7/10
Strangely Watchable
12 March 2023
I have just got through this Netflix series over the space of two days and I have to say I enjoyed it despite the fact that a lot of it didn't make a whole lot of sense but it is apparently 'based on a true story' so who am I to doubt the veracity of this tale?

It is about the on-off relationship of Julio and Irene over the course of twenty years, it starts off in 2004 with Irene who is new to Madrid as she leaves small town Castellon and her first love behind to get stuck into her film studies degree at university.

Fate takes a hand as she meets Argentinian Julio - as short as he is and a mix of a young Jeremy Kyle and a third rate boyband member - he seems to have a unique power of people wanting to have sex with him and all he has to do is take an item of clothing off and he is having sex with someone or someone wanting to have sex with him. Irene falls under the spell alongside everyone else who crosses his path and as they go home on the train about to have their first kiss, they get caught up in the 2004 Madrid Train Bombing - which they both survive but Irene loses sight in one eye.

The show then is about their complicated relationship, Julio's angst as an actor and as an irresistible heartthrob of a man which seems to about to upend his life as he begins his road to stardom, Irene who is dumped and ignored at will, she shares the story with the annoying gay friend and the fat best friend who seems to be the glue that holds the gang together.

The show goes to and forth between 2004 and 2022. Like I said, it doesn't make that much sense and that Julio can just turn up in a bar, take his shirt off and has sex with strangers ten minutes later starts becoming hard to believe after an episode or two. The co-protoganist - Irene is cute and bright but as daft and as selfish as Julio as she spends her time getting her heart broken, breaking hearts in return and getting messed about.

It's well acted and like I said, kept me watching until the end so I think 7/10 is a fair score but as long as you can put aside some of the unrealistic scenes then you will be able to enjoy it for what it is.
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