A Escrava Branca

I just watched the last episode and I'm still wiping the tears from my face. I was sad for it to end and I will be re-watching soon. This was the most breathtaking, visually stunning, at times gut-wrenching, story I have ever seen. And I've seen a lot! Please do yourself a favor and watch! You will not regret it!

This is a great story about a young woman in Colombia during the Colonial period who is raised by escaped slaves, eventually makes her way to Spain when the escaped slave colony is overrun and then returns to Colombia hoping to reunite with her slave family and the boy she loved as a child. So although she is white, she identifies with her black family who raised her. This shows the horrors of slavery in the Americas in often pretty gruesome ways. The lead actors - Victoria/Lucia, Nicolas, Miguel, Thomas, Milagros etc - are great. The story has lots of subplots and you see the various dimensions of the characters because this story unfolds over so many episodes. I loved the scenery and the haciendas where the story takes place. Did not like the costumes much, especially the dresses of the ladies which sometimes looked like rejects from a 1970s thrift shop. That was the only jarring note and why I gave it an 8. The lead actress is very beautiful. She will go far I'm sure. Still watching so not sure how it will all end, but really enjoying it!

I know telenovelas have a bad reputation for some weird reason, but as I was watching this, I realized that I didn't even feel like I was watching a series most of the time. It felt so rich and well- crafted...movie-like, and epic. In a way, like a modern version of a Roots-like tale. Very well done. The acting was perfect, I was completely immersed. Yes, of course, it's a Colombian telenovela, so the characters are over-the-top at times, but it's not even noticeable. La Esclava Blanca is AMAZING. The characters are fleshed-out, the story is realistic, and it's gritty. There are crazy moments, but they are few and far between. During episode 4 (I think), there was a certain scene at the end of the episode that made me think DAMN, this man needs an Oscar or some sort of recognition. Completely spoiler-free: this show is something else entirely. If you haven't watched it yet, you're missing out. I'm a film production major, and the production was MARVELOUS. Watch now.

This show is spectacular even though it reflects on the disturbing pass of slavery, racism and sexism. Sure, there is more elements of the show that stand out, but I do not want to spoil any of it. The actors, creators and everyone else apart of this project did an astounding job.

If you are into history, you would love this show. I am so addicted to it and the actors are absolutely phenomenal.