Here is our review of the 2023 Netflix series Burning Body Season 1, which does not contain significant spoilers but does discuss elements from real-life events.
True crime is a prosperous genre for Netflix, showing no sign of slowing down. Burning Body, a drama series based on real events, was released alongside its documentary counterpart, Rosa Peral’s Tapes, on the same day. This is a fascinating story — a perfect formulaic true crime event built for sensational headlines.
The question we have to ask ourselves is — what does this drama series say about Rosa Peral? What is the team behind the series trying to tell the audience?
Burning Body Season 1 Review and Plot Summary
The Netflix series brings fictionalized events of the life of former Spanish police officer Rosa Peral leading up to the murder of her boyfriend, Pedro Rodríguez. Pedro was found, burned to ashes, in the trunk of a car in 2017.
READ: Who is Rosa Peral? Convicted Murderer Explained
The real story behind this murder became a sensationalist topic in Spain, gripping its people nationwide, revealing all about Rosa Peral and her personal life.
Burning Body has a clear agenda; director Jorge Torregrossa and his team have curated a case study of Rosa Peral. Their perspective, presumably based on various viewpoints, is abundantly transparent. They believed that Rosa Peral was a pathological liar, with no regard for whom she was hurting, and took delight in her romantic entanglements. The character portrayal reeks of extreme narcissism and abhorrent modern-day promiscuity that burdens our young generation.
The series ultimately decides that Rosa Peral’s personal behavior led to the murder of Pedro Rodríguez, co-opted with her lover Albert Lopez, from the first episode.
And this is where Burning Body becomes difficult to judge. The storyboarding is well-sliced together, the script is well-balanced and measured, and the episodes flow with such confidence that it hits the right dopamine receptors for a full-day binge.
Like Netflix is famous for, Burning Body sits in the ideal environment to be a crazed trend—a one-hitter limited series to binge in a day.
But, taking away how absurdly entertaining this series is, we must question the angle served on Rosa Peral. It’s known that the representatives of Rosa and her family tried to prevent the release of this series, which could be due to their efforts to appeal her conviction, which adds gravity to this TV show.
Is this series a hit piece? Did they try to stop it from being released based on undue character assassination? Has the director gotten too compelled by “trial by media”? Or, is it as simple as it looks — which is an innocent man who was unnecessarily and brutally murdered?
That’s where the fine line between entertainment and real-life regularly fails to get right in the media. While the actress playing Rosa, Úrsula Corberó, does an award-winning job at playing the real-life subject, there is a gap in depth with the story.
READ: Who killed Pedro in Burning Body?
The series fails to justify the actions carried out by Rosa Peral. Why did she revel in infidelity and promiscuity? What did her relationship with men mean? How did she feel as a woman in the police force? Why would she potentially kill another man?
The series does not address the makeup of Rosa Peral’s character. You leave the series understanding her less.
Burning Body may have a lot of truth, but the sensationalist nature of the story will hook you, not the facts.
Is Burning Body on Netflix good or bad?
Burning Body is inevitably an instant hit for Netflix regardless of how factual the story is. It has all the means to be trending, and there’s no doubt audiences will binge it in a day.
Is Burning Body worth watching?
Now and again, a Netflix series turns up that has everyone talking. If you fear FOMO, then switch it on ASAP. But do not be surprised by the need for more questions than answers once you’ve consumed it.
What did you think of the 2023 Netflix series Burning Body Season 1, and how would you review it? Comment below.
