July is a packed month for Netflix with some very interesting titles spread across the month, most of which will make you glad you are subscribed to the streaming platform, but sadly, Desperate Lies isn’t one of those.
Created by Angela Chaves, Desperate Lies is the latest Brazilian drama series with a total of 17 episodes. Yes, you read that right. So, if you were hoping for a quick and breezy watch, it most certainly isn’t this.
Netflix usually sticks to 8 episodes for most of its series, the exception being K-dramas, which usually have close to 12 or 16 episodes, and are normally released over some time. But looks like the streaming platform has largely missed the mark with Desperate Lies, and in this review, we will explain why, so you can decide for yourself whether or not it’s your cup of tea.
Was Desperate Lies Really Needed?
When the trailer for Desperate Lies was first released, we have to admit, it had us intrigued. We weren’t entirely convinced by the premise, but it was evident that if the idea was executed well, it could work in favor of the series. However, that wasn’t the case.
This Brazilian drama revolved primarily around a woman named Liana, her turbulent relationships, and a shocking pregnancy where she was going to give birth to twins from not one but two fathers.
There’s bare minimum medical jargon in Desperate Lies, it isn’t Grey’s Anatomy, of course, but the focus of the attempts to remain on all that went wrong with Liana, despite which she continued to come out stronger for the sake of her boys. This pretty much was the focus for most of the series, but time and again, the narrative kept losing track, and we, kept losing interest.
Some of the main stars you will get to witness in Desperate Lies are Juliana Paes, Felipe Abib, and Vladimir Brichta. These three make up the main characters of the series – Liana, Oscar, and Tomás. All performances were just at the mark of average but that isn’t the reason why this series felt like a drag after each episode, however, it contributes to it just a little.
Several themes are explored in Desperate Lies, almost way too many to keep up. These include consent, sexual assault, motherhood, fatherhood, brotherhood, friendship, and these are only the tip of the iceberg. From the first episode of the series, until the last episode, you will find yourself wondering if this premise could actually have flourished if it were just a movie or even an 8-episode series, but alas, that wasn’t the case.
The only saving grace in this series was Liana’s character, who might evoke emotions amongst the viewers time and again, but even this isn’t nearly enough for us to recommend Desperate Lies to you, and that’s the bitter truth for this incredibly long and dragged melodrama.
Conclusion
Even if you love a good drama and could possibly sit through endless episodes of it, we don’t believe that would be the case with Desperate Lies. There are also several sensitive themes explored in the series, which weren’t handled as well as they should have.
However, if you do decide to watch this Brazilian drama, do let us know in the comments what you thought about it!