| Director | Koldo Serra, Julian de Tavira |
| Executive Producer, Showrunner | Amaya Muruzábal |
| Writers | Salvador Perpiñá, Amaya Muruzábal |
| Cast | Vicky Luengo, Hovik Keuchkerian, Andrea Trepat, Celia Freijeiro, Nacho Fresneda, Vicenta N’Dongo, Karmele Larrinaga, Pere Brasó, Fernando Guallar |
| Episodes | 7 |
| English Title | Red Queen |
| Genre | Crime, Thriller |
| Based On | Reina Roja by Juan Gómez-Jurado |
– No Spoilers –
[TW: Suicide]
Spanish thriller series Reina Roja is a mysterious affair that hardly gets into the crevices of its storyline in the first few episodes but keeps building on the tension and a complicated storyline that goes all over the place. There’s a lot going on in this series that is fairly confusing in the first half and until it opens up about its secrets, we are simply left questioning what we are supposed to do or think.
The series focuses on a deranged killer who stages elaborate murders after kidnapping people for some gain. A genius member of a secret police project, Antonia Scott, suffering from her own demons, and Jon Gutiérrez, an expelled policeman, are catapulted into the mysterious double kidnapping and murder case to find the man responsible. However, like every crime, the answer isn’t that easy.
The mysterious thriller series gets its ducks in a row and does a fantastic job of creating a thrilling atmosphere that can leave anyone intrigued. Antonia’s mysterious backstory, coupled with her genius intuition, can make anyone gravitate towards her while Jon’s wit and charm make him an adorable partner who has his moments where he shines. The two’s coupling is one of the best parts of the series and their banter cuts through the serious and heavy nature of the crimes and the criminal’s motivations.
From the negativity of their meeting to them slowly opening up to each other as time passes and eventually becoming each other’s confidants, Jon and Antonia are the heart of the series that has some really greedy and horrible people who will make you lose faith in humanity. Vicky Luengo and Hovik Keuchkerian as Antonia and Jon respectively, are delightful and a hoot to watch. They are intense but fun and balance the humour and the seriousness well.
Coming to the story, Reina Roja brings forth a curious crime that requires time and attention to set up. Thus, the first episode or two is spent understanding the crime, creating the premises and then jumping into action mode. What might look like a simple kidnapping or a gruesome murder at the hands of a madman has more depth to it and throws light on human nature and how far people can go to protect themselves and their reputation, regardless of the price. There are a lot of hidden interesting things that the series brings forth but it does so slowly.
That, however, doesn’t mean that it’s a slow series per se; in fact, it goes from one clue to another quite fast such that you are always left questioning the circumstances. I think the pace helps us to know the characters well but still feel like we are in a chase. The series balances itself quite well and makes the main characters interesting enough for us to care for and follow throughout the runtime.
Reina Roja Review: Conclusion
Reina Roja is an interesting, dark and gritty series with two likeable protagonists and a mysterious antagonist who constantly keeps you on your toes. You constantly ask yourself what comes next and when the series decides to shift gears and pick up speed, you’d be left at the edge of your seat with anticipation. All in all, it’s a good addition to the thriller subgenre and will keep you invested throughout.
Reina Roja or Red Queen will stream on Amazon Prime Video from February 29, 2024.
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