Adult Swim’s New Series Breaks Ground with Spanish Show
The unconventional and often bizarre legacy of Adult Swim has now spanned over two decades. Surprisingly, it didn’t have a Spanish-language series until now. Well, that’s changed with a new show that promises to be both peculiar and outrageous, perhaps even more so than anything that came before.
Opening Scene: A girl fetches a cuy, also known as a guinea pig, from a barn, causing chaos as she drags it inside, leaving its companions behind.
Key Points: The scene shifts back to the 1980s in Quito, Ecuador, where Mario Neta (Peppa Parallel) is welcomed at the airport by her assistant, Coquita Pattins (Gabriela Cartle). Mario, visiting a Spanish family, seems to have a rocky relationship with them, despite their financial support for “these filthy beasts.” The plan? Sell Cuys as the adorable pets everyone seems to want.
A marionette plays a key role in promoting CUY as a cuddly family member, while attempting to dissuade Ecuadorians from cooking these creatures. Meanwhile, the young actress searches for someone to help her with a particularly delicate situation—removing a virgin mother, conceived through artificial insemination.
Recently, the Cuys Marioneta has been having some interesting episodes. When asked, Coquita reveals that the breeder had to make some drastic changes at the behest of Doña Quispe (Laura Torres), the butcher who runs Ecuador’s most successful restaurant. During a talk show appearance, Doña Quispe criticizes the rising trend of keeping miniature Cuys as pets, attributing it to “the Spanish.”
Mariote attempts to rediscover her flow with the Cuys, even making a perilous trip to a qui fight venue to charm Espada (Kerigma Flores). Unfortunately, her return home is met with an unwelcome surprise.
Comparative Shows: This series evokes memories of other Adult Swim classics like Robot Chicken and Moral Orel, which share a certain offbeat humor.
Our Thoughts: Created by Gonzalo Cordoba, Woman Wearing Shoulder Pads captures an Ecuadorian experience from the ’80s, featuring an all-female cast. Male roles mainly serve as background characters, or, in one instance, a man lurking around creating mischief for Mario.
This show unfolds in a surreal environment where Mariote and Doña Quispe clash with those controlling the Kai Empire. Mariote dreams of changing perceptions, hoping to turn Cuys into popular pets for profit. Meanwhile, Doña Quispe has already established a thriving empire based on traditional practices with these animals.
Yeah, it’s a bit odd—maybe not as strange as typical Adult Swim offerings—but the quirky jokes and storylines are undeniably entertaining. For instance, Mariote uses a humorous approach when discussing her assistant’s background, hinting at more to explore in their quirky universe.
Sex and Skin: While there are some risqué moments in stop-motion animation, the characters are either modestly dressed or completely obscured.
Closing Scene: An intruder surprises Mariote, forcing her into a closet and blocking the door with two affectionate statues. The credits roll as Mario attempts to get someone’s attention from inside the closet.
Star Performance: Coquita, played by Gabriella Cartre, stands out. Though seemingly wrapped up in her own musical world, she’s surprisingly astute compared to Mario.
Most Notable Line: The heated romance between Mariote and Espada is so intense that it literally sets the bedroom ablaze.
Final Verdict: We recommend streaming Woman Wearing Shoulder Pads. It’s a quirky, slightly unnerving yet ultimately humorous exploration of Ecuadorian culture intertwined with Cuys in the ’80s.
