L'espionne de Tanger

This is one of the best TV series I've ever seen. I watched this through Netflix streaming and got so hooked, I'd stay up late to see what was happening next. The main character is smart, courageous, resilient & gorgeous. She's a seamstress who creates stunning haute couture dresses along the lines of Grace Kelly and Kate Middleton. Her clients are some of the richest & most powerful of European society, so it makes it fun. The film is set in the late 30s & early 40s, so there are gloves, hats, coordinated bags & heels ... pure class & style all the way. But that's just the flash. The story itself starts out slowly, but develops, along with the characters, from a poor dressmaker's shop into intriguing emotionally charged war time espionage excitement, showcasing classic cars & incredible Moroccan & Spanish architecture & decor. The film is in Spanish, so if you don't speak it, you have to read the subtitles. The Spaniards speak very quickly, so I had to pause occasionally to read the full text. A fun fact: Because the main character, "Sira", is a dressmaker and the show was such a hit, sewing machine sales in Spain rose 197%! I'm going to pull out my own fabric stash & patterns & hit my machine. Only wish we still dressed that classy & could kick the Kardashians to the curb. What a refreshing turn that would be.

My wife and I really enjoyed this series. The plot is engaging, and the acting is above average. Adriana Ugarte, who plays Sira/Arish, is particularly fun to watch. More than anything I enjoyed the look of the show -- the architecture (in Tangier and Tetouan Morrocco, Madrid, and Lisbon), the cars, and the clothes. I saw somewhere that the women in this show (the dressmaker and her clients) wore well over 1000 different outfits, each more elegant, in a 1940 sort of way, than the last. This isn't what I usually watch TV for, but the look of the show is over the top and it makes the whole series more fun to watch. Also, with the first half of the show set in the Tetouan, in the Spanish Protectorate in Morocco, during the Spanish Civil War, I had to brush up on some interesting history. I had imagined that Morocco was all under French control before the country resumed full independence in the 1950s, but a strip of northern Morocco was under Spanish administrative control from 1912 on. And of course Franco had started his rebellion against the Republic, and thus the civil war, by invading Spain from Morocco..

I loved this drama. I watched "Palmeras en la nieve" and was impressed by Adriana Ugarte's acting, style and beauty. So I found this drama and she did impress here as well. I love how the Spanish excel in portraying different historic periods. This show was just as such, beautifully shot, great acting and story line. This is not only a love story, but a story of a woman's journey with suspense, history and heart.

Highly recommend this.

I read the book first and watch the show after. This is a really great adaptation! They did not miss a single conversation or eliminated a relevant character. But they added their own story line (not affecting the story from the book) but included new stories or scenes that made the last 9 episodes impossible long. This would have been the best adaptation of they had just left it alone and made 12 episodes instead of 17. The only added science that was much appreciated was the "closing cycles" of the firsts love interests and was much appreciated for the unsatisfied book reader. This was great, but the second half of the show got very slow.

By far, one of the best I have ever seen! Couldn't stop watching just one episode. The acting is amazing, filled with a very talented cast. Filmed on location in some of the most beautiful parts of the world, this movie made you feel like you belonged there. I wish it never ended. Not only captivated with the story, but you are able to go back in time and relive some history you may not have known. The writing was phenomenal and special touches added by including real characters. Everyone involved in this production should be very proud. Adriana Ugarte is absolutely wonderful and makes this an exceptional adventure. Not to be missed! Thank you so much for bringing this to the USA.