Common Sense Media Review
By Weiting Liu
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mental breakdown and explicit sex in pretty period drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Delirium
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In DELIRIUM, Aguilar (Juan Pablo Raba), a literature professor, returns home to discover that his wife Agustina (Estefanía Piñeres) has suffered a sudden mental breakdown. As he searches for answers, he uncovers layers of trauma within Agustina's wealthy Bogotá family and her ties to a dangerous ex, Midas (Juan Pablo Urrego). Set in 1980s Colombia, the series moves between past and present as it explores Agustina's deteriorating mental state, all feeding into a haunting mystery that Aguilar is determined to piece together.
Is It Any Good?
This is a gorgeously shot period drama with high production values and thoughtful designs. Delirium's cinematography is lush and polished; the show fully immerses viewers in 1980s Bogotá without feeling like modern actors playing dress-up. In a TV landscape crowded with cheaper imitations, it stands out on aesthetic merit alone. The cast has undeniable charisma—several actors have screen presence and star quality—but the performances don't always meet the demands of a character-driven psychological thriller.
Piñeres, in particular, takes on a challenging role as Agustina, a woman unraveling under the weight of a multitude of traumas. Yet the portrayal often feels more theatrical than real, and the volatility starts to lose nuance. It's always risky to adapt a larger-scale novel centered on a "woman gone mad." While Delirium isn't overtly misogynistic, it doesn't challenge old tropes either. The show does a good job looking and feeling like the past—but that doesn't mean it shouldn't take the opportunity to subvert outdated characterizations of women.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Delirium challenges or reinforces stereotypes about mental illness. And how does it depict a woman with mental illnesses caused by various traumas? Do different genders experience mental illnesses differently?
What role does repression—both familial and societal—play in shaping the characters' fates, and how might things have unfolded differently if they'd been encouraged to tell their truths?
How does the show use Bogotá's 1980s setting—not just visually, but politically and socially—to comment on class and power?
TV Details
- Premiere date : July 18, 2025
- Cast : Juan Pablo Raba , Estefanía Piñeres , Juan Pablo Urrego
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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