The Asunta Case Review 2024 Tv Show Series Season Cast Crew Online

The Asunta case is a brand new Netflix original miniseries that chronicles the 2013 murder of Asunta Yong Fang Basterra Porto and the subsequent trial that followed for her parents, who were accused of murdering their own adoptive daughter. This is another addition to Netflix’s True Crime gallery, proving they know what they’re doing when it comes to the genre. Just a few weeks ago, Netflix reported on the hijacking that took place in Colombia in the 1970s The hijacking of Flight 601. There’s no shortage of true crime stories this streaming giant has covered. The Asunta case was released on April 26, 2024 and was created by Ramón Campos, Jon de la Cuesta, Gema R. Neira and David Orea.

The show opens with ex-couple Rosario Porto and Alfonso Basterra filing a missing persons case for their daughter Asunta at a local police station in the city of Santiago, Spain. Rosario initially claimed she left her daughter at home before going to her and ex-husband’s vacation home and returning to find her daughter gone. Two drunken men found Asunta’s body near a sidewalk and police confirmed her death. The investigation, led by Officers Cristina and Rios and Assistant District Attorney Malvar, revealed discrepancies in the accounts Rosario and Alfonso shared. The visit to their apartments and vacation home, followed by the evidence collected, helped police conclude that the parents were responsible for the murder of their adoptive daughter for an initially unknown reason.

As the show progressed, investigators and the assistant district attorney noticed that Rosario was taking heavy medication for her depression, and that Alfonso was the one administering it. This led the police to conclude that reasons related to the drugs would be the motive behind the murder, but that they needed evidence to support their claims. Were Alfonso and Rosario accused of murder? Who killed Asunta? Were the police successful in uncovering the motive and proving their claims? These and many other questions were addressed as the show covered the case that shook Spain in 2013.

The creators clearly knew what they were doing when they wrote the show, and kudos to them for not veering off topic and sticking to the actual plot. This is the biggest selling point of this miniseries. The screenplay follows a simple route and refuses to distract from the subject. Although there are subplots in the show, they are all somehow layered in a way that allows viewers to immerse themselves in the storytelling.

The Asunta case is by definition about parenthood. Several characters in the film have to deal with their children or parents in their personal lives. Judge Malvar lived with his elderly father who became difficult to deal with, but being a son, he took it upon himself to take care of him while he was super busy with the Asunta case. Cristina, the investigating officer, planned to have a child of her own with her husband, and as a result, she had to deal with her own anxieties that came with the expectation of becoming a parent. Rios, the other investigating officer, raised his granddaughter with his wife, and it is implied that he does not have a committed relationship with his daughter. Alfonso, the accused father, also had a strained relationship with his father and depended on him for financial support from time to time. The different forms of parent-child relationships help viewers come to terms with the pain that Rosario and Alfonso may face. Each parent and his or her duty to their offspring are considered sacred, and if he or she violates the relationship, they will be brutally hunted down. This idea was explored in depth when the show tackled the topic of how the media and public opinion of the parents changed dramatically when this case came into the spotlight. This would remind many Indians of the ‘Aarushi murder case’ and the debacle of an investigation in which the parents were accused. The witch hunt by the Indian media was intense at the time, and subsequently nothing has changed over the years.

The Asunta case does not take sides, but bases the story and screenplay on the trial that took place, as many revelations about the couple come out one by one as the investigation progresses. It also keeps viewers from taking sides, as so far no one knows who killed Asunta, and the accused couple claimed innocence all along. If you Google the case, many will know about the status of the couple, how the investigation took place and how it ended for everyone. The climax of the show was stretched as it started to focus on unnecessary elements. It felt like the writers and director wanted to keep adding scenes to extend the running time of the climactic episode. It did not contribute to the atmosphere of the exciting thriller. The concern about programs based on true crime stories is that viewers will immediately Google the incident, in an attempt to know the outcome of the trial. There was no need for the writers to go out of their way to create tension over something people might already be aware of. Despite a drawn-out ending, it doesn’t hinder the entire show.

The screenplay worked very well from an emotional point of view. It is difficult to watch the ex-couple going through an ordeal and how they respond to the accusations. There is no mockery and the show represents their feelings well. The writers injected a lot of feelings, especially in the last episode, when Alfonso and Rosario were asked questions again. The show explores the mental health of the mother figure, Rosario, who suffered from depression long before her daughter disappeared and died. Rosario’s anxiety and panic attacks were palpable, and the writers continued to avoid judging her and treating her like a mental health patient. The show also sheds light on the fact that families and people behind closed doors are very different, and it would be a serious mistake to take everyone at face value.

Jacobo Martínez’s direction is excellent. The direction hardly deviates from the actual story and does not confuse the viewer. The scenario often goes back and forth between the current timeline and the timeline of events that happened when Asunta was alive. Jacob’s leadership allowed them to make their own judgments, just like the jury did about the trial in the show. The direction must stay the course and not indulge in experimental filmmaking. Sometimes simple filmmaking is effective. There is no happy ending to this show, and it leaves a lump in the throat as many feel like there are two different things when the parents are accused in court.

The editing of the show is smooth, as the transition between the two timelines is seamless and does not confuse the audience while watching. Kudos to the screenplay, which keeps the editing seamless throughout the show’s runtime. The dialogue is excellent and there is a sense of realism to getting to grips with what we believe happened in Spain in 2013.

The performances are the highlight of the show, as all the actors embody their assigned roles and make them their own. Candela Peña, as Rosario Porto, has made this painful woman part of her body and played a role that not many could have played. Candela becomes her, and it would be difficult to separate her performance from that of the actual mother figure, who went through an ordeal that was difficult to watch. Candela’s mental breakdown as Rosario was heartbreaking to watch and raised a warning for those suffering from anxiety and other mental health issues.

The writers added layers of “did she or didn’t she” elements, which are well reflected in the show. The same can be said about Tristán Ulloa as about Alfonso Basterra, who was looked down upon as a terrible man. Tristan’s role as a lovelorn, control-freak husband is frightening, and he comes across as a father who may or may not have harmed his daughter. Tristan’s portrayal of a man on the run from ways to control his life, and that of Rosario, is brilliant and terrorizing. General, The Asunta case is a thrilling retelling of a true incident that changed the lives of many people involved.