The acclaimed fiction by Atresmedia and Suma Content conquers the international scene for its brilliant LGTBIQ+ representation.
Sometimes, our television screen becomes a mirror where we can finally look at ourselves without filters, without harmful stereotypes and with all our wonderful complexity. And when that reflection crosses borders and is applauded worldwide, at Rainbow we can do nothing but celebrate it in style. National fiction is in luck: the series Mariliendre has just won the prestigious award for best fiction in Spanish at the GLAAD Media Awards.
The GLAAD seal: much more than just a trophy
To understand the magnitude and importance of this news, we must travel to the origins of the institution that grants these awards. Created in 1990 by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), these awards do not only evaluate the technical quality, budget or audience ratings of a product. Its fundamental mission is to recognize those journalistic, musical and audiovisual works that offer a fair, accurate, real and inclusive representation of the LGTBIQ+ community.
And it is precisely in that field where Mariliendre has shone with her own light. Far from falling into the thick line, the easy cliché or the caricature, critics have applauded how the series embraces the authentic plurality of our voices. Fiction normalizes our daily lives, makes us laugh and cry with our own dramas, but, above all, it reminds us that full equality continues to be a pending issue on the agenda of our society.
From Madrid’s queen of the night to global recognition
Behind this indisputable success we find the unmistakable seal of Suma Content, with Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi in the production, excellently accompanied by the executive producers Montse García and Andrea H. Catalá (on behalf of Atresmedia). But the real soul of the story lies in its dazzling protagonist.
If you have not yet fallen for this comedy-drama, let me put you in the right place: actress Blanca Martínez steps into the shoes of Meri Román. A decade ago, she was the undisputed “queen” and confidant of Madrid’s vibrant gay nightlife. Today, at 35 years old, she is a dethroned diva, trapped in a mediocre present and haunted by the ghosts of what she was. The sudden death of his father becomes the perfect trigger for him to reunite with his old entourage of friends, unearthing musical hits from the past and trying to put order in his chaotic identity.
Meri’s emotional universe comes to life thanks to a spectacular ensemble cast that exudes chemistry:
- Martin Urrutia and Omar Ayuso.
- Carlos González and Yenesi.
- Álvaro Jurado, Mariona Terés, Mariano Peña and the incombustible Nina.
It should be noted that this joint talent had already left an excellent taste in the mouths of specialized critics during their time at highly prestigious festivals, such as the Malaga Festival (where they participated in the Official Section out of competition), the Series Mania in France and the Crossover Series Festival in San Sebastián.
If this GLAAD award has piqued your curiosity or if you simply want to enjoy its episodes again, we have fantastic news. To commemorate this international triumph, Atresplayer has decided to offer the series completely free on its platform for an entire week. It’s the perfect excuse to organize a marathon.
Before you prepare the popcorn and hit ‘play’, I invite you to pause, reader: To what extent do you think fiction shapes the perception that society has about us? Does seeing LGTBIQ+ characters dealing with everyday problems, far from the tragic drama that has historically been assigned to us, really help to eradicate discrimination and LGTBIphobia on the streets? The awards applaud talent in front of the cameras, but it is the visibility that truly changes consciousness in the real world.
