All-Time Best Spanish Shows You Need to Watch
Spain has given the world more than just flamenco, tapas, and incredible architecture.
It also has a remarkable mark on the industria del entretenimiento (entertainment industry), producing some of the best shows under the supervision of well-known directors like Pedro Almodóvar, Luis Buñuel, and Alejandro Amenábar.
These directors have redefined the shape of Spanish cinema, depicting themes like love, loss, and resistance in their work. You can watch their work on major streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
Of course, to fully enjoy these amazing Spanish shows online, it’s always better to have internet de alta velocidad (high-speed internet), because no one wants their connection to start buffering in the middle of a climax.
To avoid that, you can look into Xfinity internet plans, and if you are Spanish, then do not worry because Xfinity en Español is here to facilitate you with dedicated Spanish customer support.
In this article, I will discuss the artistic brilliance of Spain by sharing my top five favorite Hispanic shows that have totally changed my perception of this entertainment industry.
Narcos
- Release: 2015
- Available on: Netflix
- Genre: Crime, Thriller
- Synopsis: Rise and fall of a drug lord, Pablo Escobar, and the efforts of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to take down his empire.
Narcos is an all-time famous show about the Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. The story is about more than just crime and drugs. It is also about power, ambition, and survival. It’s basically a battle between good and bad, telling how law enforcement and cartels get locked in a morally complex battle.
The storytelling, characters, and atmosphere grab the viewers’ attention and make sure that the audience is completely locked in while watching it.
Money Heist
- Release: 2017
- Available on: Netflix
- Genre: Drama, Crime, Thriller
- Synopsis: The story revolves around The Professor, who plans to heist billions of euros from the Royal Mint of Spain by recruiting a team of eight members, each with different skills.
Money Heist: La Casa de Papel is not only about a team of eight members breaking into a bank and taking out all the money, but it’s also about strategy, emotion, and rebellion. With red jumpsuits and a Salvador Dalí mask, the show has become a symbol of resistance, making it popular even outside Spain.
Moreover, it shows the power of unity to challenge the system by using the song, Bella Ciao. The track shows characters struggling against the government and corruption.
Elite
- Release: 2018
- Available on: Netflix
- Genre: Teen Drama, Crime, Thriller, Mystery
- Synopsis: The show is about three working-class students who enrolled in Las Encinas school, where money, desire, and aspiration collide with secrets, scandal, and crime.
The show is about Las Encinas school in Spain, where three low-income class students are enrolled after their previous school was destroyed by an earthquake. Their classmates welcome them with disrespect that results in a murder, putting all of their lives at stake.
The story focuses on love, betrayal, and dark secrets that further lead to a murder mystery. It is the battle between students who have everything and those who have nothing to lose.
Velvet
- Release: 2013
- Available on: Amazon Prime Video, PBS
- Genre: Fashion, Drama, Romance
- Synopsis: Velvet depicts the story of a fashion house in Madrid in the 1950s, which talks about money, fashion, and drama. The storyline is divided into three vital aspects: forbidden romance, sacrifice, and heartbreak.
Velvet isn’t just a drama. It’s about romance and ambition in post-war Spain. The show is about Alberto Márquez, a wealthy man, and Ana Ribera, the love of his life. Their historia de amor (love story) is socially unacceptable due to their class differences, as seen in the show.
Then comes a major twist in the story when Alberto has to marry Cristina, who is rich and has a strong network. But besides all these things, Alberto and Anna’s love never fades, and their romance continues.
Gran Hotel
- Release: 2011
- Available on: Netflix
- Genre: Drama, Mystery, Suspense
- Synopsis: Gran Hotel is a 20th-century Spanish show where romance, drama, and mystery intervene. The story is about a young guy, Julio, whose sister goes missing. To find her, Julio goes undercover and uncovers the dark secret of the hotel’s elegant façade.
Gran Hotel is a blend of romance, drama, and suspense.
The show revolves around Julio and Alicia, who are madly in love and living their romantic life until they realize that their relationship cannot be taken further due to the class differences between them.
On the other side of the story, they both investigate to find Julio’s sister, and slowly they come to know the lies and the secrets that the walls of the Gran hotel hold. Julio’s search leads to a journey that unfolds the dark secrets of the hotel, from family betrayal and class struggles to murder mystery and conspiracy.
So, these are my top five favorite Spanish shows. And los amo! (I love them!).
This is because they provide more than just entertainment. They make me deeply connected to every scene and every character. So, if you want to watch a Spanish show but don’t know where to start, this list can serve as a good starting point.