Wow a very unusual mini series, I think it was great the beauty of the young dancer and his dancing, the trapped wife, the constricting clothing and atmosphere made it compulsive viewing in fact I binge watched it, I found it hard going in places where the treatment of animals, servants and prisoners of all types were portrayed. I don't get the other reviews. For me it was a fascinating watch.
50 Reviews
Corrupt lives of merciless rich fascists
burakhatip18 October 2020
Rather than a series a long movie divided to three parts, tells a short period of some rich families during Franco regime. Production and acting are not bad. Scenario is catchy and flowing. This drama is ahead of the curve and imo you can give a chance.
Good, not great - too short can not be the excuse
jwjbart18 October 2020
Visually very well and attractively worked out, this drama lacks something in terms of conviction and depth. The dialogues are pretty well portrayed by the actors, but the 'good guys' and 'bad guys' are sometimes portrayed a little too extreme to make it seem realistic. On the other hand, various characters aroused sympathy or irritation in me, so that may not only say something about my sensitivity to it, but also about the quality of this series.
Furthermore, you should not forget that it is a Spanish drama. So: don't watch and review drama if you don't feel good about it. Put the lesser ratings of this series into perspective; watch and enjoy as open-minded as possible.
Could have been great but ended up just good.
JJHeca917 October 2020
It had all the ingredients to be an incredible story, it had good actors, good director, score but unfortunately it felt short. The length of the overall series does not allow the viewer to really go into the story of the characters which consequentially makes the story too superficial. You simply don't care enough for the characters to actually fully engage on what's happening.
It is worth watching however but somehow it felt disappointing given all the elements it had to be truly successful.
Not a memorable series
laura_z617 October 2020
I had higher expectations for this series. It was a decent series but it really had all the elements to be an amazing one. It just wasn't. That's why you ended up finishing the series without getting too much from it.
A lot of potential. Bad development.
HappyChildOfGod20 October 2020
Mild
rrriki-9074417 October 2020
Involving Spanish family-tragedy set in the Franco-era.
johannes2000-13 November 2020
I liked it. It has passionate and complex characters, the historical context is interesting, the locations where they filmed are impressive, and the fifties, in the midst of the fascist Franco regime, are flawlessly brought to life. The story is original and involving, like in a classical Greek tragedy all characters concerned are irrevocably steered by Fate to an unavoidable downfall.
In my opinion the acting was fine by all major characters, with Carmen Maura in the pivotal part of mrs. Amparo, the autocratic grand old lady of the manor, she dominates the screen with her arrogant demeanor and her scathing remarks. Cecilia Suarez as her tragic daughter in law is very touching, and I especially liked Alejandro Speitzer as the ill-fated son Gabino, who finds himself suddenly in the eye of an emotional family-storm, he's very convincing in at first his disbelief and indignation and later in his mortal fear. Maybe Isaac Hernandez isn't that good an actor but as a skilled professional ballet dancer (and thanks to his good looks) he is exactly right for his part.
If any, my only reservation concerns the last 10 minutes of the last episode, the writers went a tiny bit overboard there, at the expense of realism, it became something like a Tarantino movie. But otherwise: very recommendable.
In my opinion the acting was fine by all major characters, with Carmen Maura in the pivotal part of mrs. Amparo, the autocratic grand old lady of the manor, she dominates the screen with her arrogant demeanor and her scathing remarks. Cecilia Suarez as her tragic daughter in law is very touching, and I especially liked Alejandro Speitzer as the ill-fated son Gabino, who finds himself suddenly in the eye of an emotional family-storm, he's very convincing in at first his disbelief and indignation and later in his mortal fear. Maybe Isaac Hernandez isn't that good an actor but as a skilled professional ballet dancer (and thanks to his good looks) he is exactly right for his part.
If any, my only reservation concerns the last 10 minutes of the last episode, the writers went a tiny bit overboard there, at the expense of realism, it became something like a Tarantino movie. But otherwise: very recommendable.
It has the stamp of Manolo Caro
faer_kr17 October 2020
A series of 3 chapters that could easily be a film between drama and at the end it turns into a thriller.
With the characteristic stamp of Manolo Caro, how was "Amor de mis amores" "I don't know whether to cut my veins or leave them long".
Entertaining
Quality.
Ingenious.
It deals with sexual repression, archaic ideologies, oppression, fear of difference, of being carried away by prejudice and gossip, about envy and tantrums.
Quality performances.
The era well recreated as well as the changing rooms.
The only problem is that at times it is very gloomy and suddenly the lighting and makeup do not help Alejandro Speitzer and Cecilia Suárez much.
The interesting thing is that the trailer sells you one thing and surprise, another appears.
It could've been great but there's something missing
eloisacruzrodrigues17 October 2020
The dialogues are way too boring. The actor who plays Gambino is the worst. The title "somebody has to die" gives the impression that is going to be something similar to a thriller but so far I'm bored to death, it lacks excitement.
mucho sentimiento
BeGerman17 October 2020
This can only made by Latin American and Spanish cinema. Drama at Francos time. Father agains son. Son against mother. Spanish against Mexican. It's not a movie for people who has no love for Spanish Latin American cinema. It's not Hollywood. It's drama. A drama at a time against the only family. Agains Liberty and agains people who has a different model life.
The characters are Black and White.
"What is it to wake up every morning and to no you life a live of lie"
Denali , self-abandonment and recognition.
Denali , self-abandonment and recognition.
Doesn't cut deep
borgolarici19 October 2020
I was definitely mislead by the promotion material: I thought it would be more controversial and brave but it's your average Netflix production. It's a well packaged series, the actors worked well but the plot wasn't exactly revolutionary.
It's a good show but not extraordinarily so.
Catchy title, meh series
pumpkinfairy21 October 2020
This series started off sooo good and fizzled as quickly! And the end?! Oh man don't get me started!! So abrupt that I don't even have the words to express how I feel about the end lol! I truly hope COVID is behind the abrupt ending, if it was truly written this way then please don't release that fact, blame it on COVID ;)
What a pity
pablo_moriano10 June 2021
SHOULD BE MORE EPISODES.
andrewchristianjr22 July 2021
A decent suspense drama series. Having a good premise, characterization, and vibe as a serial idea, the creators were not able to develop the story and characters to the fullest. Summarizing this family issue drama could be better if it was executed in more episodes.
Waste of time
pau_munozl22 October 2020
misunderstood
ninirose19 October 2020
This is actually a really good show. It's not the greatest and it could definitely be better.
most of the people who have watched/rated this shows are not native spanish speakers.
the great writing comes into place when you listen/watch in spanish.
most of the people who have watched/rated this shows are not native spanish speakers.
the great writing comes into place when you listen/watch in spanish.
Quite enjoyable to watch
luisponz7 December 2020
This is a good killing-time watch - I saw it between airport lounges and flights. Great cast in particular Cecilia Suarez and Carmen Maura, and meticulous art direction.
With that said, story-wise, it feels like a student project. There's no wisdom in its approach to the characters and developments. I wonder if this was one of the first stories Manolo Caro came up when he was younger.
With that said, story-wise, it feels like a student project. There's no wisdom in its approach to the characters and developments. I wonder if this was one of the first stories Manolo Caro came up when he was younger.
A hot mess from start to finish
Whazabey15 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Let's just say I did not expect much but wow - this was bad!
I never write reviews but damn this was so bad I just need to vent.
What disappointed me the most was that besides being a lazy way to explain all the character's homophobia the setting of the series in Francoist Spain had almost no impact on the story. This seems especially grotesque since the setting would have allowed for so much interesting themes to be discussed, especially since catholicism played such a big part in Francoism. Admittedly we get two instances of Francoism and its attitudes towards queer people being shown (the courtyard scene with the priest and the two women & the torture scenes) but they have little impact on the "story". If these two scenes (and the one about Rosario being a communist) were not in this series, you could have set it in this day and age in some conservative town and the plot could have stayed exactly the same.
This is just where the problems start though. The characters in this series are clichés and their motivations confusing and nonsensical. The father is written almost comically evil which makes sense with him being a fascist. However it was not necessary to include a scene in which he rapes his wife, just to show how evil he is, especially since the scene has no impact on the story. It's just lazy and exploitative writing. Another annoying trope this series used was the closeted homophobe which the show somehow managed to combine with another trope that is as old as the Hay's code: killing of a queer character after they accept their sexuality and we could potentially get a future plot with those characters. More lazy writing.
The story does not really have anything to say. Our main plot focuses on Gabino and Lazaro. There are several confusing elements just to the set up of this series. One of them is that I find it rather hard to believe that a gay man decided to travel to a literal fascist country especially since it seems that at that point in the story he still thought that Lazaro could be a potential love interest. Second is that for some reason Gabino was under the assumption that Lazaro was queer as well which turns out to be wrong (which is probably the only part where I was actually surprised). However if you think about it it makes literally no sense, they knew each other for two years, they spent a lot of time together, Lazaro has had ex girlfriends so I just find it hard to believe that this misunderstanding could have happened. Anyway after Lazaro turns down Cayetana she for some reason starts spreading the rumour that she saw Lazaro and Gabino make out. It's not very clear what her motivations are - either she was just evil and playing him the whole time or she was hurt by being turned down and then got her revenge through this and then teasing Lazaro after she has him caught. Both options do not make a lot of sense and are not portrayed in a believeable way. This leads to Gabino being sent to a torture camp while Lazaro continues his affair with Gabino's mom (yeah idk either why this is happening). In the torture camp we get the only really interesting scene - Gabino's talk with the other inmate in which he is made aware of his class privilige. Anyway through a very very stupid plan Gabino is freed and gets to have a very weird talk with Alonso, the closeted homophobe, in which he tells him about his first time with another man. Alonso cries because of the beautiful story and then tries to kill himself. This is played as very dramatic but goddamn I could not stop laughing at the absurdity of what was happening on screen. In the end the father finds out about the affair of Lazaro and Mina which leads to the best part of the whole series: Sniper Grandma! There is a shootout in the woods with Alonso, the father, Gabino, the Grandma and Lazaro and Mina. The whole scene comes out of nowhere and is absolutely ridiculous, easily the most entertaining part of the series. Was it good, necessary or somehow properly set up in the series? No, but still a lot of fun. Throughout the series we also get a few sub plots involving Rosario and her husband, the Grandma and her dead husband which are completely unnecessary and very sloppily set up and have barely to do anything with the main story.
I would like to say that most problems come from this series only being three episodes long but I don't think it would have gotten better if they had more time. It's just not very good and has nothing interesting to say.
What disappointed me the most was that besides being a lazy way to explain all the character's homophobia the setting of the series in Francoist Spain had almost no impact on the story. This seems especially grotesque since the setting would have allowed for so much interesting themes to be discussed, especially since catholicism played such a big part in Francoism. Admittedly we get two instances of Francoism and its attitudes towards queer people being shown (the courtyard scene with the priest and the two women & the torture scenes) but they have little impact on the "story". If these two scenes (and the one about Rosario being a communist) were not in this series, you could have set it in this day and age in some conservative town and the plot could have stayed exactly the same.
This is just where the problems start though. The characters in this series are clichés and their motivations confusing and nonsensical. The father is written almost comically evil which makes sense with him being a fascist. However it was not necessary to include a scene in which he rapes his wife, just to show how evil he is, especially since the scene has no impact on the story. It's just lazy and exploitative writing. Another annoying trope this series used was the closeted homophobe which the show somehow managed to combine with another trope that is as old as the Hay's code: killing of a queer character after they accept their sexuality and we could potentially get a future plot with those characters. More lazy writing.
The story does not really have anything to say. Our main plot focuses on Gabino and Lazaro. There are several confusing elements just to the set up of this series. One of them is that I find it rather hard to believe that a gay man decided to travel to a literal fascist country especially since it seems that at that point in the story he still thought that Lazaro could be a potential love interest. Second is that for some reason Gabino was under the assumption that Lazaro was queer as well which turns out to be wrong (which is probably the only part where I was actually surprised). However if you think about it it makes literally no sense, they knew each other for two years, they spent a lot of time together, Lazaro has had ex girlfriends so I just find it hard to believe that this misunderstanding could have happened. Anyway after Lazaro turns down Cayetana she for some reason starts spreading the rumour that she saw Lazaro and Gabino make out. It's not very clear what her motivations are - either she was just evil and playing him the whole time or she was hurt by being turned down and then got her revenge through this and then teasing Lazaro after she has him caught. Both options do not make a lot of sense and are not portrayed in a believeable way. This leads to Gabino being sent to a torture camp while Lazaro continues his affair with Gabino's mom (yeah idk either why this is happening). In the torture camp we get the only really interesting scene - Gabino's talk with the other inmate in which he is made aware of his class privilige. Anyway through a very very stupid plan Gabino is freed and gets to have a very weird talk with Alonso, the closeted homophobe, in which he tells him about his first time with another man. Alonso cries because of the beautiful story and then tries to kill himself. This is played as very dramatic but goddamn I could not stop laughing at the absurdity of what was happening on screen. In the end the father finds out about the affair of Lazaro and Mina which leads to the best part of the whole series: Sniper Grandma! There is a shootout in the woods with Alonso, the father, Gabino, the Grandma and Lazaro and Mina. The whole scene comes out of nowhere and is absolutely ridiculous, easily the most entertaining part of the series. Was it good, necessary or somehow properly set up in the series? No, but still a lot of fun. Throughout the series we also get a few sub plots involving Rosario and her husband, the Grandma and her dead husband which are completely unnecessary and very sloppily set up and have barely to do anything with the main story.
I would like to say that most problems come from this series only being three episodes long but I don't think it would have gotten better if they had more time. It's just not very good and has nothing interesting to say.
Some redemption, but more bitter than sweet.
Mykle_Ykle17 October 2020
This was very raw, sometimes a little too raw and triggering. Although there's some redemption, it's still more bitter than sweet. The ending is abrupt, but I don't see how it should continue especially being a limited series.
Lots of untapped potential
exceladeogun11 December 2021
Someone has to die
This shouldn't have been a mini series, and as such, the story and characters weren't able to develop properly. The ending was rushed and packed, and left a nagging effect.
The cast and styling was great though.
This shouldn't have been a mini series, and as such, the story and characters weren't able to develop properly. The ending was rushed and packed, and left a nagging effect.
The cast and styling was great though.
Good series, meh ending
thabzzl23 July 2021
Maybe the film itself?
B2426 February 2021
A story about a wealthy but dystopian family in Spain in the years after World War II. Nicely filmed. Acceptable English dubbing. Correct automobiles and wardrobe for the period. Generally good production values all around.
But the script is nothing but a pastiche of implausible events, narrative threads that go nowhere, amateurish speechifying, and an underlying political screed aimed at the abuses of the Franco dictatorship. And as in many films I have seen from Spain, a lot of one-liners insulting Mexico. None of it makes much sense. We have seen many of these actors before, their talents wasted on this predictable mélange of one stereotype after another: the strict father; the frustrated wife, the gay son, the rigid class structure, the violence and brutality of the period, the obligatory nude scenes.
Because it is a series that comes to an abrupt ending after only three longish episodes, one gets the feeling it was intended originally to be either an extended series or a full movie, winding up without much of it actually making it to the cutting room floor where it belonged.
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