Netflix’s New Telenovela
Netflix seems to be diving into more risqué themes lately. After introducing intense dramas like Hunting Wife, they’re now venturing into Mexican telenovelas.
Opening scene: It starts in a sleek modern house where women seem to be frantically trying to escape.
Key Points: Helena (Zuria Vega) is desperate to flee from her husband Claudio (Erik Hayser), a domineering billionaire with a violent streak. She’s aware that her son, Fer (Sebastian Garcia), is waiting at a safe spot for her. But just as she prepares to leave, Claudio returns home, violently confronts her, and threatens her with a gun. Essentially, her escape doesn’t happen.
A few weeks later, Helena finds herself at a chic rooftop bar, connecting with Ivan (Andres Baida) through a dating app. He’s nearby, enjoying a swim. Their chemistry is palpable, leading to regular meetings and intimacy every Thursday. Thirteen weeks in, their relationship evolves beyond just physical attraction, but everything changes when Helena discovers Ivan’s secret—he’s an escort.
Ivan also uncovers that Helena isn’t the single woman she appeared to be; an unexpected encounter with her and Claudio at a restaurant shakes things up. They sneak away to the restroom and share another intimate moment. As they confront their realities, Ivan becomes determined to help Helena escape her challenging situation—one she fears could end fatally.
Knowing Claudio’s attraction to handsome, young men, they devise a plan: Ivan pretends to be a reporter interested in profiling Claudio. Soon, Claudio invites Ivan to a family retreat, where things take a dangerous turn when he attempts to seduce Helena and Ivan, recording the encounter with a hidden camera. However, when Ivan resists Claudio’s advances, everything spirals out of control, leading to tension as Fel recklessly drives to the cabin, intent on confronting Claudio.
What does it remind you of? The show evokes a telenovela vibe similar to A Hopeless Lie.
Our Take: An Indescribable Crime kicks off with an intense opening. The show, written by Leticia Lopez Margari and Guillermo Rios, explores Helena’s backstory and her tumultuous marriage to Claudio. Initially trying to escape, she ends up ensnared in a steamy relationship with Ivan. As secrets are revealed, their ambitious plan to embarrass Claudio takes shape, although complications arise quickly. And we’re only in the first of the 18 episodes!
Does the show offer depth? Not really. The acting is a mixed bag; while Vega shines as Helena, others lean towards overacting. Does it all make sense? Not quite. There’s a subplot involving Claudio’s adult children grappling with their late mother’s inheritance, which feels tangential to the main plot.
This is definitely a show for anyone in the mood for steamy scenes. Expect dramatic music and plenty of tension as viewers root for Helena to outmaneuver the malevolent Claudio.
Sex and Skin: Yes, there’s plenty of both, and it begins almost immediately.
Closing shot: Helena arrives at the cabin, where police are already present, and chaos ensues. Fel is distraught, while Claudio and Ivan are nowhere to be found.
Sleeper Star: Anna Sofia Gacha, who plays Libya, brings a unique touch as Claudio’s environmentally-conscious daughter eager to use her father’s company to challenge a major resort project.
Most Curious Line: When Ivan inquires how Helena is skilled with the spy camera she installed, her response is, “I used to be a photographer.” It raises questions about what that has to do with surveillance.
Our Verdict: Pass on this one. An Indescribable Crime is rather silly with a ridiculous storyline. However, if you’re here for the steamy scenes and can overlook the plot, you might find it entertaining.
