Eduardo Chiu

It's been a while since a series captivated me enough to watch it from beginning to end without interruptions. It had been quite some time since I sat in front of the screen to enjoy a series marathon (perhaps 6 years or more since Sense8 ended). However, today, I sat in front of the TV and enjoyed the series "El Secreto del Río" uninterrupted. In my opinion, this series breaks the mold of Mexican series as it develops a plot (not too complicated and quite melodramatic, but impactful nonetheless) within the context of the Muxe community of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. To be honest, for the keen-eyed and sharp-minded viewers who crave intelligent and profound content, understanding the message contained in this series is not difficult. However, the brilliance of this series fundamentally lies in focusing its lens (perhaps somewhat superficially and succinctly) on a community marginalized by modern syncretic Mexican society, a community that is an important part of the heritage of pre-Hispanic peoples, and that, to this day, remains misunderstood. The series is very respectful in its treatment of this community and its representation on screen. It does not intend to be a documentary series that narrates the origin or the concept of Muxe identity within an anthropological or historical context (entering this terrain would lead us to expect a deeper understanding of pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican cultures, especially the Zapotec). What it focuses on is presenting a part of the reality that Muxes can experience within a macho and patriarchal society where sexual diversity is "frowned upon." It shows us, in a raw and heartbreaking way, the abasement and humiliations that Muxes are subjected to in this oppressive context, the stigma they face, the marked stereotypes attributed to them. We can clearly and horrifically see the marginalization, social injustice, violence, and discrimination suffered by Muxe communities. The series openly shows that these are not problems exclusive to these communities but a persistent issue throughout society worldwide, affecting marginalized people in LGBTQIA+ communities and cisgender women alike. The series invites us to reflect deeply on what we consider "normative" and "socially acceptable." To fully enjoy this series, viewers need to completely shed all prejudice, prurience, and normative dogmatic paradigms. From my perspective, this series contains almost every cinematic genre: Thriller, Drama, Comedy, Erotic, Action, Adventure (to varying degrees). It is undoubtedly a highly recommendable series that we should not miss the opportunity to sit down and enjoy it.