It’s obvious that Paraíso draws from the same nostalgia used by Stranger Things. It’s set in the early 90s, which is roughly a time comparable to the 80s in the US. It’s a group of kids that want to unravel a mystery, paranormal forces but that’s pretty much where similarities go. The circumstances and events unfold quite differently to the point of giving this show its own personality.

The series has some great elements: the acting is decent, the photography is good, the soundtrack is the best part. Mecano and OBK were THE bands to follow in those years. The fact that the producers brought Mecano’s lead singer, Ana Torroja, to sing the title song was a great touch. The song is named after the show, and the tune, which was created especially for this, even seems like it was created by Nacho Cano himself.

In terms of the story, I like the general feeling and the original elements it has but I think the twists are sometimes too contrived. There are characters that take you nowhere and storylines that need a bit more of background. The gay storyline was a bit shoehorned, considering that I’ve always loved the inclusion of LGBT stories, especially among teenagers, I believe that it needed more justification.

All in all, it’s very watchable and if it has a second season (by the looks of how it ended…) I hope the writers offer a bit more answers.