Raising Voices Review: Directed by Eduard Cortés, David Ulloa, and Marta Font, and written by Miguel Sáez Carral and Isa Sánchez, this Spanish teen drama Ni una más stars Nicole Wallace as Alma, Clara Galle as Greta, Aïcha Villaverde as Nata, Teresa de Mera as Berta, José Pastor as David, and Gabriel Guevara as Alberto. The cast also includes Eloy Azorín, Ruth Díaz, Iván Massagué, and others. The Netflix series consists of 8 episodes, each with a runtime of 45 minutes.
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Raising Voices Review
In Raising Voices, we encounter four protagonists, each with unique and compelling stories. Alma, the central character, serves as a catalyst for the narrative arcs of the other girls. While Alma’s journey is significant, her primary role is to propel others into expressing their emotions and confronting their realities.
Berta grapples with severe mental health challenges, struggling to escape a metaphorical and literal darkness. Greta, navigating her identity, finds herself in a complex relationship with an older woman, adding layers to her experience as a lesbian. Nata deals with the toxicity of an abusive relationship, burdened by a boyfriend who disrespects and mistreats her.
The show adeptly portrays the myriad struggles faced by adolescent girls, highlighting that vulnerability often extends even to those closest to us. It underscores the unsettling reality that safety and trust are not guaranteed, even among friends. Through its diverse characters and their intertwined stories, this series illuminates universal themes of adolescence, making it a poignant and relatable exploration of growing up.
The cast of this show consists of a group of girls, some of whom are quite popular as fresh faces in the entertainment industry. Although Nicole Wallace’s My Fault and Clara Galle’s Through My Window did not particularly impress me, I approached Netflix’s spanish series with low expectations, anticipating another run-of-the-mill teen drama featuring rebellious students engaging in typical mischief.
However, I was pleasantly surprised. This spanish series exceeded my expectations by presenting a rich and nuanced portrayal of the universal struggles and challenges faced by adolescent girls. The show delves deeply into their lives, exploring their experiences and emotions in a way that is both authentic and compelling. It transcends the clichés often found in teen dramas, offering a thoughtful and engaging narrative that resonates on a profound level.
The best thing about this show was its incredible cast. Each actress portrayed her character in such a compelling way that I felt deeply emotional about their struggles. Nicole as Alma was outstanding, capturing her character’s journey from a rebellious spirit to someone seeking freedom for the rape victims. Her evolution into a supportive figure when it mattered most was beautifully done.
Clara as Greta, a lesbian searching for love, exemplified true friendship. Not once did she make me dislike her character. Aïcha as Nata portrayed a complex character trying to break free from a toxic relationship, making her storyline gripping. Teresa de Mera as Berta moved me the most emotionally. Every cast member brought their character to life, which was the best part of the show.
The first three episodes of this series follow familiar tropes often seen in young adult dramas, which made them feel somewhat predictable. However, from the fourth episode onward, the pace picks up, and the narrative becomes much more engaging and relatable. Despite some elements that could have been condensed to shorten the series, by the end, any initial reservations I had were completely dispelled. The conclusion is emotionally powerful and memorable. While it may not rank among the greatest shows I’ve ever watched, nor serve as a definitive model for similar series, it does address its themes with admirable respect and thoughtfulness.
Raising Voices Review: Final Thoughts
This series delves into the sensitive topics of sexual harassment and assault, which may be unsettling for many viewers. However, its underlying message encourages speaking out when necessary rather than suffering in silence. Raising Voices is a poignant series that sheds light on the experiences of teenage girls, though I personally would have preferred it to be more concise. Nevertheless, it does an incredible job of portraying their stories and struggles. If you enjoy shows like 13 Reasons Why and Grand Army, then this series is definitely worth watching.
Spanish YA seires Raising Voices is now streaming on Netflix.
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