Pálpito

Was really interested on this show... But couldn't get pass the second episode... Some parts were absolutely ridiculous... You are late to your own wedding because you are taking pictures of a marathon? I mean... The heart recipient had a partially naked photo shoot right before her surgery?? And is devouring french fries around her office right after the operation? Not realistic at all.

As Episode 1 of "The Marked Heart" (2022 release from Colombia; 14 episodes of about 40-45 min each) opens, we are introduced to a married couple who are in the car, enjoying Colombian singer Carlos Vives. Then the car suffers a flat tire and wipes out against a tree. Somehow "bad" guys show up and instead of helping the couple, they kidnap the woman... At this point we are 10 min into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: let me admit that I literally knew nothing about this series. Netflix "suggested" it to me based on my viewing preferences. The fact that this was a non-US series piqued my interest, so I happily gave this series a try. The series is super plot-heavy so I can't and won't say much about that. What I will say is this: it is intended to be a rough-and-tough crime drama set in Colombia's dark underbelly of organ trafficking. Alas, it became very quickly apparent that instead this is a soap opera with plot holes the size of Manhattan and correlating plot developments that were completely over the top and frankly utterly unbelievable.

"The Marked Heart" premiered on Netflix a few weeks ago in late April. I'll be honest: I gave it 4 episodes, and when I asked myself if I really had the appetite for 10 more episodes of this, I instantly knew the answer and I quit. Of course don't take my word for it, so I encourage you to check it out, and draw your own conclusion. Just don't say you weren't warned.

There was a very good story line from episode one with so much potential. But was like a bad car wreck...you can't NOT look. We just had to know how it ended. I don't know if it was just the dubbing or what. Kinda like a Lifetime movie or bad soap opera. My only spoiler is that there's going to be a Season 2.

I thought the acting was strong, and the story compellling. Enjoyable drama about a very serious topic. Well casted. Surprising twists and turns throughout. Some of the issues that can only be touched on in a one episode movie, are developed deeper with this story.

Fast paced with enticing cliffhangers at the end of every episode. Thrilling but with the softening cooling of soap opera dialogues. I cannot condone gruesome mistakes in the script complemented with contrived coincidences. Old cliches typical of Latin America productions. Good looking actors and actresses portraying main characters as a resource to keep you engaged with the screen all the way to the end. Secondary actors, "the ruthless bad guys" have lousy grotesque performances, they seem to be acting in a school play stage . Could be watched to have some fun. Some moral questioning arising from the plot spray bright spots in this one more run of the mill series. Some twists in final episode offered . Fine. Colombia producers have exhibited in streaming, better products.