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Taking place in the early 1970s, Women in Blue follows Mexico’s first female police force as they tackle the inequalities of womanhood. A serial killer called the Undresser is terrorizing the city’s young women and the police decide to put together a group of sixteen women to distract the citizens from their failures. Of course, their hiring is all a publicity stunt and an attempt to get the public on the side, but this all-female force proves to be more useful than they could ever have imagined.
Women In Blue mostly focuses on four very different members of the squad, highlighting the many different points of view women can have about the same case. The opening episode seamlessly addresses where the leading characters are in their lives and what would make them take the leap into joining the police force.
María (Bárbara Mori), is the archetypical housewife on the surface, with a seemingly perfect husband and two children. A crisis in her home life and an adulterous husband (Leonardo Sbaraglia) led her to fulfill her childhood dream of working for the police.
In contrast to the book is Martia’s younger sister Valentina (Natalia Téllez). The revolutionary young woman wants to infiltrate the police force so she can make the change from within. Valentina is a spitfire of a woman, yet under the surface, she is more sensitive than her stubborn ways suggest. Maria and Valentina’s dynamic feels like the classic housewife meeting the modern feminist, a clash of new and old. Modern women will likely connect with Valentina, someone who has learned that staying quiet will never encourage change, even if speaking up can jeopardize your relationships.
Valentina’s roommate Gabina (Amorita Rasgado) comes from a family of police officers and has high expectations of herself. Struggling to find the blessing of her father and two brothers, Gabina is courageously optimistic despite her battles. Rasgado gives a standout performance as someone who on paper feels vulnerable yet is probably the toughest woman there.
Ángeles (Ximena Sariñana) goes on the show’s biggest journey as the shy and awkward policewoman whose blunt nature makes it difficult to bond with others. The show sensitively handles her neurodivergence and her religious background.
Women In Blue review | Apple TV+
Women In Blue is far from propaganda, never shying away from showcasing the toxicity within the police force and the unpleasant culture towards women. The Apple TV+ show never tries to excuse this behavior nor treat it as a positive learning experience. The portrayal of the intimidating press and cruel cop behavior gets uncomfortable.
In a landscape filled with Girlboss content, Women In Blue understands that female empowerment goes a little bit deeper than wearing a nice outfit and giving a speech about girlhood. The series is not afraid to showcase women as multi-faceted and complicated. Characters who may seem like one archetype soon reveal themselves to be so much more than they appear on the surface.
For audiences looking for a murder mystery or crime thrilling, they may find themselves getting tiresome. The first half of the season is more concerned with setting up the characters than the serial killer story.
The supporting characters can also get muddled, a blur of disappointing men with random titles within the police’s chain of command. The other women outside of the core four also feel underexplored. Whenever Women In Blue are away from the leading characters the energy is sucked out of the room. All the other pettiness and misdirects take away from the true purpose of the series.
Women In Blue looks good, taking a leaf out of Mad Men’s book when it comes to reproducing a slick version of the era. The stylization of the women and the era can sometimes overpower the gruesome subject matter. The directors appear at times more concerned with making the shot look good than delivering the emotional impact the script requires. The oversaturated filters and split screens often feel disconnected from the seriousness of the story.
Based on real events, Women in Blue does dip into the melodrama, relying on soapy twists in the second portion of the season. Luckily the core four characters and the performers will keep audiences engaged.
Grade: B
Women in Blue
In 1971, four women defy ultra-conservative norms and join Mexico's first female police force—only to discover that it's a publicity stunt to distract the media from a serial killer. As the body count grows, they make a pact to bring the killer to justice.
Release Date: July 30, 2024
Director: Fernando Rovzar Pablo Aramendi
Cast: Bárbara Mori , Ximena Sariñana , Natalia Téllez
