(ESP-ENG) División Palermo | Black and acid humor - Series Review!

Hello friends, good vibes to all.

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It seems that the days of being unable to say anything, of being careful about what you said, or of doing things based on what people might say, are coming to an end, or at least that's what División Palermo did with its two seasons. It's strange to see this type of content on platforms these days, because for someone like me who enjoys a little bit of wit in humor, I think the jokes, dialogue, and interactions in this series are very off-color, which I find incredible and super intelligent. Many people struggle to differentiate what's humorous and what isn't; they're not as finely tuned as that, and I think if they watch this series, they'll be able to fully understand this type of comedy.

División Palermo is an Argentine series that premiered in 2023, with its second and final season released in July of this year. It centers on a group of people belonging to minorities and with disabilities who make up what is known as the "urban guard." Their main function is to improve the image and perception of the police and assist the people of Buenos Aires with civic tasks. The reality is that the security forces are being heavily criticized, so the acting Minister sought to implement the theme of inclusion to improve the poor image they were portraying. The problem is that all these people have no idea about their work, and the whole thing ends up being a disaster.

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This series is pure comedy and satire; there's no room for offense, which is the central objective of the story. Amputees, people with dwarfism, a Bolivian!?, a Jewish person, a wheelchair user, a trans person, a blind person, and elderly people; this is the group from the first season. In the second season, the scales rise a bit further, and we see Black people, people with Down syndrome, paraplegics, obese people, and so on. The intelligence and freshness in the way these topics are approached, knowing they can be sensitive, I think is masterful. The ability to make any situation into a joke simply because of someone's condition or simply because of their nationality or religion is truly comical.

They aren't cops, but in their eagerness to prove their worth, they get into unnecessary trouble, such as ending up facing off against a drug-trafficking criminal gang. That gang is the owners of a toy store, so the whole setting is already pretty funny. Beyond that, the series is very well-made; it's not overly produced, but they did take care of the details in the action scenes, shootings, etc. The plot's guiding thread is also very cool; it's not just a series with all sorts of tacky jokes; there's a path with a beginning, middle, and end. Another thing they use a lot are plot twists; there are actually several. In both seasons, they use this resource, which is honestly spectacular.

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Aside from not offending, the series' other purpose is to critique governments, corporations, and society itself for their approach to these issues of forced inclusion, believing they're doing good when in reality they aren't, because these people's real problems aren't being addressed. You have to have a sharp writing style and a honed sense of humor to be able to do these things and ultimately be recognized, because yes, this series was even nominated for an Emmy. The actors are very good; their performances are very natural; they make you laugh genuinely, and they're backed by a very well-written script.

There are two seasons: the first with eight episodes, the second with six, but they're quick to watch because each episode is about 20-25 minutes long. I think it's one of the best I've seen lately, especially on Netflix. Unfortunately, they didn't want to renew it, but the way it ends is great because it wraps up all the characters' arcs; there are no unfinished stories. If you like humor, dark comedy, and satire, this series is for you. I guarantee you'll enjoy it and laugh a lot. I'll leave the trailer here.

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Well, that's all for today, friends. I hope you enjoyed it.
¡Hugs to everyone, see you next time!