Aside from the movie cliche of having a main character strapped to a bomb and having it tick down to the last possible second without it going off, I didn't spot any blatant rip-offs in this episode. So I've decided to take this opportunity to look at each character based on how they were supposed to be and compare it to how they actually turned out. I haven't seen Ep. 117 yet, so my analysis is limited to everything from pre-S9 articles/interviews to Ep. 116. Also, this lecture is going to be long, PepSi peeps, so please bear with me and thanks in advance for doing so.
Pre-S9 info: Despite being the title character of the series, very little information was divulged about Paco's character prior to the start of S9. A FormulaTV article revealed that evil would come to Earth in the form of a mysterious case involving Satan and that Paco and his hombres would be the only hope in stopping it, while an El Mundo article added that Paco Tous would not be a protagonist.
What actually happened: The articles regarding the story arc for S9 regrettably turned out to be true. As we've seen (at least those of us who have watched S9), Paco and the hombres were slowly sucked further and further into a series of murders that involve Satan and a lot of other things that still don't make sense. Paco personally became obsessed with the case, believing that he is the "Chosen One" who can defeat Satan. Investigation tactics conducted by Paco this season included consulting a priest and his "journey book", a ghost (albeit a beautiful, intelligent one) a tarot reader and a medium, going on an unauthorized mission, and visiting an opium den.
Character analysis: As much as Paco's character stayed true to the rumors, a part of the reason why this season failed so much IMO was b/c Paco began acting in ways that are contrary to who he really is. I've said before that I believe the show's true decline started in S5 and S6 when Lucas and Sara betrayed Paco on the El Kaiser case. I believe the same thing happened this season but the repercussions were more drastic given that S9 had the burden of trying to recover from the death of four characters. With the exception of Mariano and Pove, Paco didn't rely much on any of the other hombres to gather information, and he bought more and more into the belief that he and only he could solve this case. At least when Paco was involved in the El Gordo investigation, he worked on it with the other hombres using (mostly) legitimate police investigation tactics. And perhaps that's what the El Mundo article meant when it said that Paco wouldn't be a protagonist. Perhaps it was saying that Paco's belief that Satan was behind everything made him "the bad guy" b/c he's literally been fighting with everyone, including Mariano, trying to convince them that Satan does exist and is behind all of the deaths. Granted they all came around eventually, but Paco hasn't become any saner or calmer with the support - he keeps getting one step closer to completely falling off the ledge. Finally, Paco's decision to abruptly forgive Salgado for her blackmail of Pepa and her lies goes against Paco's character as the loyal family man, which is a core element of his character and a defining part of the show in general. Thus, I believe that this season failed for two main reasons (three if you count the four deaths from S8): the "66.6" storyline, and Alex Pina & Co.'s decision to their main character into a crazy, unrecognizable shell of the person he once was.
Mariano Moreno (portrayed by Pepón Nieto)Info pre-S9: Not much information was given about Mariano other than the fact that, like Paco Tous, Pepón Nieto would also not be a protagonist.
What actually happened: Mariano spent the beginning of the season upset at Paco's relationship with Salgado until he realized that their friendship was more important to him. While he's often doubted Paco's belief that Satan is behind all the murders, he's always been there to support his best friend in the investigation.
Character analysis: Mariano has always been one of my least favorite characters. I never liked how he would whine so much and was usually the last holdout amongst the hombres (even among rational Silvia and level-headed Montoya). This season, however, he's been less whiny and more practical. And despite my feelings for Mariano, I've always liked his loyalty to Paco and the friendship they have. He's continued to do a good job IMO of being a true friend to crazy Paco no matter how much he might disagree or not fully believe Paco's theories. He's even resolved his issues regarding Paco and Salgado's relationship, offering his support to both of them when he learns that Salgado blackmailed Pepa and was a part of the CNI's black ops unit. Basically, there have been subtle changes to Mariano's character in a good way this season and I just wish they would've showed more scenes with him and Paco together.
Aitor Carrasco (portrayed by Mario Casas)Pre-S9 info: The biggest news regarding Aitor in S9 was that he would be involved with both new characters Reyes and Lis. It was stated that he would be in a relationship with Reyes at the beginning of the series but would meet and fall into a relationship with Lis without knowing that they are mother-daughter and be torn between the two women. In an interview with Europa Press, Mario Casas revealed that Aitor enjoys his relationship with Reyes because she makes him feel confident, but having to choose between both women will cause a lot of trouble for Aitor, because he's tired of having a crazy love life and would prefer peace and stability. Other news revealed that he would be assisting Pepa on her "mission" in Italy and become her confidante.
What actually happened: Aitor did indeed travel to Italy and assist Pepa in her mission to kill El Gordo (although he says he didn't realize what he was getting into when he agreed to help). The beginning of S9 also revealed that he's been in a relationship with Reyes for awhile although he doesn't consider it to be exclusive. When he meets Lis, he becomes infatuated with her and sleeps with her before learning that she is Reyes' daughter. Aitor chooses to be with Reyes but struggles with his feelings for both women, eventually deciding that he can't be in a relationship with either and trying to figure out what to do with his life. He also becomes involved in the CNI subplot of the season, helping Pepa and playing a part in "Zebra's" demise.
Character analysis: For someone who's tired of having a crazy love life and would prefer peace and stability, Aitor has taken very little steps to make that happen this season. He may not have known that Reyes and Lis were mother-daughter before he slept with Lis, but once he found out, his subsequent actions/behavior were inexcusable IMO and only served to remind many in the PepSiverse why they disliked him in the first place. Aitor simply had to decide which one he loved more, or, if he couldn't decide, recognize earlier on that he should walk away from both in order to prevent their relationship from deteriorating further. But similarly to when he continued to pursue Sara throughout S8, Aitor thought of no one but himself. Alex Pina & Co. have been trying to get Aitor to fill the void left by Lucas and have been failing horribly since S7. His storyline with Sara alienated many fans who were staunch Lucas-Sara shippers, his one night stand with Pepa alienated the PepSi fans, and I believe the remaining viewers just couldn't get behind the idea that Aitor would be the main cause in ruining yet another relationship. The main thing that separates him from Lucas IMO is that he wasn't doing much of anything else when he wasn't dealing with his love triangle. Yes, he did help Pepa with El Gordo and later with the CNI, but his role in those subplots were small and limited and he was barely involved in the main "66.6" plot. The evolution of Aitor's character is something that Alex Pina & Co. have been failing at for awhile and it has just gotten worse with time.
José Luis Povedilla (portrayed by Carlos Santos)Pre-S9 info: Previews for S9 revealed Pove sporting a beard and using a cane to help him walk. He also appeared to be more "tough" and angry than the friendly Pove we were used to, indicating that his personality had taken a 180.
What actually happened: Pove started out S9 very different from his original self. He was militant, angry and very hard on the newbies, yelling and threatening them on a normal basis. We eventually learned that Don Lorenzo was encouraging Pove to take a "tough love" approach in his training of the newbies in order to make them more prepared for the field. We also learned that he's been hiding behind his cane as a defense mechanism for the fear he's retained as a result of the events from the S8 finale. Eventually, Pove learns to overcome those fears, helps Paco with the investigation, supports Rita and Curtis' new relationship despite his feelings for Rita, and offers words of comfort to many of the other characters, including Lis.
Character analysis: Pove's character is one of the few who have remained consistent throughout the series. Although he started S9 a bit harder and more crass than we've ever seen him, it was just an act and he soon returned to the old Pove we've come to know and love over the past 5 years. He continued to provide the (sometimes only) comedic relief on the show and his understanding regarding Curtis-Rita's relationship despite his feelings for Rita make you cheer for him and wish he too could find some happiness in life.
Curtis Naranjo (portrayed by Fede Celada)Pre-S9 info: Aside from the fact that new character Amaia was Curtis' niece and that he would be overprotective of her, there was no news about Curtis prior to the premiere of S9.
What actually happened: Curtis didn't get much screentime, but over time we saw him develop a relationship with Rita, which turned out to be a romantic one. After realizing that he loved Rita, he proposed and the two are planning on getting married in the finale.
Character analysis: I don't know what's up with the cops in San Antonio and their need to have shotgun weddings (minus the bun in the oven). But aside from that, Curtis' character has also remained consistent - when he was on screen, he would provide some comedic relief and showed his continued loyalty to Paco, never questioning Paco's methods or his crazy theories. Alex Pina & Co.'s failure with regard to Curtis lies in their failure to show him grieving from the loss of his best friend Kike. In fact, with the exception of Curtis' toast to the fallen four in Ep. 105, I don't think he ever thought of or mentioned Kike's name ever again. They also failed to show much of Curtis' relationship with his niece Amaia, and they rushed his relationship with Rita and exploring the effects it had on his relationship with Pove. Granted, Alex Pina & Co. only have 13 episodes per season to work with (and probably thought they were going to get a 10th season), but his interactions with Amaia were so few (and undeveloped) that they would've been better off IMO if they didn't make them related to each other.
Rita Peláez (portrayed by Neus Sanz)
Pre-S9 info: Just as Rita wasn't in the helicopter and was barely in any of the S9 previews, there was no news with regard to her character at all prior to the start of S9.
What actually happened: Like Curtis, Rita wasn't on screen much during S9. She spent her time occasionally helping out Paco on the "66.6" investigation and the rest developing her relationship with Curtis culminating in their engagement and upcoming wedding in the finale.
Character analysis: If I had to bet, I would wager that of all the characters Rita had the least amount of screentime. IMO Alex Pina & Co.'s main failure with regard to Rita (aside from not allowing her to fulfill her dream of becoming an undercover prostitute) was that they neglected to show her dealing with the loss of Montoya. Similar to Curtis, Rita never mentioned Montoya or the sadness she may be experiencing as a result of that loss. Given that both she and Curtis lost a dear friend/love interest, it makes sense on some level that they might connect and bond as a result of those losses, but as I stated above, their romance was rushed and suffered from several flaws.
Pepa Miranda (portrayed by Laura Sánchez)Pre-S9 info: Several interviews with Laura Sánchez, including one from FormulaTV revealed that in S9 Pepa would be obsessed and crazy with revenge for Silvia's death and have a love-hate relationship with her sister-in-law (Salgado). LS also revealed that Pepa would be living with Paco in Sara's old room, that Aitor would become Pepa's confidante, that she would maintain a professional relationship with new forensics inspector Deker, and that she would not fall in love again this season. A Supertele article revealed that Pepa and Aitor would be in Italy, which lent credence to the rumors that she would obsessed with vengeance.
What actually happened: Pepa was indeed crazy and vengeful, but only at the beginning of S9. With Aitor's help, she executed El Gordo and was later blackmailed by Salgado and the CNI, which created a great deal of tension between the two women. And while Pepa may not be in love with him, she did have a one night stand with Deker and seems to have developed as least a friendship with him. She confessed to both Paco and Don Lorenzo that she killed El Gordo and later offered her support to Paco when he revealed that despite Salagdo's actions, he loved her and wanted to marry her.
Character analysis: The evolution (or regression depending on your point of view) of Pepa's character has been discussed at great lengths by many in the PepSiverse this season. We haven't seen her grieving over Silvia much, nor has she mentioned Silvia often this entire season, and the PepSiverse has mixed feelings about what this means for Pepa's character which I'm not going to discuss any further here. What I will talk about is the other way that Alex Pina & Co. failed with regard to Pepa's character: their failure to explore her relationships with Don Lorenzo and Paco. All three suffered from the same loss - a family member - but at no time were they shown helping each other through their grief (perhaps that scene in Ep. 107 but that's it). Pepa's random confession in murdering El Gordo was a big revelation and yet, it was dismissed just like many of the other plot points this season. Instead, they alluded to a discussion, Pepa disappeared for awhile, returned, and they acted like nothing happened. To top it all off, they placed her in a fantastic B storyline with Salgado and the CNI but concluded it without any involvement from Pepa even though it started and continued to exist because of consequences relating to her actions.
Lis Peñuelas (portrayed by Patricia Montero)
Pre-S9 info: Lis was introduced as a new rookie in the precinct, as well as the daughter of Reyes and the love interest of both Aitor and Dani. She was described as an independent, intelligent, confident and determined young woman who can take down armed and dangerous criminals or jump across rooftops while in pursuit of a fugitive.
What actually happened: The first time the audience was introduced to Lis, she was playing dead in a training simulation. Since then, her role with regard to actual police work has been very limited. She occasionally participated in the "66.6" investigation but most of her scenes centered around her developing interest and love for Aitor. Even after Lis learned that he was her mother's mysterious lover, she continued to pursue him and it created a rift in her relationship with Reyes.Character analysis: Lis is this season's greatest failure IMO. She hasn't displayed any of the traits listed in her character description. Instead of appearing independent, intelligent and confident, she's come off as self-centered, ignorant and slightly stalkerish. Additionally, I highly doubt she could take down an armed criminal or chase a fugitive across a rooftop - she doesn't even know how to drive. No, Lis' idea of police work consists of eating while on a stakeout, freaking out and screaming while on unauthorized missions, getting high, and falling asleep on the job. If there was any new character that Alex Pina & Co. should not have created, it should've been Lis.
Daniel Andradas (portrayed by Mark Gracia)Pre-S9 info: Dani was introduced as another new rookie in the precinct. He was described as someone that people like from the start because of his charm, but behind that charm lies a guy who is rebellious and daring. The biggest news regarding Dani (aside from his interest in Lis) was that he would be butting heads with his training instructor Pove.
What happened to him: Dani started out butting heads with Pove, because he felt Pove was being too hard on him and the other rookies. He spent the beginning of the season finding ways to embarrass Pove in retaliation for the way he was being treated, until he got shot during an investigation. Following his recovery, Dani's screentime became more limited as he focused more on his infatuation with Lis and his disapproval of her desire to be in a relationship with Aitor.
Character analysis: While Dani certainly has been rebellious and, I suppose, daring at times, he certainly has not been charming IMO. As with many other characters, his storylines have remain limited and underdeveloped. We know that he loves Lis and he has talked to her about her actions with regard to her mother and Reyes, but most of Dani's screentime involves him scowling and being emo. Alex Pina & Co. failed with regard to this character mainly b/c they failed to develop him in any substantial way - a decent cop, a good friend, a valid rival for Aitor, etc.
Amaia Mondragón (portrayed by Ángela Cremonte)Pre-S9 info: Amaia was also introduced as a new rookie in the precinct as well as Curtis' niece. She was described as an empathetic character who always looks for the good in others and dresses in clothes that others wouldn't dare to wear. It was also rumored that Amaia would fall in love with the mysterious Blackman, much to the dismay of both her uncle Curtis and her friend (and admirer) Goyo.
What actually happened: Amaia did the occasional police work until she met Blackman and instantly connected with the mysterious vigilante. She became consumed with her love for him and could literally "sense" his presence in the precinct. Amaia was accidentally shot when Blackman intervened to save Salgado's life. Since then, she's been trying to assuage Blackman's fears and pursue a relationship with him.
Goyo (portrayed by Álex Hernández)Pre-S9 info: Goyo was introduced as the fourth rookie of the group. He was described as a guy who has been unlucky in life and suffers from paranoia but is very loyal to his friends and will often be the first to offer his help. He's also in love with Amaia and has been since their days at the police academy.
What actually happened: Goyo has had the unfortunate luck of not doing much work this season. After talking with Rita, he finally worked up the courage to confess his feelings to Amaia before learning that she was in love with Blackman. Still, Goyo showed himself to be a good guy by trying to remain friends with her despite his feelings. He eventually admitted his feelings to Amaia (while under the influence) and even though she did not reciprocate, he has continued to support her, even going so far to unintentionally create panic at the precinct when he send out a signal for Blackman that got misinterpreted by the rest of the police.
Character analysis: Goyo is one of the few newbies has accurately matched his character description. And even though he seems like a push over (and often is pushed around by others), he remains a true friend, and has shown that he isn't afraid to stand up for himself (as he did when he told both Dani and Blackman off). My only problem with Goyo is that he is truly a poor-man's version of Pove - the guy with a good heart but the worst luck. While Alex Pina & Co. may not have had the opportunity to assassinate Goyo's character, they also didn't have the time (or chose not) to utilize him in an effective way on the show.
Deker (portrayed by Benjamín Vicuña)
Pre-S9 info: Deker was introduced as the new forensics inspector and described as a person with a sarcastic and irreverent attitude. Further news stated that Deker was previously married but his marriage didn't work out (but the articles didn't say why) and, as a result, he's become a womanizer.What actually happened: Deker started off S9 making an enemy in Don Lorenzo (and the PepSi fans) by cleaning out Silvia's lab and making crude statements about his deceased predecessor. His unorthodox methods became routine, as he would listen to rock music and eat while working and talk to his victims. Deker's one night stand with Pepa developed into something more on his part, and we learned that he previously came off as cold and crass b/c he was masking his pain over the death of his wife and daughter. Since that revelation, Deker has been determined not to live that way again, and has his sights set on Pepa even though he knows she's a lesbian.
Character analysis: As I've stated before, the biggest failure with regard to Deker is that Alex Pina & Co. took too long in revealing his backstory that, by the time they did, (most of) the audience no longer cared. Viewers found his actions and attitude leading up to that revelation unforgivable and for many, Deker reached the point of no return when he slept with Pepa and continued to express his interest in her afterward. Personally, I think if one looks at Deker from a strictly professional point of view, his character was a success. His methods may have been unorthodox, but he is an intelligent and competent forensics inspector and has been able to gather legitimate evidence to support Paco's crazy theories, lending credence (sadly) to the "66.6" storyline. However, from a personal point of view, Deker is an absolute failure IMO for the reasons I've already stated simply b/c of his crass attitude and Alex Pina & Co.'s decision to wait until halfway through the season to start explaining and exploring his backstory.
Reyes Sánchez Bilbao (portrayed by Goya Toledo)
Pre-S9 info: Reyes was introduced as Montoya's replacement in the precinct, the mother of rookie Lis and described as a competent and successful woman on the surface, but a sensitive, neurotic and insecure woman underneath. Further news stated that she would be keeping their relationship a secret from others in the precinct and that she would have several ideas to improve and modernize the precinct, but would butt heads with Don Lorenzo as a result. The biggest news regarding Reyes is that she would be involved in an affair with Aitor, and that she would later learn that he would become involved with another woman closer to his age, although she doesn't realize that woman is her daughter, Lis.
What actually happened: Reyes began S9 in a secret relationship with Aitor and also deciding to keep the fact that she is Lis' mother a secret. She is devastated when she discovers that Aitor is the man Lis is in love with and that they slept together, but continues to date him anyway. Her revelation to Lis that she and Aitor are in a relationship severely damages her relationship with Lis, and they have yet to recover from it. On a professional level, Reyes initially butted heads with Don Lorenzo over changing the way things are done at the precinct, but they have since come to an understanding with each other. She is one of the only people in the precinct who vehemently disapproves of Paco's investigation tactics, openly stating and recognizing that they need to gather legitimate evidence that has been discovered through a legitimate police investigation.
Character analysis: Similar to Deker, Reyes' character actually succeeds on a professional level but fails on a personal level. Her decision to remain in a relationship with Aitor despite Lis' feelings for him is as bad as Sara's betrayal of Paco during the El Kaiser case IMO - sacrificing a family member for a love interest. It might even be worse simply b/c Reyes is the mother and should care more about her child than her misguided libido. Reyes' scenes are always weaker when they involve her love triangle with Aitor and Lis, not b/c Goyo Toledo is a bad actress, but b/c those scenes make Reyes herself look weak. In contrast, her scenes tend to be strong when they involve her acting in a professional capacity - she's more focused, determined, intelligent and independent. Thus, Alex Pina & Co. failed with regard to Reyes' character b/c they chose to focus on things that would make her character seem more weak than strong - a waste of Goyo Toledo's talents.
Don Lorenzo Castro (portrayed by Juan Diego)Pre-S9 info: The FormulaTV article listed Juan Diego as the fourth actor (along with Paco, Pepón and Mario) who would not be a protagonist. Additionally other news revealed that Don Lorenzo would be butting heads with Reyes, whom he believes has been brought in to force him into early retirement.
What actually happened: Don Lorenzo began the season butting heads with Reyes as the rumors predicted. He also disliked Deker, but eventually came to an understanding with both characters. Don Lorenzo has struggled a lot with the "66.6" investigation, finding it hard to believe Paco's theory that Satan is the killer and that Paco is the "Chosen One". Recently, Don Lorenzo considered retiring before changing his mind and deciding to stick with Paco and the other hombres.
Character analysis: Like Pove, Don Lorenzo's character has continued to remain consistent. One of the things that makes DL so likeable is that he may be a tough old man who is verbally abusive and retains a lot of his old school habits, but he genuinely cares for each officer in his precinct and has shown his willingness to change (as he did when he learned to accept and respect Silvia's relationship with Pepa). I think the only failure with regard to DL's character is that his recently formed father-daughter relationship with Pepa was never explored or developed, which was a wasted opportunity for both characters. Nevertheless, at least DL didn't suffer from character assassination like so many others. Then again, I like to believe he was spared b/c Alex Pina & Co. were afraid that Juan Diego might channel DL and kick their santos cojones if they did mess with his character.
Marina Salgado (portrayed by Cristina Plazas)Pre-S9 info: No new information was specifically released regarding Salgado's character. However, cast photos and revelations from Laura Sánchez's interview indicated that while Paco and Salgado were still together Pepa would be having a love-hate relationship with her.
What actually happened: The beginning of S9 revealed that Paco and Salgado were in a committed relationship and had been living together for some time. When El Gordo turns up dead, Salgado is tasked with blackmailing Pepa into working for the CNI. It is something that she struggles with b/c of her love for Paco and eventually, she confesses to Don Lorenzo and Mariano that she works for a black ops unit of the CNI know as "Zebra". In an effort to protect her, Blackman shoots Salgado. When Paco learns about her participation in "Zebra" and her role in blackmailing Pepa, he dumps her only to realize that he still loves her, so he proposes to Salgado, who gladly accepts.
Character analysis: In S9, Salgado continued to suffer from the same character flaw that's hindered her since she was first introduced in S6: she tends to change from a strong, intelligent woman into a passive, weak one whenever she's involved in a relationship. Similar to Reyes, she often excels in her professional life, but her personal one often tends to be a complete disaster. Despite the fact that she betrayed Paco's trust, as I've written before, I have actually enjoyed Cristina Plazas' work with regard to the CNI storyline this season and think she did a great job of portraying a woman torn between her love for Paco and her fear of the repercussions for disobeying the CNI. Even though she acted late in doing the right thing professionally (which negatively affected her relationship personally) I think she's the only character to actually find redemption this season. She allowed herself to realize that she could not continue to participate with "Zebra" and be in a relationship with Paco so she was willing to give up one knowing it could end up costing her both things.
Pre-S9 info: Like Salgado, no information was released prior to the premiere regarding Blackman, with the exception that Amaia would fall in love with him.
What actually happened: Blackman initially appeared in S9 without any memory of who he was. While he was at the precinct looking for answers, he met Amaia and instantly connected with her, but left abruptly after he regained his memory. Blackman recently returned to shoot Salgado in a warped effort to save her from the CNI and help expose "Zebra", and viewers learned that while Blackman has a history of being extremely lucky, his loved ones tend to suffer and die. Thus, Blackman initially rebuffs Amaia's advances in an attempt to protect her, but she gets injured anyway, which is when Blackman begins to realize that he can't hide his feelings for her anymore.
Character analysis: I've always said that Blackman does a good job of coming off as a very cool character. However, that doesn't change the fact that Blackman never should have been on this show to begin with b/c his supernatural abilities don't fit into the show's DNA. With regard to this season, Blackman's role has been sporadic - Alex Pina & Co. continue to randomly inject him into current subplots or irrelevant new subplots that serve no purpose to the main story arc. And as I stated earlier, his romance storyline with Amaia is too over-the-top to be endearing or entertaining and his emo attitude simply got old.
Viewers have been understandably upset and reacted negatively to Alex Pina's decision to turn S9 into a paranormal thriller, but perhaps the true nail in the coffin for the show has been the audiences' disdain over the numerous character assassinations that have occurred this season as well as the injection of several new, undeveloped, uninteresting characters that only served to steal screentime from the veteran cast members without adding too much to the storylines or the premise of the show. I suppose the best we can hope for at this point is that each character will find some sort of resolution in the series finale. It'll be an added bonus if each character (especially the original cast) can receive a decent resolution. Like I said, one can hope.
kalike
*The title for this lecture is based on lyrics from the song "Bomb" by Bush.
12 comments:
Impressive and detailed analysis. I love how you're able to be so objective and detached here in elucidating why LHdP came to such a grinding halt this season. I can't help but feel that Alex Pina & Co. have come across as hacks when it comes to storytelling, something I've noticed in previous seasons of LHdP in general, but which seems to be blatantly obvious in Season 9. I don't know how any rational and sane TV producer would think it's not important to tie up storylines involving primary characters neatly. It is really bizarre. It's as if the fans of LHdP care far more about the characters than the producers and writers who created them.
I think you forgot the BEST new character of this unfortunate season: WIN-E.
That robot was more loveable and competent than any character this season, except for Pepa, of course. When a PROP has become the unintended star of your show, you probably fucked up somewhere.
And Paco - before, he was simply inept, now he just turned mental. Whatever gravitas the character had before (the show was named after him, after all) simply evaporated this season and we saw him disintegrate before our eyes. It was painful to watch this transformation.
Thanks for this very thoughtful lecture, KC.
Pepsi University is a better place because you're a part of it.
Jess: I thought of Win-E too. haha... Awesome and detailed lecture. Thanks!
Some of the actors and actresses playing the new characters on LHdP Season 9 were quite attractive, and maybe on another show I would be interested in them. What I don't get is, if Alex Pina & Co. were getting sick of LHdP in its previous incarnation, why didn't they just wrap it up in Season 8 and just start a whole new show that was more of a paranormal guts-and-gore thriller? Why try to twist your current project into something it never was? Makes no sense to me, and it just makes Pina & Co. come across as inexperienced amateurs in the area of TV production.
Awesome lecture, K!
I do agree with Dr P here, and think that Win-E should have made the cut hehe. All in all, and as much as I think this season was a bit, well, you know, I did enjoy the oldies, the banter that characters like Mariano, Pove and DL provide, despite being involved in something "bigger than them". Yeah, I did not like the 66.6 plot much, but I think the biggest mistake was not the fact that it didn't match the DNA of the show, but that it was solved just in the finale, and only Deker in 116 could figure out that "there's got to be someone else behind it, not just our Satan". After all, I think that the Kaiser plot did not match the DNA of the show either - top terrorists against a "gang of pilgrims"? - so 66.6 has some sort of justification.
It all went too fast. And the reason it went too fast is because it was over even before it started, that S9 was condemned to this 'underdevelopment' because it had very little reason to be in the first place.
Then there's the one thing that many have pointed out, but I still disagree with - grieving. It's been six months (at the beginning of S9) after the wedding from hell, and we can see, in the first (at least) four episodes that the oldies are pretty fucked up. There are mentions here and there to those "who aren't with us anymore" and silences and tension moments that show that they have not forgotten what happened to their friends. For example, Mariano, in the finale, says something like "We have all had an affair or two with our friend's wife in this precinct: Paco with Marina, me with Lola, Lucas with everyone... Not to mention the dead, cause Silvia and Gonzalo were also free spirits" - they are always present.
As for Pepa, she has been depressed and totally nuts for pretty much all season long, and it's been already six months since Silvia died - is that not grieving enough? If Pepa was a RL friend of us, we'd like her to move on - I am saying this because I do have a friend who's in the exact same situation and I swear the only thing I wish for her is to get over it. Saying this, I am totally pro the new girl, and pro Pepa moving on. She's been sad enough all season, and I think her memory of Silvia is alive enough.
I think I should write my own opinion of this season, you know, from the Translator's point of view, and actually defend the undefendable. :)
"It's been six months (at the beginning of S9) after the wedding from hell, and we can see, in the first (at least) four episodes that the oldies are pretty fucked up."
LHdP's writers have pulled these time jumps again and again during the course of the show to avoid writing difficult scenes and parts. I find this sort of thing to be lazy writing, nothing else.
In order to depict an actual tragic drama, rather than traumatic sensationalism, you have to show how the tragedy leads to character growth and actually moves the plot forward. As far as I can tell, we actually didn't see any of this in Season 9 -- we see Pepa being vengeful and depressed and so on, but what actual character growth has actually happened as a result of Silvia's or any of the other characters' deaths? This sort of thing just confirms my suspicions that the Season 8 finale was a ratings stunt, and not something done with the intention of moving the plot forward or driving character growth.
Tragedy can be depicted in very satisfying ways (I think here of "The Ides of March", the Season 4 finale on "Xena: Warrior Princess") but I feel that Alex Pina and Co. had no idea how to do it right, and pretty much lost the plot at some point.
"As for Pepa, she has been depressed and totally nuts for pretty much all season long, and it's been already six months since Silvia died - is that not grieving enough?"
But she almost never explicitly talks about Silvia with anyone (and you'd think she would, with Don Lorenzo or Paco at least). She doesn't even have any inner monologues in her head. She doesn't have flashbacks, memories, etc. except for in that first episode before she kills El Gordo. Realistically speaking, when the love of your life dies, you'd be doing all these things.
I guess maybe I'm expecting a bit too much from LHdP. I've long known that their writing was never all that great. Truth be told it's not the sort of show I would've bothered watching without Pepa/Silvia's sweet and romantic relationship, or without my admiration for Marian Aguilera's acting talents. Those are the two main reasons I became as devoted to LHdP as I did.
Great post Kalike... very detailed. and interesting points by Dr Beke too.
I find myself some where in the middle. I think the writers did show Pepa in pain and lost in grief for most of the season, especially in the first few eps... The problem is the audiance didnt feel it.
This is NO WAY a slight to ms Sanchez's acting skills (which we all know are tops or else we wouldnt be here right?)but that grief just never came through as anything more than a passing acknoledgement. The reason that is the case i feel is pretty simple. the material sucked.
the concept was there, the potential was ripe with opportunities: the grief + the whole CNI + Salgado and Paco's relationship... it could have been an amazing exploration of Pepa's character.
But no... what did we get? how did the writers choose to communicate the depth of Pepa's agony? They had her 'fuck the pain away' and espouse transparent yet convoluted metaphores about islands. yeah ok.
you know i could actually get past the horror of 104 if the result had been something of substance but all of season 9 just feels like a total waste.
good thing the uni is here to relive the good times! :D
I think we were expecting too much of a Spanish show written by people who fucked up great other Spanish TV shows like "Los Serrano" and "Médico de Familia". "Los Serrano" was all a dream by one of the protagonists, "Médico de familia" ended with two insignificant characters dying in the finale completely out of the blue.
Besides PepSi, the show was never more than a "gang of pilgrims" trying to be cops, and the hilarity of that - ATPP has always showed to be a conformist and not too worried about writing good storylines. That's why, in the long run, as much success as it had in the beginning, it was doomed to fail.
Goshdarnit, those PepSi clips on YouTube should come with Bekelauer's comment above as a warning. ;-) "WARNING: Don't get invested in this TV couple's relationship too much! The show was produced by Alex Pina, famed for ruining good Spanish TV shows!" ;-)
EXACTLY!! :D
Dr. P (and Beke) - I did consider putting WIN-E into the analysis, but it wasn't mentioned in the pre-S9 articles (I think) and sadly wasn't around very much in the actual season (which begs the Q, where does it go/what does it do when it wasn't saving their asses?), so that's why I cut WIN-E.
Dr. Beke - I enjoyed reading your thoughts and would very much like to hear your "Translator's point of view" about Pepa. I think that would make for a very interesting lecture.
I kind of agree with you that the El Kaiser storyline didn't really fit in the DNA of the show, but then again, from that perspective, pretty much none of their major storylines did. El Kaiser were a top terrorist group, El G were one of the biggest crime syndicates, and the CNI (and "Zebra") was a top gov't agency. All of them had way more resources and power than Paco's bumbling group of cops, so it was always extremely far-fetched to believe they could take on those groups, but at least all of those were actual criminal organizations and not something paranormal.
As for Pepa, like Shay, I'm in the middle. I agree w/ your point, Beke that her "depressed and totally nuts" behavior is an indication of her grief - that she's so fucked up b/c she can't get over her loss or even face the reality of that loss. But I also agree with pepsifanfic that tragedy should result in some growth, and while I think the finale time leap and showing Pepa w/ "not-Silvia" does that in many ways, I can understand why a lot of the PepSi fans don't like it. For many fans it felt too rushed b/c while Pepa may have been given the time to grieve and move on, the fans haven't.
And as for why Pepa never talked much with anyone about Silvia, had an inner monologue about her grief, or any flashbacks/memories, I have a few guesses for that decision:
1. Pepa's not a main character and (for the most part) not involved in the main plot, so in general, she gets fewer scenes. With regard to her B-plot w/ the CNI, they could've taken the opportunity to incorporate that stuff there, but the plot quickly evolved away from Pepa being blackmailed and into discovering what the CNI was hiding that focusing on her grief may not have seemed as relevant to them anymore. Plus, there were so many characters involved in that plot that it's hard to focus too much on one individual for too long.
2. There's too many cast members on the show and too few episodes for the writers to truly develop and focus on each one. I think that's one of the greatest flaws of the show in general. Shows with large ensembles make it difficult for the writers to develop all of them equally b/c some are more important than others by default, and while the audience may become invested with a minor character, the writers may not (see what the audience sees) or they simply don't have the time with the eps they're given to get to everyone.
3. The "66.6" storyline brought everything down. There was so much going on in that plot that it was difficult for any of the hombres to stop and reflect about what they had lost (and what they still had). Pepa never got those bro-sis moments with Paco (save for giving her OK on Salgado in Ep. 116) or father-daughter ones with DL, but neither did Paco, DL, Curtis, Rita or anyone else. Again, they only had 13 eps to work with, a lot of (unanswered) plot points to deal with, and a lot of characters (and a robot) to cover. There was so much going on, that pretty much everyone's personal lives took a back seat to the "66.6" story.
Anyways, thanks for the comments and the discussion. And boss, it has and continues to be my pleasure to be a part of the uni, so thank you for what you've created.
'I think the finale time leap and showing Pepa w/ "not-Silvia" does that in many ways'
Come on, guys, let's not give this production team too much credit here. These time leaps are a total cop-out. You cannot kill four of your major characters, two of whom were highly popular and had been on the show throughout (Montoya and Silvia) and expect the audience to just forget about them if you simply take these convenient time jumps. It's nothing but lazy writing.
"There's too many cast members on the show and too few episodes for the writers to truly develop and focus on each one."
They really should not have added so many new characters! I don't know what they were thinking. Fine, bring in Deker as the new forensics guy, and maybe one or two other people, but to bring in a new forensics guy, four new rookies, another older female inspector, AND a robot, was absurd.
'The "66.6" storyline brought everything down. There was so much going on in that plot that it was difficult for any of the hombres to stop and reflect about what they had lost (and what they still had).'
But that's the thing, this show has never had the sharpest edge-of-your-seat kind of storytelling anyway. What kept us watching it were the heartfelt relationships it portrayed (and not just Pepa's and Silvia's). I'm left wondering how the production team could have been so blind as to not realize this. If they wanted to save their show from cancellation, they should have focused more on the character relationships rather than trying to construct elaborate plots that they barely knew how to manage.
They painted themselves into a very dark corner this season, and I've really never seen such a drastic fall from grace on television before in my entire life.
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