Hey everyone, Nico Rivera here. Let’s talk about a show you might have missed. Netflix recently dropped an Argentinian prison drama called ‘En el barro,’ or ‘In the Mud.’ It’s quickly become a must-see, but fair warning: it’s not for the faint of heart.
If your mind jumps to ‘Orange is the New Black,’ hit the brakes. While both feature women in prison, ‘En el barro’ lives in a completely different universe. Think less laughs, more gritty reality. This show pulls no punches, diving deep into the darkest corners of human experience behind bars. It’s a gut-wrenching journey that can be hard to watch. You’ll spot some familiar prison movie themes, but they’ve rarely felt this dark before.
If you don’t mind a truly bleak story, here’s why you need to watch ‘En el barro’ on Netflix right now.
The Opening Episode Grabs You
Sometimes, a show’s best episode hits right at the start. ‘En el barro’ fits that bill perfectly. The incident that kicks off the whole series is incredibly exciting. An intense prison transfer turns into a bold escape attempt. Only one inmate actually slips away with her accomplices. You might wish the entire series kept up that fast pace. But this show focuses more on the characters’ emotional journeys than on thrilling stunts.
Five women – Gladys Guerra (Ana Garibaldi), Olga Giuliani (Erika de Sautu Riestra), Marina Delorsi (Valentina Zenere), Yael Rubial (Carolina RamÃrez), and Solita RodrÃguez (Camila Peralta) – all survive this harrowing event. Their shared near-death experience creates a strong bond as they arrive at their new prison, La Quebrada. Once there, they might just regret fighting so hard to survive that awful transport.
It’s Like “Oz” for Women
A woman arrives at a prison in the Netflix series In the Mud Netflix
The prison in ‘Orange is the New Black’ feels like a dream world compared to the nightmare shown in this series. If ‘En el barro’ has a true sibling, it’s HBO’s gritty prison drama, ‘Oz.’ The bleak tone of ‘In the Mud’ definitely brings ‘Oz’ to mind.
Corruption runs wild here. It’s everywhere, from a prison “porn wing” to a horrifying human trafficking ring that sells babies born to inmates. This isn’t a show for the easily upset. Not everyone will enjoy watching these stories unfold. But if you can handle the intense subject matter, this series will surely leave a lasting mark.
The Many Stories Find Their Endings
The cast of In the Mud Netflix
‘En el barro’ has already been a hit on Netflix. This means it might get renewed for more seasons. But it also makes you wonder if the series truly needs more episodes after its current storylines wrap up. Gladys’s story could continue, showing her evolution into someone hardened by prison life. Yet, it feels like the most compelling part of her change has already been told.
Most of the escape survivors don’t get happy endings, but their conclusions generally fit their characters well. Because of this, ‘En el barro’ might be best as a powerful, standalone season.
You might also be interested in: ‘How ‘In the Mud’ Was Made: Lorena Vega Reveals the Intense Prison Filming and Her Fierce Role as La Zurda.’
‘En el barro’ is available to stream on Netflix.