Giselle Kuri as Nancy Gama, Horacio Garcia Rojas as Elvis Infante, Christopher Von Uckermann as Father Ramiro, Ftima Molina as Keta
Netflix has expanded the streaming market of non-English speaking international programming. There is a growing list of quality shows from across the globe. But Season 2 to the Mexican program ?Diablero? shows the resiliency of programs needed to be seen in the United States.
Family and Love?Diablero? emphasizes the bond between the familial, but also the need for loving and supporting others. Nancy Gama, played by Giselle Kuri, can be a vessel for demons. During her journey, she has learned to accept herself, trained to control those demons, and use them to help others. And even though they are demons, Nancy has learned to accept them for what they are as well.
Instead of making Nancy a ?necessary evil? or ?tool to be used,? Season 2 shows her gaining more agency as an entire person ? demons and all. She falls in love with a priest ? Father Ramiro Ventura, played by Christopher Von Uckermann ? but she doesn?t settle for his version of love. She demands that either he love her entirely or not at all.
Two Diableros are siblings. Keta, played by Ftima Molina, and Elvis Infante, played by Horacio Garcia Rojas, are brother and sister. As they traverse the difficulties of losing loved ones, gendered stereotypes, familial hardships, and demons, Keta and Elvis stick together. Their love for one another through tragedy has strengthened their acceptance of close friends to become family.
The singular drive for Keta has been the kidnapping of her son. In Season 2, we find out who had taken him. At first, it is easy for Keta and the others to demonize and want revenge. But then love and forgiveness prevail as the reason behind the kidnapping is revealed ? as well as how the kidnapper became a father figure due to his intentions to be a good person.
Religion vs. FaithUnfortunately, we don?t differentiate words often enough ? especially when discussing such hefty topics as faith and religion.
Season 2 of ?Diablero? dispenses with the metaphors and delves into the linguistic battle. The end of Season 1 revealed that the Conclave seemed to have their own motives. At the same time, Father Ramiro sacrificed himself for the greater good. It is here that ?Diablero? truly set up the notion of the institution (religion) versus individual (faith).
Religions are institutions which govern over those who (hopefully) have faith. An individual?s faith, however, does not need to be limited to that which is dictated by the religion. For example, a person can have faith in another person ? even more so than in the institution. Season 2 conveys that a religion and an institution ? especially the Conclave ? may want to rule over individuals? right to choose. Even when the Conclave argues that it is putting power back into human hands, it is doing so in such a way that negates the humans? right to choose for themselves.
By having faith in each other, the protagonists forge their own paths. They recognize that in their fight for those closest to them, they are fighting for every entity?s right. Yes, it is a harder path, but is a path in which there is the freedom of choice.
The Great Beyond?Diablero? conveys that how we deal with death is as important as how we deal with life. It is based within the notion that we are more than our bodies.
One parent is resurrected in their body for a brief time to pass along important knowledge. An aunt possesses a body for a short time to analyze evidence. And another who is trapped in limbo is rescued.
Season 2 illustrates that time with each other is fleeting, and we must take care of one another. But it also tells us that remembering those who have left this life is important. They have stories to tell, knowledge to pass on, and they are never far away if we remember them.
Watch It?Diablero? may not win any awards in the United States. But it is a show we can watch with our families and friends. It teaches us how important it is to treat people with kindness and understanding. It does an outstanding job of conveying how people are flawed and have demons, but that they are worth loving.
With the storied history between Mexico and the United States, it seems fitting that such a fun, entertaining show can teach us so much about ourselves ? if we are willing to look.
