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45-year-old Gala has it all—a successful, wealthy husband, a loving teenage daughter, and a new boutique wine shop she can’t wait to run in New York City. But her life turns upside down when she discovers her husband owes $15 million to some dangerous men who threaten her with serious consequences if they aren’t paid back in 24 hours. With not many options, Gala deceives her daughter and mother to take a “girls trip” to her mother’s obscure little hometown in Spain, hoping to hide in their ancestral property until things calm down. But for how long can she keep the truth from her family?
Created by Ramón Campos, Paula Fernández, and Teresa Fernández-Valdés, the Apple TV series “Land of Women” stars Eva Longoria as Gala. Victoria Bazua and Carmen Maura play her daughter, Kate, and her mother, Julia, respectively. Santiago Cabrera is Spanish hottie Amat, who Gala crashes her car into on the day they reach Spain, spilling his produce of grapes for a vineyard and setting the stage for a possible “enemies to lovers” trope between the two characters. Even though Gala is married, it’s unlikely a marriage to a guy who attempts to run away without telling his family that a bunch of goons are out for their necks can last too long.
The first episode of “Land of Women” comically sets up the primary premise of the story, with Gala convincing her mother it was her idea to visit Spain while telling her daughter, Kate, that Julia’s health and memory are worsening, and that it’s her grandmother’s dying wish to go on vacation. But their trip to Spain turns into one hell of a ride. From crashing into a local truck, finding out their ancestral property has been sold off, losing their money, to landing in jail, the women have a rollercoaster journey within the very first day of their arrival.
Carmen Maura is the most entertaining character in “Land of Women” so far. She is joyous as the carefree Julia, who has early onset dementia and tends to get lost in her own head. When Gala suggests they take a trip to Spain, Julia agrees only on one condition—that she be allowed to drink a certain number of drinks on the plane. Flashbacks show a younger Julia (Helena Ezquerro) as quite the heartbreaker, and the more time Gala spends in her mother’s hometown, the more she learns how little she knows about her own mom. It might remind some viewers of mother-daughter focused shows like “Gilmore Girls” or the more recent “Ginny & Georgia”.
The cinematography for “Land of Women” paints a romantic picture of the Spanish countryside, although the townsfolk aren’t as lovely and are quite the gossiping bunch. The shift in scenarios from Gala’s plush flat in New York to a rusty old sprawling cottage in Spain makes for an interesting juxtaposition. The first two episodes are steadily paced, sprinkled with plenty of funny moments, and the chemistry between the three women is quite engaging so far.
Stream the series on Apple TV.
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