Netflix’s latest drama, “La Palma,” has gripped audiences worldwide with its powerful depiction of a volcanic disaster. While the show has grown in popularity, it raises crucial considerations about scientific truth and the distinction between entertainment and realism in disaster stories.

Produced in Norway, “La Palma” has swiftly become one of Netflix’s most popular shows. The series tells different stories of a cataclysmic volcanic catastrophe in La Palma, one of Spain’s Canary Islands. A central plot revolves around a Norwegian family—Jennifer, Fredrik, and their children, Sara and Tobias—whose vacation transforms into a deadly battle for survival. Another thread follows Marie, a young geologist who finds early warning signals of an impending eruption at the island’s Cumbre Vieja volcano.

Real-world occurrences and scientific arguments inspire the show. La Palma’s Cumbre Vieja volcano erupted in 2021, causing substantial property destruction but no fatalities during its three-month eruption.