Rapa

It is an enjoyable and engrossing series that is built again based on certain elements that we have already seen in 'Hierro' series itself . That is to say: it proposes a mystery to us in a magical place where nothing ever happens and around the murder of a person we do not know, but , of course , hides many secrets and is related to the characters that we will see throughout the episodes. In Cedeira, Galicia , a gorgeous , mountainous , abrupt Northern location happens a murder . It is a peaceful place but things go wrong when Amparo Seoane, the Mayor of Cedeira and the most powerful woman in the area, is assassinated . The killer is surely one of the villagers at the location where secrets are hard to keep and there are various suspicious people who result to be hostile and distrustful . Investigating the crime will become an obsession for Maite (Mónica López) , a stiff-upper-lip civil guard sergeant with a strong character, and for Tomás (chameleonic Javier Cámara) , the only witness to the murder . She must instruct the case but for Maite, looking for the murderer is an obligation, it is his job. For Tomás, a Literature professor at the local institute teaching in a destination where he doesn't fit , it is the opportunity - possibly the last - to live a story like the ones he loves to read, and perhaps thus be able to tell it . They are both out to find the heinous killer , seekings tracks , clues , suspect people and how to be occurred . But nothing is that easy , neither with Maite , nor with Tomás . Both will open an investigation that will affect the whole town . All of them, in one way or another, were related to Amparo. They all had something to gain or lose by her death. Along the way , Maite is somewhat ignored by her colleagues, who prefer to explore other paths in the investigation before the ones she goes forward . Shortly , we know the identity of the murderer very early on , so the fiction renounces the who to focus on the why , thus making a risky bet that surely will not work with the same force for all viewers. In their their way to discover the truth they find homeless people, social sufferers, class differences , favors owed, monopolies, corruption , cloudy justice and anything else .

Attractive and mysterious series in which acting is terrific as well as photography and musical score . Concerning a killing has occurred in Cedeira and a Guardia Civil sergeant has to investigate it , being accompanied by an outcast teacher , this is a nail-biting story with puzzled suspense in which we are also introduced to a series of usual suspects who in turn stand as the representatives of the 'traditional portrait of our society' , and it will have you on the edge of your seat until an amazing finale . Thrilling series is packed with emotion , suspense and it results to be pretty entertaining . It is by no means perfect , it is slow-pace , at times , but agreeable enough . For those who do not know, the ¨Rapa das Bestas¨ is a Galician cultural festival that consists of cutting the manes of horses in order to be able to , mainly , deworming them . Of course, the fact that the new series from the creators of 'Hierro' borrows the name from this tradition for its title is no coincidence . This stirring as well as exciting yarn displays intense drama , suspense , political corruption galore , thrills , twists , turns , and including what seems like the description of the dark side of any big town . This is a suspenseful and attractive flick that really thrills . The moving atmosphere and perverse intrigue enhance as well as the protagonists investigate the bizarre events . From start to finish the tense happenings and thrilling scenes are continued till a striking ending . At the end of the day , despite offering us the usual mystery and a not-so-favorable murderer , this thriller by Fran Araújo, Jorge Coira and Pepe Coira is a somewhat aforementioned traditional portrait of our troublesome society . Of course, with special emphasis on our own dark sides , which, unfortunately , are many . Excellent performances from Javier Cámara as a non-vocational teacher who hates his job and shows it , bringing to his role a set of nuances that make him mysterious and strangely approachable . Cámara gives a performance that doesn't disappoint, despite his tendency to be a misfit . And Mónica López is perfect as tough Guardia Civil agent who will stop at nothing to discover the guilty person. These protagonists deserve every praise as the actors that carry the weight of an intense drama on their shoulders . Both of whom share a great chemistry despite the fact that their relationship evolves in strange circumstances . They are well accompanied by a fine support cast , such as : Lucía Veiga, Eva Fernández , Jorge Bosch and Berta Ojea. And regarding murderer, the one we are presented with here is very interesting, and not because he is the typical charismatic megalomaniac who wants recognition or power, but because he is a 'villain' who breaks the usual rules of the genre despite the fact that his motivation does be classic. He is also an unpredictable person, since he has a position in the town that allows him to have very intimate scenes with its inhabitants, which in turn helps to generate some of that extra tension that is lost after the revelation of him. The picture develops a changing atmosphere and a colorful but threatening ambient in the background , including overwhelming scenarios . The spectacular outdoors are also starring , an abrupt and rich landscape , it is the home of a small community with singularly folkloric traditions , including popular parties , wild horses and anything else . The twisted script from the imaginative creators : Fran Araujo , Jorge and Pepe Coira is plenty of strange incidentals and interesting events .

It packs an evocative and adequate photography in brilliant color by professional cinematographer José Luis Bernal , showing splendidy the brilliant Galician outdoors . Atmospheric and appropriate musical score from Xavi Font , full of intriguing sounds and peculiar environment . This enjoyable series was well created by Jorge Coira , Pepe Coira and Fran Araújo who also made other successful series as Instinto , Giants , The pier , Arde Madrid , Killing the father , The Zona , Vergüenza , and Felix . This engrossing , riveting effective series was effective and compellingly directed by Jorge Jorge Coira (4 episodes) and Elena Trapé (3 episodes) . Jorge Coira is a good craftsman who has made several TV episodes from known series as Piratas , Pelotas , RIS Cientifica , El Comisario , Padre Casares , Se quien eres and Hierro . And directing ocassionally for cinema as El Año de la Garrapata and 18 Comidas . While Elena Trapé has directed TV series as Boca Norte , Hit and films as Las Distancias , La ruina and Blog . It is definitively worth watching . It is a captiviting experience for a viewer .

Set against the backdrop of a beautiful part of the Galician coast this police procedural also incorporates elements of a political drama.

We learn the identity of the killer very quickly and the story moves to if and how the cops (and an amateur investigator) will also get their person. While this is happening the town council grapples over whether to give the go ahead to a mine that would wreck the delicate local ecology but which would provide jobs and money to the area.

After another totally unrelated murder the cops close in - but has the assassin been too clever for them? The ending is equivocal.

The series was characterised by good acting and smart character development. The back stories were also convincing. I watched this over a couple of days and it's a definite recommendation.