In the last few weeks, Amazon Prime Video has seen heavy traffic, with millions of users tuning in to see the most recent season of action thriller Reacher and the premiere of its spin-off Neagley. However, a lesser-known player has entered the arena, and has become an unexpected heavy hitter in the streaming wars. Despite a language barrier and the absence of any major Hollywood star, this bingeable eight-episode thriller has become a surprising success following its surge on the streaming charts after its premiere.
‘The Trial’ Is Currently One of the Biggest Shows in the World
According to the latest update to statistics, The Trial has become the most popular TV show worldwide after premiering on Prime Video on September 11. Although it sits at No. 4 on the list of Prime Video original series, below others such as Reacher and Neagley, it holds the No. 1 spot on the list of non-English-language series. This chart reflects the viewership reported in the period between September 14 and September 20.
|
Ranking |
Title |
|---|---|
|
01. |
The Trial |
|
02. |
A Love Other Than Yours |
|
03. |
LOL Next |
|
04. |
The Revolutionaries |
|
05. |
R.I.P. – Roast in Peace |
|
06. |
Mirzapur |
|
07. |
Maxton Hall—The World Between Us |
|
08. |
Cathedrals |
|
09. |
Good Luck Guys Danmark |
|
10. |
See You at Work Tomorrow! |
A Wonderful Cast Brings ‘The Trial’ To Life
The Trial, also known as El Juicio in Spanish, follows a father and daughter duo navigating the aftermath of a horrible crime. Andrea Portillo is a rebellious teenager who’s sexually assaulted during a party, and she claims the abuser is Carlos Huerta, a wealthy boy from a powerful family. Andrea’s father, Miguel, supports her throughout the process, and quickly decides to contact Raúl Huerta, Carlos’ father, to let him know about the incident. When Andrea decides to officially report the assault, the Huertas react and start showing their true nature and intention to protect their son, regardless of the severity of the girl’s allegations.
The Trial is a terrific thriller-drama set against a backdrop of social class division in the Mexican town of Puebla. The rich are disgustingly wealthy, with teens enjoying the outrageous lack of consequences that power provides for them. The working-class community, on the other hand, tries its best to survive, and though the Portillos aren’t on the edge of poverty, the cultural divide is still very strong. A few pivotal scenes help viewers understand the social dynamics of the different worlds portrayed in the series, similar to how Netflix’s Adolescence did upon its release.
Led by Pedro Alonso (Money Heist) and Eugenio Derbez (CODA, The Valet), who deliver stellar performances, The Trial is a character-driven, slow-burn drama that doesn’t rush into a conventional and crowd-pleasing storyline. The show can feel repetitive at times when covering the Portillos’ desperate measures to find justice. However, it feels necessary because the world they live in is far from ideal, where something as severe could be solved quickly. Fortunately, the superb performances from Derbez and Karla Gaytán (who plays Andrea) keep the story well-grounded and away from an overly dramatic tone that could affect the show’s credibility.







