The Colombian Netflix original Medusa is a reminder of what not to do when you have a hot cast and a big budget to blow through. The series follows a woman named Barbara Hidalgo, who after her promotion becomes the new CEO of the Colombian conglomerate, Medusa. And while she’s getting ready to celebrate her newfound success on her yacht, an explosion sends Barbara screaming into the sea. But don’t worry, Barbara’s not dead yet; in fact, the viper returns soon after with selective amnesia. The mystery here is: will Barbara be able to find out who tried to kill her before it’s too late? Right off the bat, the series begins with a montage of sex scenes that the protagonist is involved in, and soon, she’s seen pleasuring herself on the yacht. The show clearly wants to lure people in with the aesthetic sex montages, because there’s just enough to make you curious but not enough for you to know exactly what’s going on. I’ll tell you, it’s not much, and it’s really not worth your time.
Now, if you’re looking for a sexy time, I suppose Medusa will scratch that itch for you. The mood, the music, the outfits, and the vibes all point to a good time in the bedroom, so I guess, in that sense, the show isn’t really shying away from what it set out to be. Imagine if 365 Days was made in South America, and instead of Stockholm syndrome, it was about a woman trying to solve her own (almost) murder. But what’s truly the most ridiculous thing about the show (apart from the story) is the name of the detective in charge, “Danger.” I suppose an appropriate title for the show would’ve been “Sex and Danger” or maybe “Sex with Danger,” a good pun. Jokes aside though, now that you know what to expect from the show, you can decide if you really want to spend your time watching it. We watch, and we don’t judge.
Now that I’ve told you about the sultry part, you’re curious about the thriller part, and let me tell you that it’s predictable and uninspired. Honestly, anybody would be able to guess who tried to kill Barbara, but leaving that aside, is the show actually entertaining? I suppose it is mildly entertaining. It’s almost like taking a substance that has you going back for more and more. It’s a bad habit (it’s a terrible show), but I guess you can’t help but be curious to see what’s next. This is one quality of the show I have to admire.
Visually, Medusa is stunning, and there are some scenes, especially in the water, that look like they’ve come straight out of a painting. The cast is decent, and I suppose what’s important is that everybody has good chemistry, and they do. Can one call this a feminist show? I think this is what an attempt at modern feminist storytelling looks like. It’s not a good one, though. I said Danger was the most ridiculous thing about this show, but I’ve got to admit that the main romance plot of the show makes zero sense. Not only is it illegal, but it literally has no starting point. Also, there’s a bit that plays out about obsession and a potential stalker, but nobody truly addresses this part because all’s fair in love and war I guess?
At its heart, this is a show about power and how it can ruin a family. The main premise is okay, but the way everyone in the family is involved in some sort of sexual perversion almost makes it seem like it’s a hereditary trait. The show conveniently classifies certain crimes as wrong and others as romantic to further the storyline. It’s kind of ironic, because the main couple of the show should legally not be a couple, but when it comes to other characters doing something morally grey (no, I’m not talking about the pedophilia), they’re forced to be outed, but the main character is given a free pass. True main character energy, I guess.
I definitely think Medusa is a bit queer-baity, especially at the beginning. I suppose this is a typical “whodunit” without an actual victim, seeing as Barbara is not dead. The show’s title is more or less just a reference to the name of the company, but anybody outside of the family basically considers the Hidalgos snakes because of how low they can go just for a taste of power, that too within the same family. In terms of plot, there isn’t much to go by, and after a certain point, it really starts to feel like it drags on.
The series is 12 episodes of about 35-40 minutes each, and after about 6 episodes, you really start to feel the drag, because it repeatedly throws the same scenes at you while Barbara tries desperately to remember her life in the past. By the time you’re 8 episodes in, you start to feel the fatigue creep in, and by the 12th episode, you know who has done what and why, so there’s no suspense left to keep you going. But this is when you realize that it’s not over, and the show leaves us with more questions than answers, open for another season of stupidity and possible revenge. Honestly, I’m struggling to say something positive about this show. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not dissing it simply because it’s super sexual with no payoff, but specifically because the plot really doesn’t add anything to it, making the second half of the show quite tedious. At the end of the day, if you specifically want to watch it for interestingly choreographed sex montages, then be my guest, but if that’s something that doesn’t tickle your fancy, then I would let this viper pass and turn to stone rather than give it a go. I’d give Medusa 2 out of 5 stars, pretty much for the beautiful landscape.
