Turkish television concluded a season that brought big audiences to Atresmedia, with stories that kept viewers hooked across multiple formats. The plot centers on two imperfect women from contrasting paths who share a single bond: a child. This thread runs through the Japanese drama Mother and its Turkish remake, continuing into the Spanish series Heridas, which debuted on Antena 3 on an evening slot after a season on the Atresplayer Premium service. Adriana Ugarte leads the cast, joined by Maria León and the young Cosette Silguero in a 50-minute, 13-episode journey about abandonment, the quest for personal identity, and the long shadows of past trauma that influence the present.
Guided by Tito López Amado and Juanma Pachón, the storytelling is built on stark, unflinching moments and characters designed to spark strong reactions. Adriana Ugarte has described the approach to EL PERIÓDICO from Prensa Ibérica as: Manuela is a figure who can shift between a light, compassionate energy and a tougher, more ambiguous space that challenges simple political correctness.
Manuela, portrayed by an actress known for a prior acclaimed role, is a 28-year-old woman who lives alone in a cabin among Andalusia’s wetlands. Her daily life centers on work at a Bird Rescue Center, where she documents wildlife and sells photo reports. Alba, eight years old, is placed in the care of Yolanda (Maria León) and faces neglect while her mother works as a pole dancer and endures a troubled relationship with a boyfriend named Lucho, who is not a suitable father. The family’s fractured dynamics cast a grim backdrop for the drama.
an unhealthy relationship
When Manuela uncovers Alba’s abandonment and mistreatment, she takes action to protect the girl, a decision that also forces memories of a difficult decade-old event in Madrid to resurface. The upheaval challenges the core sense of self held by the protagonists. Ugarte notes that Manuela is not just a savior; she becomes someone who rescues a child and must navigate a complex mix of care, dependency, and vulnerability that can overwhelm.
For the actress, the appeal was to craft a nuanced figure who cannot be pinned to a single motive and who may not win universal approval. The result is a version of Manuela that resists easy judgment and invites viewers to form their own conclusions about her actions.
From victim to executioner
Early episodes sketch Manuela’s earnest plan, but the narrative soon reveals a deeper layer: Alba’s mother Yolanda is a caregiver stretched to the limit, who also finds herself drawn into a new romantic entanglement. Yolanda’s impulsiveness drives her to try to control a strained situation, while Lucho proves unable to provide the stability a child needs. The story follows how Yolanda might resort to unconventional means to feel secure, prompting audiences to question where protection ends and harm begins.
María León brings complexity to Yolanda, highlighting how the drama focuses on social pressures and the tension between vulnerability and agency. Viewers are invited to empathize with characters shaped by circumstances beyond their control, recognizing that responsibility and blame often travel in multiple directions. The show asks readers to consider how society judges those in precarious situations and whether victims can ever escape their past without support.
León adds that understanding comes from recognizing broader social pressures. The portrayal underscores how people shoulder burdens that society may overlook and how caring for a child can reveal hard truths about the caregiver. Alba’s abuse becomes a catalyst for examining cycles of harm and the ways adults cope with pain, with ripple effects on family bonds.
Cosette Silguero delivers a striking performance as Alba, a remarkable eight-year-old with deep emotional insight. Her sensitivity and maturity help illuminate the drama’s emotional terrain, making the portrayal credible and affecting. The creative team notes that Cosette’s presence lends a luminous quality to the production, as if she has lived many lives in a single moment.
other mothers
The story also introduces two more women who carry heavy burdens: Olga (Sonia Almarcha), Manuela’s organized yet devoted stepmother, and Rocío (Elisabet Gelabert), the biological mother who once relinquished her daughter for adoption and now seeks to repair lost time. Supporting male figures include Jaime (Pau Durà), Manuela’s reticent stepfather who kept a secret from the past, and Fabio (Xoán Fórneas), a journalist drawn into the Alba disappearance investigation. Each character adds new layers to the tapestry, underscoring the web of relationships that shape the drama.
Ugarte emphasizes that viewers can feel for all characters, even when distance and judgment emerge. The story uses these tensions to prompt reflection, suggesting that personal wounds often drive actions that can be misunderstood. The drama explores how people respond when pressed to confront their histories, with the aim of guiding characters toward healing rather than revenge.
Cosette Silguero’s Alba is praised for candor and resilience. The young performer’s ability to convey vulnerability and resolve is described as remarkable by the cast, who commend the child’s maturity and insight. The show leans on this dynamic to illuminate the emotional landscape and create moments that linger after the screen fades. [Citation: Production notes and interviews]