Merlí. Sapere Aude
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Merlí. Sapere Aude
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Merlí. Sapere Aude is a teen-oriented Spanish series (dubbed in English from Catalán) that has lots of cursing, drinking, cigarette and pot smoking, and some sexual innuendo. There's some nudity (bare male bottoms) as well. Themes range from family, friendship, romantic relationships, and death, and issues explored include alcoholism, sexual identity, and HIV.
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What's the Story?
MERLI. SAPERE AUDE is a Spanish spinoff of the popular series Merlí revolving around a young man who is trying to figure out who he is. After the death of his high school philosophy teacher and mentor Merlí Bergeron (Francesc Orella), Pol Rubio (Carlos Cuevas) enrolls in the University of Barcelona to follow in his philosophical footsteps. He's a little overwhelmed, but soon makes friends with Biel (Pere Vallribera), Oti (Claudia Vega), Argentinian student Minerva (Azul Fernández), and the rather eccentric Rai (Pablo Capuz). He also connects with some of his new professors, including the provocative María Bolaño (Marîa Pujalte). As Pol adapts to university life, he's being pressured by his friend Bruno Bergeron (David Solans), Merlí's son, to take their relationship further after having shared a bisexual experience. Meanwhile, at home, Pol's father Alfonso (Boris Ruiz) has decided to make some important life changes of his own. Everything gets pretty complicated for everyone at times, but for Pol, it's about having the courage to use his own logical reasoning when trying to figure things out.
Is It Any Good?
The Spanish spin-off (which is dubbed in English) mixes drama and comedy to tell the stories of a group of people trying to figure out who they truly are. The plot lines presented here are much edgier and more indulgent than the original. But like its parent series, Merlí. Sapere Aude never quite reaches its full potential when attempting to employ philosophy and reasoning as a major storytelling device. Some of the episodes are a little sluggish, too. Nonetheless, throughout its three cycles, the stories allow characters to grow and evolve, which results in some cast members coming into their own and maturing in their own way. Ultimately, the overall show has enough universal soap opera-like appeal to universally entertain teen audiences.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the Latin term "sapere aude." Loosely translated, it means "dare to or have the wisdom to know things through reason." Does Pol demonstrate this wisdom throughout the series? If so, how?
Is Merlí. Sapere Aude a fair representation of what university life is like? What about how university students behave? What are these depictions based on?
TV Details
- Premiere date: February 25, 2022
- Cast: David Solans
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Friendship
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: January 18, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
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Merlí
Spanish series about high school teacher full of teen drama.
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Skins (U.K.)
Unflinching British teen soap isn't for kids.
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The Chair
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For kids who love teen drama
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