Zorro

Came here expecting a low rating...well...after seeing the low rating i THEN saw that there was only one review written so far...and it had a 10 rating...go figure... i was a big fan of the disney, 'Zorro' when i was a child...so much so, in fact, that my mother actually MADE me a Zorro costume. Definitely one of THE delights of my childhood... i didn't give this a rating because it wasn't really made for me, a 73 year old man...it's made for kids the age that EYE was when i first saw Zorro...something like seven through twelve or thirteen...it's mythical and about a super hero with no super powers...maybe like a Batman of his time...some of the dynamics that make the show better than the original are the special effects and editing...it DEFinitely adds to the overall effect, young people being used to this sort of storytelling.

This, unlike the original, is in Spanish...which i enjoyed. My mother was born and raised in Cuba and so i became somewhat familiar with the language, although the subtitles SUREly helped. ; - ) as an adult i'd say it wasn't BAD...but not something that would make me watch a second episode...though i probably will...some things don't change, i guess...

The show itself is good. The storyline, the acting, the action, that's all pretty good. I actually like the show except for the English overdub. It seems as though the overdub is trying to reflect the feelings or situations of the characters in the moment, but misses the whole context of them. The overdub lacks everything that you see on the screen. Did they hire professional people to do the overdubs? If they did, they surely did not get their monies worth. That's why I gave it an 8 rating, the overdubs. For that reason I don't see a season 2 going forward. The overdub has to be much, much better than season 1.

It's harder and harder to find a decent interpretation of classic stories in our age and time so this Spanish production came as a surprise.

In times of endless reimaginings, reboots and "fixing for modern audiences" trends it is refreshing to see series that more or less follows the traditional roots of the tale.

Of course this Zorro is different from all the other Zorros before him and this story has its own twist that might not be the best, but it's what it is. There are no major and drastic changes that would overturn the character of Zorro and make him unrecognizable, like so many other movies/shows do nowadays. The main plot points that characterize Zorro are still there: The masked avenger who leads double life; Robbing the rich to give to the poor etc.

Sometimes the story goes into extreme left area where people are labeled "bad" just for the sole reason for them being rich, while all of the "poor" characters are portrayed as noble and decent fellows.

This kind of gullible approach is common for all Robin Hood trope stories though and I'd suggest to switch off Mr. Adam Smith in your brain and look at it lightly...

The mandatory part of all the Zorro movies and series - fencing, is done rather well. There is no shortage of fighting scenes here and they're mostly staged competently. (But in no way realistically). If we take Princess Bride duel between Westley and Inigo Montoya as an example of realistic and Antonio Banderas' Zorro as an example of unrealistic, it leans much more towards Banderas.

Actors playing their part very well in most cases and you shouldn't really have many problems with them. Musical score is also nothing to complain too much about but it's not anything extraordinary as well. I'd say, Zorro deserves better.

The series certainly had its problems with pacing, some plot-holes, inconsistent or underdeveloped characters and so on, but if you don't think about them too much, they can be forgiven.

Overall - if you like action, period drama, fencing and some mindless fun, watching this series won't hurt you for sure.

The serialized storyline makes for an engaging and suspenseful narrative. The characters are well developed and very likeable. The tone of the show is well balanced between light-hearted and serious, even though this show is darker than the classic Disney Zorro show. In terms of production design and visual effects, the show looks incredible. The action scenes are varied and brilliant. The casting and performances are excellent. While the show is originally in Spanish, the English dub is also great. This show is an incredible reboot of the Zorro franchise and just a great show in general. This show is a perfect template for how to successfully reimagine a franchise while also being faithful to it's roots.

Personally I think the first episode is the worst, but it definitely gets better. The only thing Im not liking is his vulnerability. I also didn't like Lolita in the beginning. A little annoying if you asked me. Personally I'd prefer less novela and more action. 😁 And Zorro, He needs to be a bit more badass 💪🏻 Give us some hero action without so many twists.

Oh and I'm actually excited for Red Snake 🐍 Should be fun watching them together.

Anyhow, it's a good start and I'm pretty sure it will get stronger so here I am hoping for a season 2 with more action. Sometimes less is more and keeping it simple goes a long way.