Eva Longoria charms inLand of Women,the enchanting new dramedyseries from Apple TV+. Her Gala Scott is an ambitious New York City wife, mother, and oenophile, the latter of which comes in handy once she winds up overseeing an old vineyard and winery in her ancestral home in the Catalonia region of Spain. How Gala wound up there, with both her eccentric mother Julia (Carmen Maura) and daughter Kate (Victoria Bazùa), is part of the fun of thisrefreshingly robust series, executive produced by Longoria with showrunner Ramón Campos (Now and Then, High Seas) on board. Like a lovely red wine blend, the series goes down well but, like all grapes,it still needs more time to ripen. Here’s to a potential second season.
That there’s already some buzzy excitement about that is a good sign forLand of Women.It shares similar comic sensibilities toWomen on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,director Pedro Almodóvar’s breakout hit from 1988. That film made stars out of Antonio Banderas and Maura, whose presence here is a joyous pleasure.
Butit’s Longoria’s wonderful range to flip from the serious to the comedic that makesLand of Womenall the more likable. And as executive producer, she’s sharp enough to know who to cast, having produced such hit shows asDevious Maids, Grand Hotel, Telenovela,andGordita Chronicles.Longoria also made her feature directorial debut in2023’s biopicFlamin’ Hot, the tale about Richard Montañez and that addictive spicy Flamin’ Hot Cheetos snack. But she’s front and center on camera here as Gala, whose true reason for coming to Spain is so very “woman on the run.” And that’s where things get interesting.
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Land of Women
Land of Women is a comedy-drama series based on the novel of the same name. Forced into hiding in rural Spain due to her husband’s legal troubles, a woman and her family delve into the finer details of love, secrets, and survival in a picturesque but difficult new environment.
LikeThe Flight Attendantbefore it, there’s a groovy subplot here, although it’s not as chaotic as the Kaley Cuoco caper. Gala’s slick businessman husband, Fred (James Purefoy), owes his boss $15 million. Ouch. She manages to get that confession out of him before her shady hubby disappears, leaving Gala to address another looming dilemma: hitmen. They’re apparently fine with taking out Fred’s family in lieu of, well, him.
Gala, a successful wine merchant, leaps into action. She convinces her mother and daughter that they need some bonding time. Far away, in fact. Like, say, the homeland. Julia is the best burst of sunshine in her nursing home. Kate is in boarding school. Somehow, Gala drags them out of both, and the plan works, although neither Gala’s mother nor daughter know about Fred’s covert dramas.
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Sparks Fly with the Women of Wine Land
The story quickly shifts to a (very likable) fish-out-of-water tale as the trio arrives in La Muga, just outside of Barcelona, to reclaim the family home. There’s some pushback there, however, as Julia’s resentful sister (Gloria Muñoz) has sold the land to Amat, who’s also overseeing a significant vineyard and winery operated solely by the women in town.That footnote is fascinating and would benefit from more screen time. There is a long tradition of females making wine in the region, giving the wine a special flavor, if you will. It would be great to see that element explored more in a potential season two, but for now, let’s get to know these characters and work out Fred’s mess.
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Gala is similar to but more independent than Longoria’s Gabrielle Solis onDesperate Housewives,and it’s a kick to watch her chic businesswoman plod uncomfortably through the Spanish countryside, trying to arrive at some kind of solace and refuge. There’s a run-in with Amat — literally — then another encounter at the family home.Sparks fly. The fire is lit.Are we going to monitor this potential romance throughout the season? You bet.
The Great Supporting Characters in Land of Women
Meanwhile, the series, which is bilingual, is refreshingly forward-thinking in its approach to most of its characters, although a good chunk of the male characters here slip into traditional alpha-male tropes — aside from Cabrera’s Amat, however.The actor is a likable presence and easy on the eyes. He holds his own alongside Longoria, who tends to dominate the narrative, but it’s refreshing to see a down-to-earth, good man who’s willing to bend emotionally here.
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Gala’s daughter, Kate, is trans and played by transgender model/actress Victoria Bazùa. Kate’s story arc is a great addition, and the story finds the character dealing with unfamiliar surroundings, all while still transitioning. Friendships form and themes of self-acceptance and liberation come into play. Not just for Kate, but for many of the characters.
Then there’s Julia, who hasn’t stepped foot in her birth home in more than four decades. There are issues to resolve, of course, as Julia and her sister are estranged, and Julia’s promiscuity before leaving town puts a quirky and amusing spin on — wait for it! —Mamma Mia.It’s one of many clever devices the series employs, opting not to be entirely one thing. Like Gala, it’s quick on its feet, perhaps emotionally messy, but downright fun.
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Comedic Twists, Cliffhangers, and Carmen Maura
Back to Maura… the actress is a gift to the screen. She has the ability to disappear comfortably in her roles and Julia is wonderfully embraceable, somebody whom we’d all love to have in our lives — a person capable of seeing the possibilities in life and the adventures it offers. She’s never settled for “less.” As a trio, Longoria, Maura, and Bazùa, are a winning combination, one of the more memorable if not compact multi-generational families to grace the screen.
Expect plenty of twists and cliffhangers in the tale, some of which smack ofa fiery telenovela. There’s a nice bit of education to be had, too. Who knew this region of Spain was so lush and rich in history? It’s great fun absorbing it all. The story arc featuring the firecracker women operating the vineyard tends to feel a little rushed as things unfold, particularly as Fred’s debacle boomerangs back to cause more trouble, but no worries.
Between its wonderfully charming storyline, fine acting, grand country setting, solid premise, and fine characters you actually wind up feeling invested in,Land of Womenis a pure delight. Pour us some more, please.Land of Womenhits Apple TV+ on June 26; you can watch it through the linkhere. Watch the trailer below.
