Netflix's 'Cable Girls' Season 5 Part 1 comes to a somber end with nationalists having taken over Madrid
This article contains spoilers for 'Cable Girls' Season 5 Part 1
We knew it was going to be a different world when 'Cable Girls' (also called 'Las Chicas del Cable') came back for its final season as it is set during the final year of the Spanish Civil War. Though Part 1 of Season 5 consists only of five episodes, quite a lot happens.
By the end of the fifth episode, the nationalists have taken over Madrid -- which happened in real life. This meant a curbing of rights for many -- as we saw with Oscar being forced to become Sara again in the last episode.
The end of the civil war only brought on more violence, mass executions, prison, and torture for thousands of men and women. It changed the social and cultural foundations of the Republic of Spain, the labor movement and secularism. Unfortunately, this went on for long after the Second World War ended.
As Part 1 ended, many things came to pass -- Marga is pregnant and finally reunited with Pablo, as well as his twin brother Julio; American journalist James Lancaster -- for whom Carlota may or may not have feelings for -- was set to be deported; and Francisco had made his way over to Spain. Though he was unsuccessful in breaking Lidia and Carlos out of jail, he is presumably headed to keep Sofia safe.
Most tragic of all, however, is that while Lidia ends up in what looks to be a camp -- where horrifyingly, Carlos's mother Carmen is in charge -- Carlos himself is shot in the head, with his death made to look like a suicide. Of all things that have come to pass in 'Cable Girls', this death is quite unexpected.
This leaves us to wonder what could come in Part 2 of the final season for all characters. While there was barely any Francisco in Part 1, we can possibly expect more of him in Part 2, perhaps doing for Lidia what she did for Sofia in Part 1.
The news of Carlos's death will be painful for both Lidia and Francisco and we are thankful the character got a redemption of sorts before his untimely ending.
'Cable Girls' has come a long way from the show it was when it first hit Netflix. Season 5 is more gritty and is literally "take no prisoners" now. Clearly, what will come in Part 2 is set to be more devastating, but the show has continued to raise the stakes while giving a damn good show.
All episodes of 'Cable Girls' Season 5 Part 1 are now streaming on Netflix.