''Who Killed Sara?'' () is a Mexican
mystery
Mystery, The Mystery, Mysteries or The Mysteries may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional characters
*Mystery, a cat character in ''Emily the Strange''
*Mystery, a seahorse that SpongeBob SquarePants adopts in the episode " My Pre ...
thriller
Thriller may refer to:
* Thriller (genre), a broad genre of literature, film and television
** Thriller film, a film genre under the general thriller genre
Comics
* ''Thriller'' (DC Comics), a comic book series published 1983–84 by DC Comics i ...
streaming television series created by
José Ignacio Valenzuela
José Ignacio Valenzuela (born April 29, 1972, Santiago de Chile, Chile) also known by the nickname Chascas, is a Chilean writer and screenwriter. Author of scripts for national and foreign soap operas, among which ''Amor a domicilio'', ''La fami ...
and produced by Perro Azul, which was released for
Netflix
Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
on 24 March 2021. The series stars
Manolo Cardona
Manuel "Manolo" Julián Cardona Molano (born April 25, 1977) is a Colombian actor.
Personal life
Cardona was born in Popayán, Cauca, Colombia on April 25, 1977. At the age of seven, Cardona's family nicknamed him "Manolo," which later beca ...
as Álex Guzmán, a man convicted for the murder of his sister, a crime that he did not commit. Season 2 premiered on 19 May 2021, two months after the release of the first one. At the end of the Season 2 finale credits, it is revealed that Season 3 is upcoming. Season 3 (the final season) premiered on May 18, 2022 on Netflix.
Premise
The series follows Álex Guzmán, who, after spending 18 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, is hellbent on finding out who killed his sister Sara and getting revenge on the Lazcano family who wronged him.
Cast
*
Manolo Cardona
Manuel "Manolo" Julián Cardona Molano (born April 25, 1977) is a Colombian actor.
Personal life
Cardona was born in Popayán, Cauca, Colombia on April 25, 1977. At the age of seven, Cardona's family nicknamed him "Manolo," which later beca ...
as Álex Guzmán, a former convict who decides to avenge the death of his sister Sara, after spending 18 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. As the series progresses, he begins a relationship with Elisa Lazcano.
**
Leo Deluglio
Leo Deluglio (born 27 May 1990) is an Argentine actor and singer. He is known for his recurring role as Diego Padilla in the Telemundo telenovela '' La Doña'', and for his role as Iker of the Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (nicknamed Nick) is ...
as young Álex Guzmán.
*
Alejandro Nones
Alejandro Nones (born December 9, 1982) is a Venezuelan actor. He began his acting career with the film ''Así del precipicio'', and later was hired by Televisa to act in the telenovela ''Lola, érase una vez
''Lola, érase una vez'' (English: ...
as Rodolfo Lazcano, César and Mariana's eldest, and Alex former best friend, who dated Sara prior to her death.
** as young Rodolfo Lazcano.
*
Ximena Lamadrid
Ximena Lamadrid (born 5 June 1996 in Cancún, México) is a Mexican actress. She is best known for her role in the Mexican crime-drama Netflix show ''Who Killed Sara?'', in which she portrays Sara Guzmán.
Biography
Lamadrid grew up in Dubai. A ...
as Sara Guzmán, the late younger sister of Álex, whose death is what led to the events of the series. She was in a relationship with Rodolfo Lazcano.
*
Carolina Miranda as Elisa Lazcano, César and Mariana's youngest child and only daughter, who decides to help Alex find Sara's true killer, even if she has to expose her family's crimes. As the series progresses, she begins a relationship with Alex.
*
Eugenio Siller
Eugenio Siller Margain (born April 5, 1981) is a Mexican actor, singer, and model who is best known for starring in popular novelas '' Rebelde'', '' Código Postal'', '' Al Diablo con los Guapos'', '' Mi pecado'', ''Aurora'', '' Una Maid en Manh ...
as José María "Chema" Lazcano, César and Mariana's middle child, and a close friend of Álex, who has an estranged relationship with his family after coming out as
gay
''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'.
While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late ...
. He is in a relationship with Lorenzo and the two want to be parents.
**
Polo Morín
Leopoldo Morín Garza (born November 3, 1990), known professionally as Polo Morín, is a Mexican actor and model.
Early life and education
Morín was born in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico on November 3, 1990. He studied Economics and Business a ...
as young José María Lazcano.
*
Fátima Molina
Fátima Ileana Molina Vargas (born 9 March 1986) artistically known as Fátima Molina is a Mexican actress and singer, best known for her role as Lidya Corona in the Telemundo's series ''La Doña (2016 TV series), La Doña'' (2016–2017), follo ...
as Clara, Chema's close friend, who agrees to help him and Lorenzo have a child by becoming a surrogate mother.
*
Ginés García Millán
Ginés García Millán (born 10 September 1964) is a Spanish actor who has combined theater, film and television.
Biography
Born on 10 September 1964 in Puerto Lumbreras, Murcia. His parents operated a hotel in the town. He was a footballer in ...
as César Lazcano, a multibillionaire businessman who is the patriarch of the Lazcano family.
*
Claudia Ramírez
Claudia Julieta Ramírez Valdez (born July 30, 1964) is a Mexican actress.
Filmography Film roles
Television roles
Awards and nominations
Premios TVyNovelas
The Premios TVyNovelas are presented annually by Televisa and the magazine ...
as Mariana Lazcano, the wife of César Lazcano and mother of Rodolfo, José María, and Elisa.
* Juan Carlos Remolina as Sergio Hernández, César best friend and business partner.
*
Héctor Jiménez
Héctor Jiménez Gudiño (born December 13, 1973) is a Mexican actor and producer. He played Esqueleto in ''Nacho Libre'', Mr. Tumnus in ''Epic Movie'' and the cashier in ''Wild Hogs''. He worked in a theater company in Tijuana for eight years ...
as Elroy, Mariana's adopted son and loyal adviser.
** Marco Zapata as young Elroy.
*
Litzy
Litzy Vanya Domínguez Balderas (born October 27, 1982), known by her stage name Litzy, is a Mexican singer and actress.
Career
Litzy is known for having been in the Mexican singing group Jeans, and for her (formerly "always" protagonist) roles ...
as Marifer, Sara's best friend and Alex's former lover.
**
Ela Velden
Ela Velden (born Daniela Campos Reséndiz is a Mexican actress and model. In October 2014, she made her telenovela debut co-starring in producer Pedro Damián's remake, '' Muchacha italiana viene a casarse''. In 2016, she starred as the lead r ...
as young Marifer.
*
Jean Reno
Juan Moreno y Herrera-Jiménez (born 30 July 1948), commonly known as Jean Reno (), is a French-Spanish actor. He established himself as a Leading actor, leading man of French cinema through his collaborations with director Luc Besson, and has w ...
as Reinaldo Gómez de la Cortina
*
Luis Roberto Guzmán
Luis Roberto Guzmán (born April 9, 1973) is a Puerto Rican actor known for his performances in Mexican telenovelas including '' Alborada'', and for his title role in Mexican series '' El Pantera''. Guzmán also worked on the film '' Ladies' N ...
as Lorenzo Rossi, a lawyer who is Chema's boyfriend and wants to raise a child with him.
*
Ana Lucía Domínguez as Sofía, Rodolfo's estranged wife.
*
Iñaki Godoy
Iñaki Godoy Jasso (born 25 August 2003) is a Mexican actor who is known for his role as Juan Ruiz in ''The Imperfects'' (2022) and Monkey D. Luffy in the Netflix live-action adaptation of ''One Piece'' (2023).
Career
In 2016, at the age of thir ...
as Bruno, Sofia's teenage son and Rodolfo's stepson.
Episodes
Season overview
Season 1 (2021)
Season 2 (2021)
Season 3 (2022)
Production
''Who Killed Sara?'' was produced by Perro Azul for Netflix.
The studio Perro Azul has their headquarters in Mexico City and is part of Netflix's Latin America offices.
Created by
José Ignacio Valenzuela
José Ignacio Valenzuela (born April 29, 1972, Santiago de Chile, Chile) also known by the nickname Chascas, is a Chilean writer and screenwriter. Author of scripts for national and foreign soap operas, among which ''Amor a domicilio'', ''La fami ...
, the episodes of the first and second season were directed by David Ruiz and Bernardo de la Rosa.
José Ignacio Valenzuela
José Ignacio Valenzuela (born April 29, 1972, Santiago de Chile, Chile) also known by the nickname Chascas, is a Chilean writer and screenwriter. Author of scripts for national and foreign soap operas, among which ''Amor a domicilio'', ''La fami ...
, Alexis Fridman, and Juan Uruchurtu (from Perro Azul) were also in charge of the production.
According to Eugenio Siller, the production gave the actors the liberty to add to the personalities of their characters.
The first and second season were filmed consecutively under strict safety guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each city in Mexico has their own safety guidelines and the production moved around from city to city that allowed them to film, such as Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Puebla. Shooting locations also include
Acapulco
Acapulco de Juárez (), commonly called Acapulco ( , ; ), is a city and Port of Acapulco, major seaport in the Political divisions of Mexico, state of Guerrero on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, south of Mexico City. Located on a deep, semicirc ...
and
Valle de Bravo
Valle de Bravo () is one of 125 Municipalities of Mexico, municipalities in the State of Mexico, Mexico. The largest town and municipal seat is the town of Valle de Bravo. It is located on the shore of Lake Avándaro, approximately 156 km ( ...
(Lake Avándaro).
Release
The 10-episode first season premiered on
Netflix
Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
on 24 March 2021.
The second season premiered on 19 May 2021.
It features the incorporation of
Matías Novoa
Matías Novoa Burgos (born 14 June 1980) is a Chile, Chilean actor and model (person), model, based in Mexico.
He is known for working with TV Azteca doing telenovelas.
Personal life
He was married to Cuban actress and singer Isabella Castil ...
,
Daniel Giménez Cacho
Daniel Giménez Cacho (born May 15, 1961) is a Spanish-born Mexican actor. He is known for portraying Tito the Coroner in '' Cronos'' (1993) and '' We Are What We Are'' (2010).
Early life
Daniel Giménez Cacho was born on May 15, 1961 in Mad ...
, and Antonio de la Vega into the ensemble cast. The third and final season released on May 18, 2022.
Reception
Viewership
Upon its release, ''Who Killed Sara?'' claimed the number one spot for the most-streamed show for several weeks in the United States. On 21 April 2021, Netflix reported that the series has been seen by 55 million households during its first 28 days and went to become the most viewed foreign language show.
Until March 2023, the show ranked #10 in the Netflix all-time hours watched list for Non-English TV with 266.43 million hours watched globally in the first 28 days.
Critical response
The series receive positive reviews from critics. On
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is an American review aggregator, review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee ...
, the first season has an approval rating of 86% based on 7 reviews.
Joel Keller of ''
Decider
Decider is both a real word and a "Bushism". It may refer to:
* ''Decider'' (website), a pop culture website operated by the ''New York Post''
* '' Bill Maher: The Decider'', a stand-up comedy special
* Decider (Turing machine), a Turing machin ...
'', praised the series and recommends people stream it. He commented "has a few logic problems, but its overall vibe is energetic enough, with good performances, to keep viewers' attention". Daniel Hart from Ready Steady Cut, considered the show "a compelling, revenge-thirsty murder mystery". Mikel Zorrilla from Espinof commented considered the series "an entertaining thriller with the soul of a telenovela that mixes mystery, drama and eroticism." Ángel S. Harguindey wrote in an article that "subscription television has allowed Mexican soap operas to thrive in their expanded themes and this series is luxurious and liberal."
Accolades
, -
, align = "center" , 2022 , ,
30th Actors and Actresses Union Awards
The 30th Actors and Actresses Union Awards ceremony was held on 14 March 2022 at the Circo Price in Madrid. The gala was hosted by Gloria Albalate.
In addition to the competitive awards, received the '' award, Ángela Molina
Ángela Molina ...
, , Best Actor in an International Production , , Ginés García Millán , , , ,
References
{{authority control
Thriller television series
2020s mystery television series
Television shows filmed in Mexico
2020s Mexican drama television series
2021 Mexican television series debuts
Netflix television dramas
Spanish-language television shows
Television series about revenge