Alive and Kicking (Spanish: Los espabilados; lit. 'the clued-up ones') is a Spanish television series created by Albert Espinosa for Movistar+. Based on the novel Lo que te diré cuando te vuelva a ver by Espinosa, the plot follows five teenagers escaping from a mental health centre. It aired in 2021.
| Alive and Kicking | |
|---|---|
| Los espabilados | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Albert Espinosa |
| Based on | Lo que te diré cuando te vuelva a ver by Albert Espinosa |
| Directed by | Roger Gual |
| Starring |
|
| Opening theme | "Los espabilados" by Alfred García |
| Country of origin | Spain |
| Original language | Spanish |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 7 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 25 min (approx.) |
| Production company | Movistar+ |
| Original release | |
| Network | Movistar+ |
| Release | 29 January – 12 February 2021 |
Premise
editThe fiction follows the mishaps of five teenagers (Mickey L'Angelo, Yeray, Guada, Samuel and Lucas) escaping from a mental health centre in Menorca, experiencing from then on a sort of road movie that takes them to different locations in Spain, Germany and Italy in search of Mickey's older brother.[1][2][3]
Cast
edit- Álvaro Requena as Mickey L'Angelo.[4]
- Marco Sanz as Yeray.[4]
- Sara Manzano as Guada.[4]
- Aitor Valadés as Samuel.[4]
- Héctor Pérez as Lucas.[4]
- Miki Esparbé as Izan.[4]
- Marta Torné as Elsa.[4][5]
- Àlex Brendemühl as Dr. del Álamo.[6]
- Bruno Sevilla as Dr. Sánchez.[5]
- Andreu Benito[4]
- Hanna Schygulla[4]
- Rym Gallardo[4]
Production and release
editCreated by Albert Espinosa, Los espabilados is inspired by the novel Lo que te diré cuando te vuelva a ver, also authored by Espinosa.[2] It consists of 7 episodes, directed by Roger Gual,[2][1] featuring a running time of around 25 minutes.[3] A 7-part road movie, the series is a drama with comedy elements.[3] Filming started in Menorca on 4 November 2019.[7] Movistar+ programmed the release of the first 3 episodes for 29 January 2021, and the release of the 4 remaining episodes on a 2 episodes per Friday basis.[8][9] Before the series' release, Movistar+ tasked Espinosa with the writing of a second and final season, although the platform did not confirm the renovation at the time.[10] The series' main theme, "Los espabilados", was composed and performed by Alfred García.[11]
| Series | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | Network | |||
| 1 | 7 | 29 January 2021 | 12 February 2021 | Movistar+ | |
| No. | Title | Directed by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Ama tu caos" | Roger Gual | 29 January 2021 |
| 2 | "Busca menos y déjate encontrar más" | Roger Gual | 29 January 2021 |
| 3 | "La vida siempre te golpea pero nunca te noquea" | Roger Gual | 29 January 2021 |
| 4 | "La luz atrae a los lobos" | Roger Gual | 5 February 2021 |
| 5 | "Devuelve puñaladas con sonrisas" | Roger Gual | 5 February 2021 |
| 6 | "Herir a los que amaste es incumplir tus propias promesas" | Roger Gual | 12 February 2021 |
| 7 | "No tengas miedo de ser la persona en la que te has convertido" | Roger Gual | 12 February 2021 |
Reception
editThe portrait of mental disorders in the series was harshly criticised by critics.[12] Reported problematic aspects include the romanticization of illness and the "dangerous" underlying antidiagnostic thesis present in the series.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b Hernández Luján, Raquel (26 January 2021). "Crítica de Los espabilados, estreno en Movistar+ el 29 de enero". Hobby Consolas.
- ^ a b c "Movistar + presenta 'Los espabilados', la nueva serie de Albert Espinosa: "Marcará a mucha gente"". El Periódico. 27 January 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Dios, Marisa de (26 January 2021). "'Los espabilados': la oda a la diferencia de Albert Espinosa". El Periódico.
- ^ a b "Personajes". Los Espabilados. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ Atienza, Rubén P. (3 February 2021). "'Los espabilados', entre las series más vistas de Movistar+". Menorca.
- ^ "Movistar + inicia el rodaje en Menorca de su nueva serie, "Los Espabilados"". La Vanguardia. 4 November 2019.
- ^ "'Los espabilados' – estreno 29 de enero en Movistar+". Audiovisual451. 25 January 2021.
- ^ "Los espabilados". Ecoteuve. El Economista. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ Navarro, Sergio (15 December 2020). "'Los espabilados', la serie de Albert Espinosa, ya prepara su segunda temporada que pondría fin a la serie". FormulaTV.
- ^ "Alfred García: "'Los espabilados' es una transición entre lo que dejé atrás y lo que vendrá ahora"". RTVE. 28 January 2021.
- ^ Mantilla, Daniel (25 February 2021). "'Loco por ella': cómo crear una comedia romántica en el siglo XXI y no perder la cabeza en el intento". El Español.
- ^ García Pérez, Laura (14 February 2021). "Cómo representar las enfermedades mentales y no (o sí) ser irresponsable en el intento". Vertele!. eldiario.es.