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Alba
By Stephanie Morgan,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Graphic series uses sexual assault as soapy plot device.
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Alba
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What's the Story?
ALBA is a Spanish series, based on the Turkish novel Fatmagül'ün Suçu Ne?, in which a woman wakes up on a beach after being drugged and raped by a group of men. Initially she has no memory of the event, but disturbing details come to light as she begins to remember and pursue justice against her attackers.
Is It Any Good?
Alba starts off surprisingly strong, presenting a graphic and stirring look at the experience of a woman (impressively played by Elena Rivera) who is drugged and sexually assaulted during a night out with her friend. Repeatedly questioned, doubted, blamed, and slut-shamed, her experience is a believable depiction of the trauma experienced by sexual assault survivors that's almost too realistic to watch. Which makes it all the more jarring when an endless amount of soap-opera-style drama soon unfolds. As the story moves forward, more and more people in Alba's life become, or are revealed to be, involved -- each of their storylines more convoluted than the next. Soon the horrific crime, repeatedly replayed in upsetting detail via Alba's flashbacks and her attackers' cellphone footage, is diminished to nothing more than the driving incident for over-the-top melodrama centering around illicit romances, evil archetypes, and twist after unbelievable twist. This is a show that can't decide what it is, and ends up being woefully careless with such a sensitive topic. As a result, it's too brutal to be entertaining and too ridiculous to be affecting.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the depiction of Alba's experience after her rape. Are the things she went through common for survivors of sexual assault?
How does the realism of Alba's experience contrast with the other storylines in this series? Are they as believable? How does this affect the storytelling?
TV Details
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