Netflix‘s steamy new psychological drama Delirium hasn’t broken into the top 10 shows yet, but that may soon change.
This Colombian original series does have an English language dub, but if you’re okay with reading subtitles, then the Spanish language track is the best way to go.
Delirium tells a non-linear story about a woman who suffers a severe mental breakdown. And even the love of her husband may not put her back together again.
If you’re intrigued by that premise, here are the reasons to watch Delirium on Netflix.
Netflix‘s hot streak of hit original series has continued this summer, but the streamer is even more fortunate with its acquired shows. Case in point, the drama Sullivan’s Crossing has hit No. 1 on Netflix and become a bigger streaming hit than it is on The CW. The Waterfront has also proven to be one […]
Estefania Piñeres Gives a Multi-layered Performance
Estefania Piñeres in Delirium Netflix
Delirium puts a lot on Estefania Piñeres‘ shoulders as she has to play the woman, Augustina Londoño, whose breakdown sets the entire series in motion. Piñeres more than holds up her part with an emotionally raw and physically compelling turn as Augustina mentally retreats from the world. That robs Augustina of her ability to fully communicate what she’s going through, but her pain and anguish are in every movement that Piñeres makes and in her facial expressions.
Piñeres is also heavily featured in flashbacks to Augustina’s younger years, which sheds light on her relationships with her husband, Fernando Aguilar (Juan Pablo Raba), and the first great love of her life, Fredy Rodriguez (Juan Pablo Urrego). But the really interesting parts deal with Augustina’s dynamic with her mother, Eugenia (Paola Turbay), and the rest of her family. All of the scenes in the past pave the way for Augustina’s mental state in the present, and Piñeres’ performance makes the two halves of her life fit together.
The Story Unexpectedly Turns Into a Crime Drama
Juan Pablo Urrego in Delirium Netflix
The promos for Delirium didn’t telegraph the fact that Fredy’s side of the story turns into a mini crime epic. Fredy’s past as an impoverished young man is unveiled in the first episode, and through the rest of the flashbacks, we see his rise and fall as a drug smuggler. He even gets a nickname, “El Midas,” that sticks with him for the rest of his life.
It seems like nothing can slow down Netflix‘s momentum even during the hottest months of the summer. Netflix’s new crime drama, The Waterfront, is dominating the charts and seems like a strong candidate for renewal. Ditto Untamed, a crime drama set at the Yosemite National Park. Meanwhile, Mr. Robot has found new life on Netflix […]
Fredy’s choices impact Augustina as well as himself, and those decisions ultimately explain why they didn’t end up together despite an enduring connection between them. His actions made him invaluable to the Londoño family while also keeping him in Augustina’s life. But picking that dark path had consequences that neither Fredy nor Augustina can fully unravel or get past.
The Ending Reaches a Logical Conclusion
Not everyone is going to have the patience to get through all eight episodes of Delirium. Admittedly, the story may have been dragged out a little bit too long. But when the show reveals why Augustina had her breakdown, it’s for almost the exact reason you could have predicted from the beginning: Generational trauma.
Without giving away too many spoilers about the end of the show, viewers will get to see the proverbial straw that finally broke Augistina. But there’s also some hope that she could recover in time, even if it’s not necessarily in the way she would have envisioned it. That ending may prove to be somewhat divisive, but it feels like a logical way to bring the story to a close.
Delirium is streaming on Netflix.
