'Cable Girls' Is More Than Just A Spanish Drama

I've recently found myself completely obsessed with Spanish (as in, from Spain) shows on Netflix. I don't know if it's the accent, the over-the-top dramatics or the good-looking actors, but I'm hooked. I have binged watched multiple shows at a time, including "El Barco," "El Internado," and of course, "Cable Girls."

"Cable Girls" takes place in the late 1920s and initially revolves around the life and intentions of the main character Lidia (or Alba), who coincidentally is played by Blanca Suarez, who also plays the main character in "El Barco" and "El Internado."

Young Alba (Lidia) arrives in Madrid with the sole purpose of starting a new life for herself. After a serious of unfortunate events and the burdens of life, Alba finds herself at a flourishing telephone company where she steals the identity of another woman named (yes, you guessed it) Lidia and pretends to be her so she can get the job. Aside from wanting to have a better life and scale the male bureaucracy of Madrid, Alba is actually forced to get inside that telephone company with the purpose to steal money for a corrupted cop who is blackmailing her for problems related to her past. As the series progresses, it follows the life of Alba, her love life, her lies and the lives ruined because of her manipulation.

But underneath all that, "Cable Girls" is truly about friendship and female independence.

Throughout the show, Alba becomes friends with the other cable girls, Marga, Angeles, and Carlota. The four women support and defend each other throughout the turmoil that ensues throughout the series. The strong bond the four women grow to have it truly inspiring and heartwarming. It is a friendship that proves the girls will go to any lengths to protect and support one another. Without giving too much away, the four women have helped each other fight social injustice, prejudice against women, love, and death.

Throughout the three seasons of the show, there has been deception, romance, heartbreak, murder, kidnappings, family issues, and political uprisings; but one thing that has remained a constant underlying theme is friendship.

This is a show I highly recommend. It is entertaining and shares a good message underneath all the typical drama of a "Spanish drama." "Cable Girls" portrays a powerful message about female empowerment, equality, and friendship during a time period in Spain where women were not viewed as individuals. So if you ever find yourself aimlessly on Netflix looking for your next binge, give this show a try.