Land of Women Series Premiere Review: Styling in Stilettos up the Steep Streets of Spain
Joshua Pleming
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It's a woman's world in the brand new hilarious series Land of Women, based on Sandra Barneda's novel. It stars Eva Longoria, who's bringing her years of television experience and comedic chops to Apple TV+.
The series premiere episodes were a nonstop adventure of mishaps and mayhem, with laugh-out-loud moments that perfectly balanced physical comedy with sincere moments of heart and love.
However, the most striking aspect of the show is how seamlessly it weaves through dialogue in English and Spanish, which is a testament to the multicultural facet of the series.
Spanish-speaking viewers likely appreciated this. Shows with a predominately Hispanic, Spanish, or Latinx cast and characters either lean wholly into the native language or go full English.
It is a series that accurately depicts how bilingual people talk to one another, usually slipping between their native language and English, which adds to the authenticity of the series and brings a little zest to the dialogue.
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Right away, we meet Eva Longoria's Gala, a New York City socialite who has it all and is about to get even more as she prepares to open her own wine store.
It would have been nice to see the store in business before the craziness began, but we're not complaining because, so far, this wild ride has us itching for more.
Still, Gala was due for a reality check. Within the first few minutes of Land of Women Season 1 Episode 1, it's established that she has more significant problems coming her way than what dress to wear to whatever event.
Gala: I look like the curtains
Friend: I thought you already had a dress.
Gala: I did. I ordered a dress. This is what came. Yeah. I'm already having a midlife crisis. You think I'm gonna squeeze my ass into some pleather?
Friend: Okay, first of all, this is not a midlife crisis. Okay? Call me when you're accidentally tripping over your nipples.
It's going to be really hard not to get that very specific midlife crisis description out of our heads because that's something only a medical professional should have to deal with.
Gala deserves some credit for how quickly she jumped into action once the ball got rolling on getting out of Dodge.
She moved with a quickness that speaks volumes of what her past must have been like before she met old money-bags, Fred.
Although, I guess it's no-money-bags Fred now after he turned tail and rained off to Lord knows where leaving his wife to run off to God's country in Spain.
It would be understandable that the grandmother didn't make much fuss about an impromptu trip somewhere. She is a wily woman who has said, "Staying out of trouble was never my thing." We love her already!
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And sure, Gala did have to lie to her daughter to get her to go because she's not as impulsive as her mother or grandmother, but how in the world did no one bat an eye about jumping on a plane to fly to another country on another continent?
That absolutely screams "on the run." Rich people's problems.
Even harder to believe is how Gala did not see the massive tractor in the middle of the road. And I'm not talking about right before she hit it. How did she not see it from fifty feet away as she made her way down the road?!
I'm with Amat. It's a tractor. She should've seen it, but there's no getting around how hilarious the situation was.
That was a rough start to what might end up becoming an unexpected love interest for Gala despite her already being married.
Amat: American, huh?
Gala: A little bit. Can you tell?
Amat: "A little bit," yeah. Don't look like a country girl either.
Kate: He's calling you a snob.
Gala: Yeah, I understand Spanish, honey.
Technically, though, she was abandoned, and even if it was for her own good, Fred borrowed money he couldn't pay back and then lied about it till it was too late. So, go off, Gala. Do you, girl.
Eva Longoria's character might seem familiar to some viewers because her vibe is very much like that of Gabby from Desperate Housewives if she had left Carlos for another man with money and moved to New York City.
At least the grandmother is enjoying herself because the only time she stopped smiling was whenever she thought she saw anyone in her old town that she didn't like -- or at least thought she didn't like.
Gala: You think she's someone else, mom.
Julia: I do not. That's Catalina. She's thinner now. She must have drunk her own poison.
Montse: No, ma'am. I'm Montse.
Julia: I am so sorry, sweetie. I thought you were someone else from town. A viper with a very long tongue.
Montse: No, I know Catalina. She was my mom. She died last year.
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It's incredible that Gala was able to keep it together for as long as she did because she literally ran in heels from NYC to Spain, all while shouldering the burden of keeping what she knew to herself.
It really seemed like she was about to tell the whole truth to Kate and Julia for a minute there, but in the end, she still decided not to reveal the threat of danger.
Okay. This isn't a girl's trip. Uh, we, uh -- we don't have any money. Your dad didn't invest very wisely, and now I can't pay for your university. I can't pay for Mom's nursing home. I'm going to lose the store. So all we have is that house and the money in this bag.
Gala
It seems like an odd choice if you have to keep trying to convince the two people with you why it's crucial for everyone to stay together on this trip.
Sure, lie to them to get them out of the country, but once you're in the clear, at least have the decency to tell your family members that you and they are being hunted by hitmen who possibly want to kill them.
So, we have no car, no house, but we do have a bag full of wet money.
Kate
That's just a common courtesy.
Although Julia is a firecracker waiting to zip and zap all over the place, not even the idea of jail rattles the woman.
Officer: Well, that's everything, miladies. Be careful not to break the law again. It stays on your record forever, okay?
Julia: Look at me. I'm shaking.
That doesn't mean she doesn't have a lot of things to deal with or explain, considering Gala's skill for lying is clearly hereditary, as Julia has a past that she hasn't come to terms with in decades.
Gala: Are you going to leave your sister out on the street?
Mariona: She is not my sister anymore.
And while we are rooting for this wily woman, it's time to give up the ghost.
Gala: Mom, tell me the truth. Julie Xatart, who is my father?
Julia: Well, I don't know! I don't know. My memories get mixed up. Plus, I was pretty busy back then. I had several suitors.
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Also, how heartwrenching was that flashback between Kate and her father in Land of Women Season 1 Episode 2?
Fred: Hey, you remember when you told her you were going to transition?
Kate: Yeah, of course I remember.
Fred: Right. And that day when you told us, I just... Whoa, I just couldn't take it all in, you know? Then your mom, she made it crystal clear that if I had any objections, then they were my problems, not yours.
Kate: And did you?
Fred: To be honest, yeah. Yeah, I was afraid. I didn't want you to suffer.
The level of love there almost made us forget what an idiot the man must be. Almost.
He had better plan some epic rescue to save his family; otherwise, the hitmen would be the least of his problems when Gala finds him.
They say the measure of a man is how he acts in crisis. Fight or flight. Clearly, my husband is a flyer, and I'm -- well, I'm just going to have to fix this myself.
Gala
However, that may not be an issue if things keep softening up between Gala and Amat the way they have so far.
Amat: Well, I need to go back now. Where should I take you?
Gala: I don't know. We have no home. No money. Jail was better. We had a bed.
Whatever the case, TV Fanatic is here for these wayward women and their whirlwind journey back to everyday life!
Sometimes our greatest adventures begin with the most unexpected of moments. A chance encounter with a stranger. A feeling of helplessness when someone we love begins to slip away. We never ask to go on the journey, but ultimately it reveals the truth we desperately needed to confront.
Gala
What did you think of the series' first two episodes?
Are you excited to see how things unfold now that Gala has somewhat of a plan with Amat's wine?
Drop a comment below to let us know, and join us again when we review the next episode!
Joshua Pleming is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. You can follow him on X.
