant helping to release her wrongly-accused father from prison; Blanche Ackerman (Julie de Bona) belongs to one of the region’s richest families and Giulia Vincent (Nolwenn Leroy) is a housekeeper struggling with gambling debts.
The link between these very different women is one (very busy) man – a prosecutor called Adrien Jacquard (Arnaud Binard). He’s refusing to pardon Léonie’s dad, he lends money to Giulia, he’s Blanche’s secret lover and the father of Eugénie’s child. Naturally, they all become prime suspects when he is found dead in his hotel room – and so unfolds a riveting whodunnit.
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Who’s in the cast of Summer ’36?
The cast for Summer ’36 includes:
- Julie de Bona (Women at War) as Blanche Ackerman
- Nolwenn Leroy (Brocéliande) as Giulia Vincent
- Constance Gay (Flashback) as Léonie Morel
- Sofia Essaïdi (Overdose) as Eugénie Berthier
- Arnaud Binard (À l'aventure) as Adrien Jacquard
Is Summer ’36 any good?
Yes - if you love a sun-soaked escape and riveting murder mystery, you’re going to want to add Summer ’36 to your watchlist. Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes fans will love cracking this case, and the cinematography and French riviera only adds to the allure. And, you might be wondering about The White Lotus similarities? The Summer '36 hotel is just as luxurious as the franchise's varying resorts, and the characters are just as mystifying. But, while Mike White's mystery revolves around who's killed, rather than 'whodunnit' - Summer '36 follows the more traditional format.
How can I watch Summer ’36?
You can watch Summer ’36 now on Netflix.
What other murder mysteries can I watch now?
If you’re in the mood for a classic ‘whodunnit’, Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? is based on Agatha Christie’s novel of the same name. Naval officer Bobby Jones (Will Poulter) and his friend Lady Frances ‘Frankie’ Derwent (Lucy Boynton) find a man dying at the foot of a cliff. With his final breath, he utters the titular question – and so a quest to find the truth begins. Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? is available to watch now on ITVX. For another trip abroad, we'd recommend another perfect escapist murder mystery, High Seas takes us aboard a swanky transatlantic ship setting sail from Europe to South America in the 1940s. It introduces sisters Eva (Ivana Baquero) and Carolina Villanueva (Alejandra Onieva), who soon find themselves caught in a web of suspicious happenings. You can watch High Seas now on Netflix.
