where to watch: Netflix
when to watch: when you want eye candy; when you are ready for some mostly lighthearted drama; when you are ready for subtitles (though there is also dubbing)
you should note: Created and written by a mix of women and men, but definitely female-driven; definitely feminist. Renewed for Season 2 which should come out SOON.
tl;dr: In 1950s Rio, a newly single housewife decides to open up a music club in Rio. Along the way, she reunites with old friends and makes some wonderful new ones.
To finish out February, here’s a recommendation for a show that I had intended to post about from the very beginning—Most Beautiful Thing, or Coisa Mais Linda in Portuguese. This Brazilian show is criminally underrated and under-advertised by Netflix (at least in the US). It’s one of those shows that I want to recommend to everyone, yet no one seems to have heard of it.
elevated soap opera
According to the its trivia section on IMDb, Netflix wanted this show to be an “‘elevated soap opera,'” and that is exactly what it is. The plots veer toward the dramatic, and sometimes they feel a little too coincidental. The protagonist has an extremely melodramatic meltdown in the first episode where she goes a little crazy. But, if you get past that, each character is well-developed and well-acted. You know I wouldn’t recommend a show if they weren’t. Beyond that, the show is worth watching for the look of it alone. The visuals are so pretty you can’t peel your eyes away—but more on that later.
the premise
It’s 1959. Maria Luiza, a young, wealthy housewife from São Paulo arrives in Rio de Janeiro, where she and her husband Pedro have planned to open a restaurant. But upon her arrival, she discovers that her husband has disappeared with all her money. All she has left is the deed to a completely broken-down restaurant. After some reflection, she decides to stay in Rio and open a music club…
A simple enough premise, but the show is much more than that. It’s really about women figuring out how to live for themselves in an era where they are taught to live for a man. It’s about the friendship between our four main characters—Adelia, Thereza, Ligia, and Maria Luiza. Maria Luiza is magnetic and so full of life. She’s adorable with her son. Ligia is a gifted singer and has the kind of smile that could stop traffic. Thereza is the modern one, a trailblazer as an editor at a magazine. Adelia comes from a different world—she’s used to the world’s injustices. Each character is easy to fall in love with.
But Most Beautiful Thing is also about music. And not just any music—bossa nova.
back to those stunning visuals
Bossa Nova has a distinct vibe, and the cinematographers have managed to represent that visually. The costumes are to die for. Rio’s sunny beaches and crystal blue ocean are gorgeous. The show is filled with luxurious, delicate, summery warm tones just like bossa nova.
And an equally important part of the visuals? Every single actor in this show is drop-dead gorgeous (shoutout to the makeup department). Sure, it’s unrealistic. But it wouldn’t be a soap opera otherwise. And am I complaining? Definitely not.
in conclusion
“Most Beautiful Thing” is not without its issues. Maria Luiza cries a lot. You never figure out how on earth she pays to live, let alone have the club renovated, when she repeatedly says her husband took all her money, her father cut her off, and she is denied a loan. And starting a club is way too easy—she runs into no issues, and it’s an instant success. But, if you can suspend your disbelief enough, it’s so worth it.
Beyond the drama, the romance, the beauty, the actors, and the gorgeous music (soundtrack available on Spotify), this is the first Brazilian show I have ever watched. It was fascinating to learn about the cultural differences between Rio and São Paulo and the racial dynamics in Brazil. Plus, I discovered Portuguese is a beautiful language!
The bottom line: I am obsessed with the world of this show, and I cannot wait for Season 2!!