The Rise of the Spanish Series in Non-Hispanic Cultures

The most popular example being Money Heist (original title La Casa de Papel), a Netflix original series whose second part of the long-awaited fifth and final season was only released in December 2021. The Spanish crime show The Innocent, released in the spring of 2021, is the adaption of a Harlan Coben thriller and the latest in a series of gripping Spanish crime dramas to grace the streaming service Netflix. Recent years have seen a steep rise in the popularity of Spanish-language series in non-Spanish speaking countries. 

This series has become one of the streaming service’s most successful and prominent non-English language series since its release in 2017. And now, with The Innocent, another crime series of Spanish origin is vying for the sympathies of viewers worldwide. But just what is it that makes these Spanish language crime shows so fascinating for international audiences? 

The Innocent begins with protagonist Matteo Vidal (Mario Casas), whose ordinary life had been thrown into turmoil four years before the start of the plot when he accidentally killed a man in a nightclub brawl. During his time in prison, he finishes his law degree, finds a woman who loves him with all his flaws, marries her, and becomes a partner in his brother’s law firm. Up to this point in the first episode, it seems as though Matteo has left his past behind him and is embracing a normal family life with his wife Olivia (Aura Garrido), as they are expecting the birth of their first child. This domestic harmony is suddenly disrupted when Matteo starts receiving disturbing video footage from Olivia’s mobile number after she left for a business meeting in Berlin. As he becomes increasingly worried about his wife’s safety, the first episode is left on a cliff-hanger when he is contacted by an unknown caller and receives an ominous visit from a mysterious person. By the end of the first episode, the viewers are left to ask themselves if Matteo’s past is catching up with him and if he can really leave the violence that haunts his past behind him. As the series progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that the accidental murder that initially earned Matteo four years in prison does not remain the only crime the plot revolves around. A gripping thriller emerges through the introduction of new characters, gripping storylines, and unexpected plot twists.

Building a Gripping Crime Show… The Spanish Way

While the captivating and intricate plots of these shows may certainly contribute to the popularity of Spanish crime series among a non-Spanish-speaking audience, it is not something that should be considered a unique element of these series. When the actors and producers of Money Heist were asked about the secret of their worldwide success, they argued that it is the series’ insight into the delicate and bodacious Spanish-Latin culture of intimate social interaction that makes the show so intriguing to watch for non-Spanish viewers. This is continued by outlining that “feelings, fraternity and love are as important as the plots” (Jones). The change in perception of the series is particularly vivid when the story is “spiced up with Latin emotions” (Jones). This is the core difference from an English crime series. According to the creator Álex Pina, English crime series are “cooler, more restrained, [and] more scientific” when compared to Spanish and Latin series (Jones). This display of passion that is embedded in the Spanish and Latin culture is also accounted for in The Innocent. Throughout each episode of the series, the past actions or experiences shape the present actions and behaviours of the characters. In everyday situations, the more intimate and passionate elements permeate daily interactions, for example through kissing each other on the cheek as a greeting. Similarly, the perception of what constitutes personal space is different, as it is much closer and more narrow in Latin and Spanish culture than in English or American, and respectively Westernised society (Erickson; Sorokowska et al.). Therefore, physical intimacy is one of many characteristic features of Spanish and Latin American TV productions that captivate international audiences due to their different and exciting approaches to storytelling.

Making Space for Character Development and Character Development as a Plotline

These cultural elements are not only visible in the characters’ actions, but also in their personas and the presentation of their stories. In each episode of The Innocent, the backstory of each character is outlined in detail, allowing the viewer to empathise with the characters, to understand their behaviour, or even to identify with them. As previously mentioned, English and American crime series can sometimes be more restrained or scientific in their storytelling, which also affects the portrayal of the characters. Compared to crime fiction series, such as The Killing or Bodyguard, where the audience is left with only a glimpse of the characters’ lives if it is directly relevant to the plot, the portrayal of characters in Spanish crime series is more detailed. This serves to make them more relatable so that viewers can easily connect with them. The Innocent embraces this approach, as each episode delves into the lives and backstories of the main characters, all while continuing to develop the plot.

This allows the characters to explain themselves and their actions to the audience, making it easier for the audience to better grasp the characters and their individual stories. By delving into the family history of some characters, like Lorena Ortiz (Alexandra Jiménez) for instance, and learning about her wish to honour her father’s legacy after his suicide, her determination to follow in his footsteps and also become a police officer is explained. From this point on, the audience can better understand her actions and behaviour through the newfound knowledge of her past as the series progresses. This sort of character portrayal is not only evident in The Innocent, but it is also present in Money Heist, where the origin of various characters is revealed to the audience.

Reaching Out Across the World

Storytelling and character development aside, the success of Spanish language shows cannot only be accounted for because of their engaging plots. Another factor that is key for the international acclaim of Spanish crime series is their worldwide availability. Since Netflix, Amazon Prime, and various other streaming services have started producing and distributing their own original content, international audiences from different cultures and with different first languages now have ready access to shows and films that they might never have seen otherwise because their television provider would never have included it in the programme. Moreover, streaming services, most notably Netflix, have not only made their original content available worldwide, but by providing a variety of dubbed and subtitled versions, they have also made it accessible for almost anyone, even if they do not understand the original language in which the content was produced. The executive producer particularly highlighted this by saying that Netflix has made it possible “to stay true to Spanish idiosyncrasies, our roots and the way we tell our stories" (Avila). For instance, Netflix has so far produced TV shows in 40 different countries and then released these series subtitled in 37 and dubbed in 34 languages (Avila). Netflix thereby manages not only to bridge the language barrier, but also allows a global audience to get a glimpse into other cultures, and, thus, gives the audience the option of discovering the cultural differences in storytelling and character portrayals.

Little doubt remains that it was Netflix and other streaming services that gave Spanish and Latin TV series a global platform and are responsible for their success. Still, their success with an international audience cannot only be explained by their worldwide availability. Each culture has its own nuances when it comes to storytelling and character portrayals, and in this case, the mixture of the authentic representation of intimacy in Spanish and Latin culture, the detailed character development, as well as their worldwide availability, all contribute to the international success and critical acclaim of Spanish crime series.

References

Avila, Pamela. “'Money Heist,' 'Lupin,' 'Squid Game': How Netflix's Non-English Shows Became Global Hits.” USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2021, eu.usatoday.com​/​story/​entertainment/​tv/​2021/​09/​14/​money-​heist-​elite-​lupin-​unorthodox-​netflix-​non-​english-​hits/​8267105002/​. Accessed 4 May 2022.

Erickson, Amanda. “What ‘Personal Space’ Looks Like Around the World.” The Washington Post, 24 Apr. 2017, www.washingtonpost.com​/​news/​worldviews/​wp/​2017/​04/​24/​how-​close-​is-​too-​close-​depends-​on-​where-​you-​live/​. Accessed 4 May 2022.

Jones, Ellen E. “'it's Pure Rock’n’roll': How Money Heist Became Netflix's Biggest Global Hit.” The Guardian, 2 Apr. 2020, www.theguardian.com​/​tv-​and-​radio/​2020/​apr/​02/​how-​money-​heist-​became-​netflix-​biggest-​global-​hit. Accessed 4 May 2022.

Sorokowska, Agnieszka, et al. “Preferred Interpersonal Distances: A Global Comparison.” Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, vol. 48, no. 4, 2017, pp. 577–92. https://doi:10.1177/0022022117698039.