Every year, we see a ton of series that push the boundaries of what's considered too much sex on mainstream television. I feel like the OTT platform is an experiment in how much we can tolerate. Now, from what I've read, it seems like Gen Z isn't as sex-positive as their predecessors, preferring to keep their TV clean, just like they leave their dishes after a fancy dinner. But maybe things are different in Spain, because we still see movies and series that focus more on being scandalous than giving us real material to work with. And, you know, you might call me prudish or old-fashioned for criticizing these ideas, but when a series is just sexy for the sake of it, leaving everything else aside, you know it's not worth it.
Olympo's premise is promising and exciting. In a world of competitive athletes, there's no room for imperfection, and plenty of room to push yourself to uncharted limits. The series tells the story of Amaia and her friends, a group of elite athletes from the HPC Pirineos. The series begins with Amaia and her friends happy and excited to have been selected for the prestigious Olympo scholarship, basically a guaranteed ticket to the Olympic Games. However, the competition becomes too fierce, and no one is willing to give up. What follows is an energetic chaos of drugs, risqué scenes, and everything else related to competition.
Stars: Clara Galle, Nira Oshaia, Agustín Della Corte
Before getting into the negatives, there are some aspects of this series that make it perfect for summer. It has all the excitement of a hit in the making, but I think it lacks that oomph that would make it memorable, like much of what we see today. In Olympo, the focus isn't on a single character, but on a group of athletes, each practicing different sports. This allows anyone not interested in any particular sport to watch the series as a spectator and enjoy it. Instead of focusing on the technicalities of how to be good at each of these sports, the series glosses over it, which may seem superficial, but is still intriguing. I think the most fun part of the series is watching the swimmers practice synchronized swimming. Plus, all these young stars are incredibly well-built and look perfect. The race sequences are also great, and there are some slow-motion shots that are very cinematic.
What makes the series so annoying is the number of characters who are unlikeable simply by existing in a competitive world. This seemed almost like a defamation of the sports world to me because, despite the competition and pressure, the key is to keep your composure and keep your head high. At first glance, Olympo may seem original or new, but it's diminished simply by its unsavory and unlikeable characters. Yes, I said unlikeable, because we don't know any real details about their personalities. Sure, they may be engaging, but what about real personality? It can't just be "very ambitious" and "willing to destroy anyone who crosses her path."
Don't get me wrong, the cast is phenomenal, because how do you pack so many people who look like real athletes into one series? But the characters are detestable, and each episode becomes boring as the series progresses, because it almost seems like everything is going backwards. But of all the clearly annoying characters, the main character, Amaia, is the standout. We're supposed to admire her for how hard she works to become the greatest athlete/synchronized swimmer Spain has ever seen, but her likability drops every time she opens her mouth.
Honestly, at this point she's giving Emily a run for her money. And I know she's just a teenager and has everyone's back, but sorry, I don't feel one iota of compassion for her, even though she's played by Clara Galle from "Through My Window." The other leads aren't much better either. Sports are also about teamwork and sportsmanship, not just ambition and competition. That's why the show starts to get tiresome after the first few episodes.
Actually, the conflicts could have been resolved in about five episodes, but they had to drag on for eight to make us feel like we'd won a competition by predicting what would happen at the end. There's nothing thrilling about watching these young people suffer under pressure, and I think this show really pushes the boundaries of how exciting it can be before it becomes bitter and boring. Ironically, the last two episodes are the most tedious of all—except for the swimming scene right at the end, of course. Yes, there are like four adult scenes in a single episode, and sure, it's fun, until it isn't. We're not so shallow that we'll settle for watching anything just because the accompanies us.
Ultimately, if you're happy with half-baked plots, with no substance and a lot of superficiality, you might enjoy Olympo as a background series. The English dub is also pretty decent, so you can follow it even if you're not paying close attention. I wish the plot was developed more, especially regarding the "Olympus" of the title, because it's so shrouded in mystery that, even at the end, we know practically nothing about it. I'm not entirely sure who this series is aimed at, but if that doesn't excite you, I recommend giving it a miss. I'd give Olympo 2.5 out of 5 stars, with the 5 going to the impeccable cast.
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