29 January (2021-01-29) – 12 February 2021 (2021-02-12)
Alive and Kicking (Spanish: Los espabilados; lit.'the clued-up ones') is a Spanish television series created by Albert Espinosa for Movistar+. Based on the novel Lo que te diré cuando te vuelva a ver by Espinosa, the plot follows five teenagers escaping from a mental health centre. It aired in 2021.
Premise
The fiction follows the mishaps of five teenagers (Mickey L'Angelo, Yeray, Guada, Samuel and Lucas) escaping from a mental health centre in Menorca, experiencing from then on a sort of road movie that takes them to different locations in Spain, Germany and Italy in search of Mickey's older brother.[1][2][3]
Created by Albert Espinosa, Los espabilados is inspired by the novel Lo que te diré cuando te vuelva a ver, also authored by Espinosa.[2] It consists of 7 episodes, directed by Roger Gual,[2][1] featuring a running time of around 25 minutes.[3] A 7-part road movie, the series is a drama with comedy elements.[3] Filming started in Menorca on 4 November 2019.[7] Movistar+ programmed the release of the first 3 episodes for 29 January 2021, and the release of the 4 remaining episodes on a 2 episodes per Friday basis.[8][9] Before the series' release, Movistar+ tasked Espinosa with the writing of a second and final season, although the platform did not confirm the renovation at the time.[10] The series' main theme, "Los espabilados", was composed and performed by Alfred García.[11]
"Herir a los que amaste es incumplir tus propias promesas"
Roger Gual
12 February 2021 (2021-02-12)
7
"No tengas miedo de ser la persona en la que te has convertido"
Roger Gual
12 February 2021 (2021-02-12)
Reception
The portrait of mental disorders in the series was harshly criticised by critics.[12] Reported problematic aspects include the romanticization of illness and the "dangerous" underlying antidiagnostic thesis present in the series.[13]
