Netflix unexpectedly found a new hit last month with the Argentine prison drama In the Mud.
The streamer had a lot of success with its prior women-in-prison series, Orange is the New Black. But make no mistake, these two shows are nothing alike.
Instead, In the Mud is a harrowing journey that’s occasionally difficult to watch. There are certain prison tropes that you’ll recognize from other movies and shows. But they’ve rarely been as bleak as they are in this series.
If you don’t mind reading subtitles or watching a grim story, these are the three reasons to watch In the Mud on Netflix.
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The Opening Episode Draws You in
Sometimes, a show’s best episode comes at the beginning. In the Mud fits into that category in part because the inciting incident for the entire series is so much more exciting to watch than everything that comes after it. There’s a daring escape attempt that takes place during a prison transport, but only one of the inmates makes it out with her accomplices. I kind of wish the entire series were like that, but this show is more focused on the emotional trajectory of its characters rather than their thrilling exploits.
Gladys Guerra (Ana Garibaldi), Olga Giuliani (Erika de Sautu Riestra), Marina Delorsi (Valentina Zenere), Yael Rubial (Carolina Ramírez) and Solita Rodríguez (Camila Peralta) manage to survive the same incident. Their brush with death also provides them with a bond as they enter their new prison, La Quebrada. Once they get there, they may regret trying so hard to survive their ordeal in the prison transport.
It’s ‘Oz’ for Women
The prison from Orange is the New Black looks like a paradise compared to the hellhole featured in this show. If this series has any counterpart, it’s HBO’s prison drama Oz. That show is clearly better than this one, but In the Mud’s bleak tone echoes the earlier series.
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There’s corruption everywhere, from the prison’s porn wing to a human trafficking operation that sells the inmates’ babies. It’s not for the faint of heart, and not everyone is going to enjoy watching this show play out. But if you can stomach the subject matter, it definitely leaves an impression.
The Various Stories Get Closure
In the Mud has already been a hit for Netflix, so there’s a chance it could be renewed beyond its initial season. But there’s also the question of whether this series needs any additional seasons after the various stories play out. Gladys’ story could continue her evolution into someone who is made for prison walls, but it feels like the most compelling part of her transformation has already been told.
Most of the survivors of the prison escape don’t exactly get happy endings, but the conclusions largely feel right for the characters. That’s why In the Mud may be better suited for a single-season run. Keeping this show going any longer would probably be a mistake.
In the Mud is streaming on Netflix.
