Alive and Kicking (TV series)

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 byAlbert Espinosa
Based onLo que te diré cuando te vuelva a ver
by Albert Espinosa
Directed byRoger Gual [es]
Starring
  • Álvaro Requena
  • Marco Sanz
  • Sara Manzano
  • Aitor Valadés
  • Héctor Pérez
  • Miki Esparbé
Opening theme"Los espabilados" by Alfred García
Country of originSpain
Original languageSpanish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes7
Production
Running time25 min (approx.)
Production companyMovistar+
Original release
NetworkMovistar+
Release29 January (2021-01-29) –
12 February 2021 (2021-02-12)

Premise

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The 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

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Production and release

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Created 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]

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
1729 January 2021 (2021-01-29)12 February 2021 (2021-02-12)Movistar+
No.TitleDirected byOriginal air date
1"Ama tu caos"Roger Gual29 January 2021 (2021-01-29)
2"Busca menos y déjate encontrar más"Roger Gual29 January 2021 (2021-01-29)
3"La vida siempre te golpea pero nunca te noquea"Roger Gual29 January 2021 (2021-01-29)
4"La luz atrae a los lobos"Roger Gual5 February 2021 (2021-02-05)
5"Devuelve puñaladas con sonrisas"Roger Gual5 February 2021 (2021-02-05)
6"Herir a los que amaste es incumplir tus propias promesas"Roger Gual12 February 2021 (2021-02-12)
7"No tengas miedo de ser la persona en la que te has convertido"Roger Gual12 February 2021 (2021-02-12)

Reception

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The 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

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  1. ^ a b Hernández Luján, Raquel (26 January 2021). "Crítica de Los espabilados, estreno en Movistar+ el 29 de enero". Hobby Consolas.
  2. ^ a b c "Movistar + presenta 'Los espabilados', la nueva serie de Albert Espinosa: "Marcará a mucha gente"". El Periódico. 27 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Navarro, Sergio (28 January 2021). "Crítica de 'Los espabilados': El placer de pertenecer a un grupo (aunque la sociedad nos mire mal)". FormulaTV.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b "Personajes". Los Espabilados. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  6. ^ Atienza, Rubén P. (3 February 2021). "'Los espabilados', entre las series más vistas de Movistar+". Menorca.
  7. ^ "Movistar + inicia el rodaje en Menorca de su nueva serie, "Los Espabilados"". La Vanguardia. 4 November 2019.
  8. ^ "'Los espabilados' – estreno 29 de enero en Movistar+". Audiovisual451. 25 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Los espabilados". Ecoteuve. El Economista. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  10. ^ Navarro, Sergio (15 December 2020). "'Los espabilados', la serie de Albert Espinosa, ya prepara su segunda temporada que pondría fin a la serie". FormulaTV.
  11. ^ "Alfred García: "'Los espabilados' es una transición entre lo que dejé atrás y lo que vendrá ahora"". RTVE. 28 January 2021.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ García Pérez, Laura (14 February 2021). "Cómo representar las enfermedades mentales y no (o sí) ser irresponsable en el intento". Vertele!. eldiario.es.