Colombia is a country that has gradually lost the quality of its series and films over the years. It had a successful era from the 1980s to shortly after the 2000s, with renowned series ranging from local ones like "Pedro el Escamoso" to international ones like "Ugly Betty." Twenty years after the last glimpses of Colombian television, "La Primera Vez" comes out, serving as a reminder that Colombia still has the potential for much more.
This series gives a glimpse into the past of Colombian society from the perspective of Camilo Granados, a teenager in 5th grade who experiences the changes that a conservative society was undergoing toward the future. Among all these changes is Eva Samper, the first woman in an all-boys school in Bogotá. Her arrival represents a change for Camilo and his friends, who are in a process of self-recognition, getting to know each other in a world where you cannot think or feel differently than what was established.
This series has been the latest major hit on Colombian television, and for many reasons. First of all, its cast is both experienced and a revelation, as there are extremely talented actors for whom this series has been a way to showcase themselves and seek bigger roles. A clear example of this experience is Santiago Alarcón's majestic performance in the role of Camilo Granados's father. Another example of young talent is actor and singer Sergio Palau, who wowed the audience with his portrayal of Salcedo, Camilo's angry friend.
The other reason for the success of this series is the great development that all the characters have, from the main characters to the secondary ones, highlighting Granados' father, who started out as a conservative man who wanted to do everything the old way and then evolved into someone who, although he doesn't agree with the change, respects it, which wasn't the case at the beginning. And it's not just him, but all the characters who change their way of thinking over the course of the chapters. This brings us to the last reason for the success of this series: how easy it is to empathize with the characters. This show doesn't show otherworldly problems and they could easily be things that happen to the viewer such as being in love, a divorce, a young pregnancy, homosexuality, among many others. These are the topics covered and each character addresses them differently from their own personality, something that very few shows successfully achieve.
The only visible problem with this show is that, starting with the second season, Eva Samper becomes a somewhat irritating character, always seeking attention and giving orders. She is sometimes unbearable. The same goes for Camilo Granados, who sometimes makes ill-considered decisions just to play along with Eva.
In conclusion, The First Time is a series that has restored hope to Colombian television, demonstrating that there is talent here too and that we still have the potential to make quality series that connect viewers with the story and characters.
