Ringing in the changes
I f you are a fan of period dramas with strong female characters, then
Cable Girls might be the show for you. Made by Netflix, it is a glossy Spanish series about four women from various backgrounds who land coveted positions at a Madrid telephone exchange in 1928. Sultry con-artist Alba (Blanca Suarez) lies her way into the job with the aim of stealing from the company to keep her criminal boss happy. Meanwhile, Angeles (Maggie Civantos) wants to balance her career with her family life much to the chagrin of her traditional husband while small-town girl Marga (Nadia De Santiago) feels like a fish out of water in the big smoke. Lastly, there is party-loving Carlota (Ana Fernandez), who comes from a wealthy and controlling family. She hopes her job will give her the independence she desperately craves. The show, which is known in its native country as Las Chicas Del
Cable, is an enjoyable piece of escapism with attractive actors dressed in gorgeous costumes. Some of the storylines are over the top and at times it feels more like a soap than a drama. But Cable Girls makes some excellent points about the role of women in society. When I started streaming episode one, the dialogue had been dubbed into English with American accents which I found jarring. Once I’d adjusted my settings, I watched the rest of the episode in Spanish with English subtitles which was a much more pleasant experience. My only gripe is the show’s modern soundtrack which seemed out of place. Streams on Netflix.