Luis Miguel: The Series – Netflix Season 1 Review

With the announcement that season 2 of Luis Miguel: The Series was debuting on April 18, 2021, I figured it was time to give Season 1 a shot. I’ve talked about Luis Miguel a number of times on this blog already, including this Throwback Thursday post. The series is currently on Netflix for your viewing pleasure.

El Sol de Mexico

Luis Miguel is played by Diego Boneta who also sings the soundtrack for the series. Season 1 consists of 13 hour long episodes. Boneta’s does a wonderful job as Luis Miguel (also referred to as Micky). He brings a deft insight into the mysterious character. He does a wonderful job at capturing the intricacies of Micky’s growth and evolution. His voice is obviously not equal to the real Luis Miguel’s, but then again, who’s voice is? The Boneta-recorded soundtrack definitely enhances the immersion of the series. Speaking of which, I would recommend watching the series with English subtitles (if you don’t speak Spanish) instead of the English dub.

Among the other highlight within the cast is Oscar Jaenada who plays Luis Rey, Luis Miguel’s father. He deserves all the praise in the world for his portrayal of an alcoholic, abusive, and manipulative man. There’s fire behind each of his lines. While the series is titled Luis Miguel, it could have just as easily been named after Lusito Rey. Fairly or unfairly, this series establishes Micky’s father as one of the great villains in music history. I hope we see more of him in flashbacks in Season 2.

The rest of the cast does a great job as well. Juanpa Zurpita as Alex, Micky’s younger brother, does a wonderful job adding complexity to the family dynamic. Anna Favella delivers a great performance as the abused and beleaguered other half of Luis Rey. She demonstrates incredible loyalty to her son Luis, despite the abuses of her partner. Martin Bello does a convincing job of playing the unintelligent Tito. Also worth shouting out is Cesar Borbon who does a wonderful job portraying Hugo Lopez, Micky’s manager and de facto father figure.

The Mystery of Luis Miguel

The running mystery throughout this season is the disappearance of Luis’s mother Marcela. The mystery of her whereabouts is the main tension which holds the season together. It defines nearly every relationship in the show. We aren’t given a clear answer as to her whereabouts at any point during the season. There is no real indication as to what happened to her in real-life either. This allows the mystery to feel even more compelling and addicting. What happened to Micky’s mother has been a topic of rumors and theories for decades. Hopefully in Season 2, we’ll receive some sort of answer.

Season 1 serves to show Micky’s growth through major trials in his young career. Negative interactions with feverish fans, drinking problems, and a dysfunctional family are challenging on their own. Combined, these issues are recipe for disaster. Near-misses with professional and personal catastrophe define many of these episodes for Micky. They serve to demonstrate the fragility of success and the unique challenges of being a child star. Even things like puberty can’t be normal for Micky, as his father pushes him through the period and even hires a woman to take his virginity.

The show takes place on two simultaneous tracks, the first beginning in the late 1980s and the second at the start of Micky’s career. The series doesn’t always nail the balance of jumping between timelines. While I was generally able to keep up, it could easily become a bit confusing for a more casual viewer. The overall balance between the older Micky and younger years is generally successful.

What’s Left for Season 2

As fantastic as the 13 hours of Season 1 were, they leave us in about 1991/92. That leaves roughly 30 years more of hits, heartbreak, and mystery for the series to uncover. In Season 2, I’m sure we’ll learn more about where Luis Miguel’s mother has been for years. I also hope we see more insight into the formative years of Luis Rey. Seeing how he and Marcela met, and how his childhood stardom scarred him, would be wonderful new wrinkles to add.

I’m sure we’ll get the stories behind some of Micky’s iconic 90s albums like Segundo Romance, Aries, and Amarte es un Placer. I would also like to see some exploration of his decision not to follow the likes of Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Marc Anthony into the English-speaking market. Seeing some of his relationship with Mariah Carey would also be fascinating.

I can’t wait to see where Season 2 brings us. I’ll definitely be tuning in week to week this April.

Verdict

Luis Miguel: The Series Season 1 is a highly addictive and entertaining look into the life of the mysterious singer. With a compelling mystery, a wonderful cast, and fantastic music, this series should be at the top of everyone’s watchlist. I can’t wait for Season 2.

Final score – 8.8/10