If you’re in the mood for some time travel having worked your way through classics, such as Grantchester, The Crown and Downton Abbey, and you need some good old-fashioned historical escapism – we’ve got your next series sorted. Cable Girls is a hidden-gem period drama set in the fascinating era of 1920s Spain – and it’s so addictive you’ll want to watch it all this week.
The Netflix show introduces us to four very different women who find themselves on the cusp of huge change as they’re awarded new freedom through employment in Spain’s national telecommunications company in 1920s Madrid. There’s heartbreak, deceit and whirlwind romances as the women grapple with their hugely changing world – and it’s the perfect show for Downton Abbey fans.
Intrigued? With the series available to watch on Netflix, here’s everything you need to know about Cable Girls, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Cable Girls about?
The period drama translated from the Spanish Las Chicas del Cable, which first aired on Netflix in 2017, follows four female protagonists Lidia (Blanca Suárez), Marga (Nadia de Santiago), Carlota (Ana Fernández) and Ángeles (Maggie Civanto) as they work as telephone operators in 1928 Madrid. The four girls are wildly different – Lidia has been forced to take on a new identity to complete a secret mission after she was wrongly accused of murder, whereas Marga is a shy country bumpkin who has just relocated to the city.
Meanwhile, Carlota, a strong-willed feminist, has taken up a job to find freedom from her controlling father and Ángeles, a highly astute operator and young mother, finds herself in the grips of an abusive relationship. But, will Ángeles be able to escape from her partner, and will Lidia’s plan be foiled?
The series culminates in the breakout of Spain’s civil war in 1936, as the women navigate their newfound freedom against the backdrop of dictator Franco’s authoritarian ideology. Across the five series, the friends’ loyalty is tested as they come up against a series of challenging circumstances – from blackmail and abusive men to the final chapter, which sees the women fight to free Lidia from a prison camp. The finale is a highly emotional twist as the stars go head-to-head with Republican soldiers (we’d advise you to get a box of tissues ready!)
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Who’s in the cast of Cable Girls?
The cast of Cable Girls includes:
- Blanca Suárez (El barco, El internado) as Lidia
- Nadia de Santiago (Musarañas, Amar es para siempre) as Marga
- Ana Fernández (Los protegidos) as Carlota
- Maggie Civantos (Vis a vis) as Ángeles
- Yon González (Gran Hotel) as Francisco Gómez
- Ana Polvorosa (Skins) as Sara Millán/Óscar Ruiz
- Nico Romero (The Time It Takes) as Pablo Santos/Julio Santos
- Martiño Rivas (The Boarding School) as Carlos Cifuentes
Is Cable Girls any good?
Yes – it’s TV escapism perfection and an endearing tale of female friendship and empowerment. At the heart of the show are the strong friendships between the women as they stick together through a series of extreme challenges. It also offered a fascinating glimpse into life in Spain at the time – which was truly fascinating!
Is there a trailer for Cable Girls?
Yes – you can watch the full trailer for Cable Girls below.
How can I watch Cable Girls?
You can watch Cable Girls now on Netflix.
What other period dramas can I watch now?
If you’re after a lighter period drama, we’d recommend Summer ’36, a French whodunnit that transports you to the dazzling French Riviera in 1936. When a prosecutor dies, four very different women all become prime suspects – and it’s a riveting ride to work out who was actually responsible. Summer ’36 is available to watch now on Netflix. For another escapist trip through history, we’d point you towards High Seas, where we set sail on a swanky transatlantic ship setting sail from Europe to South America in the 1940s. It introduces sisters Eva (Ivana Baquero) and Carolina Villanueva (Alejandra Onieva), who soon find themselves caught in a web of mysteries. You can watch High Seas now on Netflix.
