The Netflix streaming platform has become one of the ways to give a second life to Spanish series that premiere on some television channels. The curious thing is that when they come to Netflix, they multiply their followers and their impact to the point that many of them are placed in the Top 10 of the most viewed series in a very short time. This has happened with Spanish series like The House of Paper, Entre Tierras or Entrevías. However, this phenomenon is repeated with the series Christ and King which premiered first on Atresplayer, then openly on Antena 3 and is now becoming a hit on Netflix. This series tells the complex relationship between star Bárbara Rey and the tamer Ángel Cristo who made headlines in the gossip press in the 80s and 90s. A series not to be missed if you like fiction based on real cases.
The series Christ and King It has 8 episodes and already caused a stir when it premiered in January 2023 on Antena 3. A brilliant fiction created by Daniel Écija for Antena 3 and Atresplayer Premium that stars the famous actors Jaime Lorente and Belén Cuesta, incredible in their roles as tamer and star. Daniel Écija is responsible for many Spanish fictions A step forward, Los Serrano, Paco’s men, The boarding school, Águila Roja either Vis à visamong others. With this series, he consolidates himself as one of the best series directors in our country.
What is the series about? Christ and King?
Anyone who watches the first episodes of this series realizes that The plot focuses on the complex marital relationship between Ángel Cristo and Bárbara Rey. and their controversial divorce. Two stars of the coated paper who loved each other, had two children, separated and separated. Two characters with very complex personalities who lived a tumultuous relationship, including abuse, which filled pages and pages of the gossip magazines of the time.
According to the official synopsis, it all begins with the announcement of the marriage between Ángel Cristo and Bárbara Rey: “Madrid, 1979. Ángel Cristo is the best trainer in the world. Bárbara Rey, actress and muse of unveiling, the most desired woman in Spain. From their meeting until the announcement of their marriage, only a few weeks pass. It is the wedding of the year and the news is on the cover of all the magazines. The Circus of Bárbara Rey and Ángel Cristo becomes the fashion show; a million dollar business. Money, fame, luxury… Nine years of relationship during which Spain witnessed the couple’s happiness: the birth of Angelito and Sofía, the purchase of sports cars, jewelry, an ostentatious chalet in La Moraleja… Far from the flashes, however, we witness an escalation of drug addiction, gambling, infidelity and abuse… And, in the background, the shadow of Barbara’s relationship with a powerful statesman.
When Barbara Rey got married, she had already starred in several films, including some “successful” Spanish films, and from that moment on, she began working in the circus show of her husband, a famous lion tamer. Her alleged relationship with another man and the violent character of Angel Christ are some of the reasons why The marriage lasted from 1980 to 1989.. When they separated, the two men began a complex legal process in which they accused each other of mistreatment. Bárbara Rey eventually regained custody of her two children, who had remained with their father after the separation.
The cast of the series
The protagonists of this series are the actors Belén Cuesta plays the role of Bárbara Rey and Jaime Lorente plays Ángel Cristoalthough much more beautiful to be honest. In addition, the series has included other actors in the cast such as Jesús Castro, Secun De la Rosa as Richardi, David Lorente as Paco Ostos or Adriana Torrebejano as journalist Chelo García-Cortés. Actor Cristóbal Suárez plays the role of Juan Carlos I of Spain, Artur Busquets plays Francisco Ontiveros “Payasito” and José Milan plays Guillermo Blasco.
Also in this series, other actors put themselves in the shoes of other characters of the time like Denis Gómez who gives life to the presenter José María IñigoMiriam Serrano as singer Betty Missiego, Clara Alvarado as singer Rocío Dúrcal, Guillermo de Córdova as Jesusín, Jesús Castro as Paquirri, Elena González as Encarna Sánchez, Julio Arnau as Matías Prats and Dani Muriel as Manolo Escobar, among others.
