Summary
Intriguing flashbacks reveal a simmering romance and a potentially earth-shattering plot twist. This tremendous writing opens up the narrative to further tension and drama.
We recap the Apple TV+ series Drops of God Season 1 Episode 4, “Foundation,” which contains spoilers.
We take a slight detour from the central wine competition in “Foundation” to focus on the history of this enthralling saga.
Flashbacks follow Alexandre (Stanley Weber) and Marianne Leger (Margaux Chatelier) as they journey to Tokyo for a new life, which coincides with the early days of Honoka and Hirokazu’s own unconventional relationship.
Drops of God Season 1 Episode 4 Recap
The fourth chapter mainly focuses on the past, but we start in the present. Issei and Camille square up to one another for a photo shoot. Their competition has become big news in Japan, and the press capitalizes on their popularity.
Meanwhile, Hirokazu has gone missing, and Honoka is sent his belongings in a large envelope. Inside, she finds her husband’s wallet, phone, and even his wedding ring. There’s also a piece of paper, presumably a suicide note for the cold wife.
How did Alexandre and Honoka first meet?
As the reality of this note starts to sink in, viewers are taken back to 1990. A youthful Honoka and Hirokazu travel to France to visit Chassangre’s vineyard. Alexandre makes a rock-star entrance, delivering a wine-tasting tour for wealthy Japanese tourists.
Honoka’s reserved, cutting persona is evident from the very off, and she challenges Alexandre instantly. She asks to taste some rarer, tastier wine. Alexandre picks out the perfect alternative, and Honoka likes it so much that she orders 50 crates of the stuff to be delivered back to Tokyo.
At a party that night, it’s clear that Honoka has eyes for Alexandre, but nothing comes of their initial flirtations. A bashful Hirokazu moves on Honoka, but he is quickly turned down. Honoka appears to be jealous of Alexandre’s beautiful wife, Marianne. Then they all have a grape fight together.
Why did Alexandre move to Tokyo?
A year later, Alexandre decided to move to Japan to become an oenology teacher in Tokyo. This drastic move is spurred on by Alexandre’s aversion to the current French wine industry, which he thinks is outdated and elitist. Feeling an outcast in his own country, Alexandre and Marianne take a risky leap of faith.
Their first few weeks in Tokyo are difficult. They have no money, and Alexandre’s course starts off poorly. He has a minimum of students interested, and they cannot drink wine in class. Alexandre decides to teach them after hours at a wine bar instead. The students love the experience and quickly learn so much.
Marianne gets a job working at the French Embassy, and she introduces Alexandre to the publisher Jacques Fusier at a party. Again, Alexandre’s strong, controversial views offend this wine expert as well.
Back in the present, Marianne is sent Alexandre’s ashes in the post. The urn comes with a message from Alexandre himself. He apologizes for not supporting her or making her happy. He wants his ashes scattered at the Chassangre vineyard.
While in Tokyo, Issei confronts Honoka about her past with Alexandre, showing his mother the photograph of them together. Honoka downplays their interactions, clearly hiding some secrets of her own. Honoka asks Issei if he has seen his father. The son has not. She keeps her worries about Hirokazu’s fate to herself, though.
In further flashbacks, Alexandre and Honoka’s simmering romance starts to heat up. Alexandre starts to walk Honoka home after their wine bar seminars, but they don’t take things any further. Hirokazu sees the couple together and gets rather drunk, jealous of their relationship.
Why was Alexandre sacked?
The following day, Hirokazu is found asleep outside the University. Word gets out about Alexandre’s extracurricular activities with the students, and he is sacked from his position. Marianne urges Alexandre to write his own wine guide now that he is unemployed.
She sets up a meeting with Jacques, where Alexandre pitches his revolutionary take on the wine industry. Jacques reluctantly agrees to a book deal, offering him a cash advance to live off of. Alexandre gets to work on his first wine guide, which will become world-famous in the near future.
Drops of God Season 1 Episode 4 Ending Explained
Honoka arrives at Alexandre’s home to pass on Hirokazu’s apology letter. They kiss and start a heated love affair, meeting routinely in hotel rooms. Alexandre juggles both romances and still finds time to complete his wine guide.
Marianne falls pregnant, and Honoka becomes pregnant not soon after. It isn’t specified that Alexandre is the father, but it is a strong possibility nonetheless. When Camille is born, Alexandre also spots Honoka and Hirokazu leaving the maternity ward with Issei. They were born within days of each other.
Back in the present, Honoka looks through old photographs, reminiscing about her time shared with Alexandre. Marianne hides Alexandre’s ashes, refusing to fulfill his final wish of having them scattered in Chassangre’s vineyard. Issei and Camille share a lift together, presumably heading to their next challenge. Are these two half-siblings?
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