Muted (Netflix series, 2023)
Muted (original Spanish title: El Silencio) is a slow burning mystery thriller about a young man who hasn't spoken to the police or the court since the day he supposedly murdered his parents.
So the first question that popped up in my mind was: did he actually do it? Still, the series starts by emphasizing that he did, as he comforts his little sister Noa with the words ‘it’s over’. So who knows.
Muted is written by series creator Aitor Gabilondo, who also directed three episodes, with the other episodes directed by Gabe Ibáñez and Esteban Crespo.
Lead character Sergio Ciscar is played by Arón Piper, who was one of the stars of the Spanish Netflix-hit series Elite. After six years he is released from prison on parole, but we soon find out that this is basically a plot by the authorities to keep eyes and ears on him, in an attempt to find out what really happened in the past.
The other main character is Ana Dussuel (Almudena Amor), a psychologist who wants to get to the bottom of the case. Which shouldn’t be too hard cause even though Sergio won’t talk to the police or anyone involved with the Justice system he will talk to other people.
It’s an interesting concept for a series, even though you will need some suspension of disbelief, as this is not really how the legal system is supposed to work, because, you know, criminals have rights too.
But seeing as I am the judge in this case and this is a psychological experiment in a series, I’ll allow it. Also because Piper knows how to play dark and moody, while Amor is very good too.
Then there is also Marta (Cristina Kovani), a young woman in a red jacket, who used to give Noa piano lessons. Ana uses Marta to get close to Sergio, while Sergio wants Marta’s help to re-establish contact with his sister, while Marta’s boyfriend Eneko is played by Manu Ríos, another talented Elite-heartthrob. Oh, what a tangled web we weave…
The voyeuristic angle gives the whole affair an interesting Hitchcock-touch and even though it is not easy to follow in the footsteps of the Master of Suspense, the artistic team knows what they’re doing.
The slow but deliberate pace may put some viewers off, but I liked it. And in spite of the dark underlying themes the first couple of episodes make for relatively light viewing.
Spain has delivered many great thrillers over the years - just look at the work of Oriol Paulo if you need proof - and I’d say that Muted is definitely worth watching too.