Muted review: Is the new Netflix Spanish series starring Arón Piper worth the watch?
Muted is the latest addition to Netflix's list of Spanish series. The six-episode suspense thriller series has made its arrival exclusively on Netflix on Friday, May 19, 2023. Aitor Gabilondo is the creator of the series, and it is directed by Gabe Ibáñez. The official synopsis for Muted, released by Netflix, reads:
"Sergio hasn't spoken since he murdered his parents six years ago. Now, a psychiatrist aims to uncover what happened through a twisted investigation."
Ever since the Spanish thriller series was launched on the streaming platform, the audience has been quite eager to learn how the series has turned out. Starring Elite actor Arón Piper, the series revolves around Sergio, a young man who is sent behind bars for six years for the murder of his own parents.
Despite having an interesting and mysterious plotline, the series falls short in execution and feels quite dragged on.
A review of Muted on Netflix: A suspenseful story that lacks substance and harmony
An intriguing plotline let down by poor writing
Chronicling the story of a young man named Sergio Ciscar, the series' plot taps into the mystery behind the character's every move and why he kills his parents. The series depicts how Sergio is closely watched after his release from jail by a young psychiatrist named Ana Dussuel, who is studying his behavioral traits, along with her team of experts.
On paper the story sounds quite sound and sharp, but it fails to be a gripping thriller series. The writers of the series have attempted to weave the entire story in a complicated and suspenseful way, however, it has turned into something quite monotonous due to weak writing and unnecessarily long scenes.
The writing of the series seems confusing and rigid at times, making several scenes from Muted quite uninteresting despite having a promising storyline. The scenes lack substance and cohesion. Thus, the series can be considered a missed opportunity.
Promising direction falls short due to inconsistent pace
The director of the six-episode Netflix series, Gabe Ibáñez has done a good job of framing the scenes in a way that maintains the suspenseful feel of the series from the very beginning to the end. However, due to poor screenplay and extremely slow pace, the direction fails to save the series. Especially the middle part of the series feels quite repetitive and dull.
Although the series feels quite dragged on for the most part, there are a few scenes that are directed in a captivating way. The scenes include the one where Sergio stands on the ill-fated balcony alone, the one where Sergio's sister Noa confronts him regarding his crimes, and the one where Ana and Sergio come over to the same balcony at the end of the series, among others.
Impressive acting performance by the lead actor
Arón Piper who plays the lead role of Sergio Ciscar in the Spanish series, has done an arresting job and his performance in the series is probably the biggest highlight of it. It gives the series some saving grace. The actor delved deep into the character and portrayed a highly unsettling person who stays miserable from the very start till the very end.
Especially in scenes such as the one where he is constantly being watched by Ana and her team or the one where he is reminded of the truth behind his parents' death by his sister Noa or the one where he breaks down, Arón Piper has given an engaging performance. Thus, it's safe to say that, his solid acting has made the series a one-time watch.
Other actors in the series, Muted, including Cristina Kovani as Marta, Aitor Luna as Cabrera, Almudena Amor as Ana Dussuel, Manu Ríos as Eneko and a few others have done a moderate job of portraying their respective characters. Almudena Amor stands out among them due to the on-screen chemistry between her and Pieper's character.
Viewers can watch Muted, which is exclusively streaming on Netflix.
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Upasya Bhowal