Ep. 8: More Than a Telenovela?
- Thelma Annan
- Apr 15, 2016
- 3 min read
At first, when Netflix suggested that I watch Grand Hotel, I was less than impressed. Less because it was a foreign show, and more so because the image alone resembled Downton Abbey and I basically assumed it was a telenovela. After doing research on the show (it's IMDB ratings, Netflix comments and a quick skim of the plot), what eventually captured my interest was the crime/thriller aspect, which slightly separated itself from being a telenovela into being a Spanish drama. This genre distinction is not just apparent to me (someone who knows absolutely nothing about telenovelas), but also to someone who is an avid fan and regular viewer of telenovela shows like Rosie. This episode in particular exhibited the most suspenseful/thriller aspects typically found within a mystery series. There was a chase scene, a real-time murder (rather than just the bodies of women appearing), and several suspects. The episode also did not rely on music to heighten the scene's tension which I appreciated. This time when Alicia is running away from the killer, only ambient sound was utilized, not a dramatic score that they used for the previous episodes. This lack of music and dependency on natural sounds is common within American dramas/mysteries that add to the suspense.
Overall, the series’ plotline is not exactly unbelievable; none of the actors exaggerate their lines or overdramatize their actions (excluding when Sofia fell down the stairs or when Dona Teresa slaps Javier and Alicia slaps Julio). So it got me thinking, what are the exact differences between a Spanish drama and a telenovela? Netflix and Wikipedia categorize Grand Hotel as a TV Spanish historical drama or mystery, even though telenovela is an available category for both databases. However, pop culture websites and blogs reference the show as a telenovela. Nowadays, the distinct line between television genres are so blurred, seeking out differences may be impossible. But surely, there had to be some specific distinctions.
The history of telenovelas stem from Latin American roots. They originated from Argentina and Cuba with a genre that literally translates to "television novel." In the United States, we tend to disregard telenovelas as simply the Spanish-language version of a soap opera. But in reality it is so much more. Besides its large and loyal fan base, telenovelas follow strict guidelines. Telenovelas in Spain are called culebrones (translated as "long snakes") because of their complex plots, which is certainly true of the Grand Hotel (wikipedia). While Latin-American telenovelas typically have a clear beginning, middle and end, the Grand Hotel continues throughout the season almost seamlessly. North and South American telenovelas run daily and contain cast members that transition from one telenovela to another (PBS). Unlike American soap operas however, telenovelas do not continue for decades— they have a quick series life. This is where Grand Hotel differs, but only slightly. It airs on a weekly basis, rather than daily- imitating the scheduled programming of a drama or mystery primetime show. Instead of a quick turn around the Grand Hotel lasted for 3 years, however it only produced 39 episodes.
Antena3, the network that produces Grand Hotel is known for their telenovela productions. However, this does not necessarily mean they cannot steer away from their typical production projects. Does HBO only produce heavy drama shows such as Game of Thrones or mysteries like True Detective? Nope. The also have comedies like Veep and Girls. Perhaps Grand Hotel was the beginning of new direction the Antena3 network hopes to explore more of. Perhaps in their effort to be more internationally appealing, the series made a conscious decision to blur the lines between telenovela and Spanish drama/mystery. This is not uncommon. With a sea of competition, series are constantly seeking alternatives to keep the attention and interests of their viewers intact. Too often, our movies and shows are contain elements of various genres rather than just one, such as when the use of comedy is found in drama or action series or movies to lighten the intensity and make the character more likeable. This may have been the approach of the Grand Hotel where particular countries may have preconceived assumptions about a telenovela, so they have purposefully decided to go in a different direction to gains the interest of culturally and socially different audiences.