Fans of period dramas are being urged to 'watch now' as one historical drama is hailed the 'best show ever' by viewers. The Spanish series, set in 1920s Madrid, follows a group of women whose lives transform after joining a modern telecommunications firm.
A Journey to 1920s Madrid
The five-season programme, comprising over 40 episodes, transports viewers back to the 1920s. It centers on four women who forge a strong bond while navigating the struggles faced by working women in that era. Each has her own motivation for signing up—for some, it represents an escape from their former lives; for others, it is their sole opportunity to support their families.
The series, titled Cable Girls, is filmed on location in Madrid, with numerous spots across the city skillfully transformed to whisk viewers back to the 1920s. For the concluding season in 2020, Netflix produced a short documentary about the 'last cable girl' of Spain, Magdalena Martín, who operated a manual telecommunications station in Polopos, Granada, until its closure in December 1988.
Viewer Reactions
Viewers flocked to IMDb to share their opinions, with many declaring it the 'best show ever'. One enthusiastic fan wrote: 'Best show I have ever watched!!! Once you start watching it you just can't stop. It is honestly the best show I have ever seen come on Netflix.'
Another viewer remarked: 'Each of these ladies has a story to tell and the way their stories are told is thrilling, intriguing and leaves you hoping that the episodes never end. To be honest, I watch it in Spanish because the translation to English does leave a little to be desired. But this has quickly turned into one of my favourite shows and one that I have no doubt I will re-watch over and over.'
A further fan described it as 'beautifully written', stating: 'Cannot get enough of the series. It's perfection! The music, the actors, the scenes and the drama.' One final enthusiast urged: 'Watch now. Amazing show. Completely captivating. Amazing characters.'
Inspiration and Themes
While the programme is distinctive in its storytelling, the concept was inspired by young female office workers worldwide during the 1920s, who relocated to forward-thinking, modernised cities in pursuit of stable employment as telephone operators. Positioning the series between the dawn of Spain's feminist movement and women securing voting rights 'emphasises to viewers that while the characters may be fictional, a woman's fight for a place in the tech workforce and a seat at the table is still a real-life issue', Bustle noted.
Cable Girls is available to stream on Netflix.
