Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Gala, a wine connoisseur who is just about to launch her own luxury wine store in New York, is forced to flee the country with her daughter Kate and mother Julia when she discovers her husband owes millions of dollars to some very bad men. Gala doesn’t tell the truth to Kate and Julia, and takes them to the picturesque town of La Muga, Julia’s hometown, where they are met with surprising hostility. Turns out, Gala’s mother has been keeping a few secrets of her own.
Created by Ramón Campos, Paula Fernández, and Teresa Fernández-Valdés, the 2024 Apple Original series “Land of Women” is inspired by author Sandra Barneda’s bestselling novel “La tierra de las mujeres” and stars Eva Longoria as protagonist Gala. However, it is Gala’s mother Julia, portrayed brilliantly by Carmen Maura, who is the absolute star of the show – a flirtatiously feisty woman with a vibrant past and a fading memory. Victoria Bazua, plays her grand-daughter Kate, a sweet, artistic teen, who has a hard time coming to terms with their Spanish escapade. It’s a little like “Schitt’s Creek” meets “Ginny and Georgia”, since it’s about a broke family moving to a small town to hide from the bad guys.
Spanning six episodes, the first episode of “Land of Women” entertainingly sets up the primary premise of the tale, with Gala, Kate, and Julia finding themselves uprooted from their daily lives and thrust into the uncertainties of living in La Muga, where everybody treats them as “outsiders”. From crashing their car into a local’s vehicle, to finding out that their ancestral property has been sold off, losing all their money, and even landing in jail, the women have a hell of a first day in La Muga. Gala gets off on the wrong foot with Amat (Santiago Cabrera), who owns their property, but she manages to strike a deal with him to stay there and help make quality wine at a local vineyard for money. But first, Gala has to win over everybody at the all-women-cooperative who run the vineyard, because they seem to hate her mother.
Each episode of “Land of Women” begins with a flashback to explain the primary trio’s (Gala/Kate/Julia) past and characters, and I found Carmen Maura’s past to be the most colorful. Helena Ezquerro plays a younger Julia in flashbacks, which show her to be the town’s playful seductress. Carmen Maura as the older Julia is joyous, cheery, and full of spark, and she vividly portrays the fuzzy daze someone with early onset of dementia can go into. Keen to help Gala out of the financial mess they are in, Julia also goes about causing comical trouble by trying to get money in crafty ways. However, Julia’s relationship with her estranged sister Mariona (Gloria Muñoz) was the best explored bond in “Land of Women”.
One of the most comedic conflicts in the tale is the mystery surrounding the identity of Gala’s father. Julia tells Gala that her father is dead, but in reality, she isn’t sure who he is because she slept with multiple men. The strongest candidates are the town’s senior cop, Andreu (Pep Anton Muñoz), and their revered priest (Joan Pera). All the senior actors are hilarious in their supporting roles. Another surprising revelation comes in regards to Kate’s story, but I won’t talk about that to avoid any more spoilers. Victoria Bazua is a delight as Kate, who can be annoyingly brash at times, but she is young, doesn’t know any better, and is overall a good kid with a reliable head on her shoulders.
Eva Longoria is entertaining as the strong, independent Gala, doing her best to clean up the mess her husband lands her in. However, Gala’s plot progression is often cliched, and the potential romance brewing between her and the handsome Amat was lackluster. There isn’t much chemistry between the actors, and their “enemies to almost lovers” dynamic was on the bland side. The writers should’ve given Kate a cute little summer love story, if the creators really wanted some romance in this otherwise straightforward family-comedy. But of course, there’s also more complications in the form of the armed hitmen who are after Gala’s family for their money.
Regardless of some of its predictable twists and turns, “Land of Women” is a breezy-comedic tale that explores the bonds between its three leads, their own personal problems, and how they slowly integrate themselves with the locals of La Muga. For Julia, it’s about reconnecting with the people she grew up with, for Kate and Gala, it’s about finding new roots. Since the series is set in a charming Spanish town surrounded by lush vineyards and the splendor of nature, it makes it easier for the women to adjusting to their new environment. Viewers get an interesting glimpse into how wine is made, with several scenes set in the winery. The writers also incorporate local festivities into the story, and the vibrant cinematography kinda makes you want to take a vacation in Spain.
The last few episodes of “Land of Women” show goons Hank (Jim Kitson) and Kevin (Amaury Nolasco) tracking them down and causing significant trouble for the women. I like the fact that they weren’t painted as typical ‘bad guys’, and have a weirdly friendly streak to them, so much so that Julia even tries to flirt with them to see if she can win them over. Although the men repeat their threat from episode 1 – to either pay up the debt within a few days or face the gun. Will Gala be able to pay off her debts or at least get rid of the hitmen? The suspense is maintained until the very end, although this series is rarely thrilling as other dramas about financial bungles and leans towards a “slice of life” tone.
“Land of Women” ends with two major cliffhangers, leaving viewers with two unresolved mysteries and the promise of a second season. It would have been much better if the creators had concluded the series with a decisive climax. However, as long as Carmen Maura gets more screen time, I’d definitely watch a second season. Watch the series if you’re looking for a light, comedic show about three women navigating their own challenges in a new scenic little town. The romance is pretty thin though.
Rating: 3 stars on 5. “Land of Women” in on Apple TV.
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