Three generations of women bond and overcome their latest obstacle in life with the new dramedy Land of Women akaTierra de Mujeres. Led by the resilient Eva Longoria, the English and Spanish series showcases the beauty of rural Spain, glammed up with a bit of New York toughness. She is joined by two surprising and endearing performances from Carmen Maura, who plays her mother Julia, and Victoria Bazua, who plays her teenage daughter Kate. The result is a genuinely funny show that will leave you wanting more.
Land of Women: Plot
Longoria is Gala Scott, a New Yorker who finds herself on the run with her mother and daughter after her husband Fred (James Purefoy) borrows money from the wrong guys. The trio sneak off to La Muga, Spain, Julia’s hometown. But this homecoming is less than welcoming in a small town where everyone knows everybody’s business and more. Past and present secrets are divulged. Over six episodes, Gala, Julia, Kate discover new sides to themselves as they adjust to life in wine country, whether they like it or not.
Land of Women: Writing and Direction
Directors Carlos Sedes and Ken Biller strike the balance well between comedy and drama in Land of Women, without going overboard on either. There are lots of outlandish situations in the series, but the actors pull off the silliness and tension. Julia has dementia and the writing team manages to weave in the aspect of hazy memory in a way that moves the story forward in surprising ways. There’s a side plot about the mystery of Gala’s father that is sure to keep viewers entertained.
Land of Women is mostly focused winemaking, flirting and plenty of family drama. There’s the surly but handsome Amat (Santiago Cabrera), who now owns Julia’s old home, plus Mariona, Julia’s younger sister, has told the whole town she’s dead. The series also devotes a bit of time to Kate’s identity as she faces some transphobia in the town. However, the support from her family and friends is heartening to see.
Land of Women: Performances
Longoria, who will remind viewers of her Desperate Housewives role, is in top form here. With her back to the wall, she manages to find a way to survive. She’s both fierce and charming in the series. She and Santiago Cabrera have a nice chemistry as the formerly dueling partners. Spanish actress Carmen Maura is a real scene-stealer as she essays Julia’s forgetfulness due to dementia with her natural mischievousness. Young actress Victoria Bazua also impresses.
Land of Women: Critique
With each episode around 45 minutes or so, Land of Women packs a lot of narrative, leaving the last couple of episodes rather rushed. But the show, which thrives on the chaos of the wacky premise, manages to still appeal despite the dip towards the finale. With the strong performances of its leads, you’ll be wondering what the Xatart women will be up to next. The first two episodes of Land of Women will start streaming on Apple TV+ from June 26, and will air weekly until July 24.