A group of characters in a still from Salvador

Netflix recently added Spanish-language drama Salvador to its library, and fans have been hailing the eight-part thriller as ‘unpredictable’ and ‘underappreciated’

etflix has been excelling with its foreign-language dramas recently, with the likes of Lead Children and Undercover Miss Hong, and it seems to have struck gold again with its latest Spanish-language thriller, Salvador.

The eight-part political thriller follows ambulance driver Salvador Aguirre (Luis Tosar) as he responds to a callout involving football hooliganism and discovers that his daughter, Milena (Candela Arestegui), is involved with a far-right group, the White Souls.

For those interested, the synopsis of the show reads: “Salvador, a former doctor recovering from addictions to alcohol and gambling, has a lot of regrets in his life, including not having been a better father to his now-estranged daughter, Milena. These days, Salvador, aka Salva, works as an ambulance technician in Madrid.

“One night, he and his team – including the empathetic but no-nonsense Marjane – are dispatched to a rally ahead of a soccer match led by hyperintense fans known as ultras. After a neo-Nazi ultra group, the White Souls, pelts authorities with Molotov cocktails and commits acts of racial violence against fans of the opposing team, Salvador and his colleagues race to help those who were injured.”

It continues: “Later that evening, as they come to the aid of a man who’s been beaten at a local bar – one that, unbeknownst to Salva, also serves as the White Souls’ headquarters – Salvador notices a familiar face: his daughter’s. She’s not only working at the bar but is also a member of the neo-Nazi group. They have a heated exchange, and it’s one of the last times he ever sees her. Haunted by his shortcomings and looking for redemption in an unjust world, Salvador begins to investigate the right-wing rabbit hole his daughter fell down to get answers about where it all went wrong.”

While the show hasn’t yet dented the charts in the UK, it has been excelling in Spain, where it has remained as Netflix’s most streamed show since it arrived earlier in February. It’s also soared up the charts in countries like Argentina, Uruguay and Poland.

Who stars in Salvador?

The show is led by award-winning Spanish actor Luis Tosar (Cell 211), who has won big at Spanish awards shows, including the Goya Awards and the Gaudi Awards. His on-screen daughter is played by rising star Candela Arestegui (Valeria).

Luis Tosar standing in a graveyard holding an urn in a still from Salvador© JAIME OLMEDO/NETFLIX
Spanish acting titan Luis Tosar leads the cast

Also featuring in the show are Claudia Salas (Elite), Leonor Watling (Nasdrovia), Patricia Vico (Hospital Central), Fariba Sheikhan (The Covenant), Cesar Mateo (Victim Number 8) and Alejandro Casaseca (The Boarding School).

The cast is completed by Marcos Marini (Sky High), Richard Holmes (The Inmortal), Guillermo Lasheras (White Lines), Andrés Gertrúdix (The Purple Network) and Lucas Ares in his screen debut.

Fan response

Viewers have tuned in to Salvador, and have been loving the series, as one enthused: “I’m watching the Netflix series Salvador. I recommend it to you all. The first episode is tough, things as they are, but as you keep watching the series, you start to realize how our streets are, where HATE is increasingly winning over common sense and how they manipulate us with THE NARRATIVES!!!”

A second added: “Yesterday I finished Salvador on Netflix, really good,” while a third commented: “I’m watching Salvador on Netflix and wow, it’s awesome,” and a fourth posted: “A brilliant depiction of the mechanisms of power, corruption, and misinformation, though a tough watch for sure. The story is unpredictable from beginning to end and much more nuanced than what the action-packed first episode may suggest.”

Claudia Salas and Luis Tosar arguing outside an ambulance in a still from Salvador© JAIME OLMEDO/NETFLIX
Fans have been praising the show which explores contemporary social issues

Meanwhile, a fifth penned: “I really enjoyed the series, and I think it’s underrated. It’s quite addictive and goes by quickly. The series gets off to a strong start. The first episode features one intense scene after another, supplemented by heavy action. The plot explores themes of ideological extremism, familial neglect, and the moral boundaries of a father seeking redemption.”

However, a review on Micropsia read: “As a broad snapshot of a contemporary world in which information is manipulated to mobilize people and create monsters, Salvador is at times sharp and perceptive in its sociopolitical observations. More often, however, it seems primarily interested in delivering visceral impact rather than sustained analysis.”