nida chowdhry

Okay, Chicas. I have something to get off my chest.

I actually wrote this review back in July 2020. I started writing as I was watching the series, episode by episode.

And then… it dawned on me. That there is more going on in this season than I previously thought / registered.

And to be honest, it hit me, really, really hard. And I found it hard to just, write. I found myself thinking and feeling what the show wanted me to feel. And damn. It was emotional.

I knew that Lidia was in some type of internment camp at the end of Season 4. It was evident and worrisome, but, I think the whole Doña Carmen thing was at the forefront of that teaser. And I don’t think it really like, set in my mind, the full GRAVITY of that. OR. Maybe it was how the story was meant to be told… that the gravity of Lidia’s situation is supposed to unfold in front of us in layers.

All I know is that the whole thing has me sobbing, ya’ll.

This really has been such a beautiful show. It’s gone through so many topics and the main characters have gone through so many struggles. The friendship of these women, Las Chicas Del Cable, has really become a big part of my heart. It was especially hard to say goodbye to them… a real goodbye, during a tough year.

We began following these women, who coincidentally met, back in 1928. And we travel the course of their friendship for a decade. That puts us in 1939, where Lidia has found herself imprisoned in a Spanish internment camp.

It’s like all of these tough years and challenges these women have been through… it all led up to this final challenge. This test of what their friendship means. What it means to be there for someone through thick and thin. And ultimately, what these women stand for and will stand for.

I hate that this show is over. I love that this show took us to some unexpectedly tough places. Carlos was a hot idiota all the way to the end. And Doña Carmen a stone-cold monster. And our Chicas? Heroes. Imperfect heroes. That showed us, showed me that there are so many stories history hasn’t told, but through this, we can imagine.

Through tears, I say, thank you, Las Chicas Del Cable.

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Now… are you ready for my Season 5 Part 2 Review? It begins now.

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Written on July 2020:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Ayyyyyyyyyyyy. My heart. MI CORAZON. I’ve been watching this show for years now, and now it’s OVER?! The final episodes are sitting in front of me. HOW CAN THIS BE. I NEED more Cable Girls. Whyyyyyyyy?!

If you’ve been here before, you know the deal. My review is FULL of spoilers. So… OMG. I’m sobbing. UGH. Why. (PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER, NIDA!)

Okay. Let’s try this again. If you need a refresher, you can read my Season 4 Recap here and my Season 5 Part 1 Recap here.

And my Season 5 Part 2 aka Season 6 aka El Final review, begins…NOW… ::sobs::

Are you ready? Let’s hold hands and ugly cry together, shall we?

VAMOS!

***SPOILERS START HERE****

Season 6 Episode 1, Chapter 38 “Power”

To begin with, I can’t believe Lidia has been in prison for mas de SIETE meses. Seven months?! Omg. This is already a disaster. Of course we knew the evil bruja Doña Carmen was going to make this hell for Lidia, and she is, from the get go. And Lidia is being Lidia, of course, trying to help people even and especially when she’s in harms way. I’m going to miss this b&&&h. Ugh.

Of course her loyal loved ones are working tirelessly to save her. Francisco is looking SHARP might I add, as are Carlota and Oscar. Oh, Oscar. He looks so calm and collected on the outside, but I just know we’re in for some challenging heartbreaks here. I hope we get a good ending for all of these characters. And also, Francisco looks great, but I freakin’ miss Carlos. ::ugly cries:: Él era una hot idiota. Waaaaaaah!

Sofia – oh Sofia you caused such hell in the first 6 episodes – looks great and I’m so sad her soldier doesn’t seem to be around, at least not yet. Maybe he’ll be involved in saving Lidia? We’ll see.

AND MARGA. AND THIS HEARTFELT MARRIAGE PROPOSAL FROM HOT BOSS GUY. BUT… I CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS BETRAYAL… ON BOTH ENDS. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THEY LET ISIDRO THINK PABLO WAS DEAD AND NOW??? HOT BOSS GUY BETRAYS THEIR RUNAWAY A&&ES? NO ME DICE NADA!

Back to Lidia. OF COURSE CARMEN is slinging meds! OF COURSE! She’s evil isn’t she?! Of course she’s selling 15/20 crates! I’m surprised she’s not selling all of them!!!

OMG WAIT… OMG… this conversation with the Bishop. I’m only now just truly realizing. IS LIDIA IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP?! Que horror.

Taking a moment of silence for this.

That means Doña Carmen is a Nazi?!?!?!?!?! I just did some googling and read more about this. Shaking my head. Que despicable.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised re: Doña Carmen.

OMG. Back to this scene where Lidia Robin Hood’s the medicine and gets Donña Carmen in trouble. THIS IS NOT GOING TO GO WELL FOR LIDIA. And… it doesn’t.

I… can not believe Oscar just broke up with Carlota. But I can also believe it. As Oscar says, he’s not doing well right now – he only seems like he is because he needs to give that appearance in order to survive.

And NOOOOOO! Julio is dead. Ugh. Is it bad that I’m like, okay at least there’s only one Pablo now? Ugh I’m terrible

Omg. Palmira… helping Lidia. Is this going to work??? No way it can… no way…

And then. NO. NO. Marga. No!

I’m surprised Lidia ends up leaving Marga…

SHE ESCAPES!

Omg. Lidia is out to get Doña Carmen (and vice versa)… this is going to be a war.

Btw, you know who the Doña Carmen actress reminds me of? The mother in law in Secret of the Nile! (Read my review for another amazing juicy show. Sadly, the actress from Secret of the Nile passed away recently. She was in over 100 films!)

Season 6 Episode 2, Chapter 39 “Patience”

PATIENCE? Who has patience?

Honestly, Lidia, you should have ended Carmen when you had the chance. But here we are, and Marga is in prison now, eight months pregnant, PERFECT HOSTAGE for Carmen. And yikes, ya’ll… hearing Doña Carmen’s plan for Marga… damn. She.is.evil. And Lidia’s impassioned speech about needing to help free the prisoners – heartbreaking.

Wait… omg… is ISIDRO a straight up COLLABORATOR?! I mean, I thought he tried to turn Pablo in as an act of anger/heartbreak/bitterness, but has he been collaboratING all along? Using the telephone company to wiretap, perhaps? YEESH ISIDRO! You’re being such a CARLOS!

Wait… wait… wait… wait… wait… NO ONE KNOWS CARLOS DIED? OMG. OMG. My jaw is fallen right now with this Elisa reveal to Lidia. Romero… “No necesito esto, Lidia,” is an underestimation on Elisa’s part. NO ONE NEEDS THIS, but these are the cards that have been dealt to us, and Elisa’s cards are a bunch of evil family members. Will Elisa come through to help Lidia? I think she will. She has a heart and eventually follows it.

Oscar y Carlota… so much pain here. Carlota has always been head-strong, which is what makes her her, I feel like she’s giving Oscar some tough love here, pushing him to be stronger for the situation at hand, but, it’s just, it’s still selfish and insensitive towards Oscar’s experience. Oscar’s flashback is hair-raising. And again… with Romero. Romero, Romero, Romero.

LIDIA IS WRITING A BOOK! Or a diary or whatever. It’s that voiceover since Season 1, baby!

AND ELISA CALLED! We knew she would, right?! We knew.

How does Marga just not slap Isidro outright?!?!?! She has every opportunity!

UGH why is Carlos dead. Can they like, bring him back somehow? Like it was a mixup? He was really in the hospital all this time? This box of Eva’s toys that he kept is too much. CARLOS, TE EXTRAÑO, CARLOS! I MISS YOU!

OMG wait, I need to keep reminding myself of this new information… are all of these bad guys NAZIS? At the very least, they’re Nazi-LIKE.

AHHHHHHHHHHH!

I DON’T MISS YOU CARLOS! I DON’T MISS YOU and I don’t care what ounce of heart you have. UGH!!! We NEED TO TAKE DOWN ROMERO AND CARMEN, PEOPLE! LET’S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD!

OMG HOW did neither Pablo nor Marga not make the connection that Isidro ratted them out?!

Sofia, Sofia, Sofia. Let’s take a minute to remember whose daughter she is.

OMG. OSCAR AND CARLOTA! IMPRISONED, TOO!

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Now, everyone but Lidia is in the concentration camp. The pressures on to break them out, along with as many prisoners as possible.

Season 6 Episode 3, Chapter 40 “Pain”

Well, that title can’t mean great news, can it.

Ayyyyyyyyy. This is. This is tough to watch. The way Carlota & Oscar are treated on entering the camp… the images raise the thought of even worse situations taking place in other camps :(

Alba, I mean… Lidia & Francisco, y Elisa. WHAT’S THIS REVEAL about Elisa’s limp??? Oh, Elisa. Uh-oh… Elisa, you didn’t.

BUT WAIT.

WAIT. EL WINNIPEG! The savior of us all.

Lidia. TU ESTA LOCA! LOCA! This plan is LOCA! But also, OF COURSE, YOU WOULD WANT PLAN TO DO THIS LIDIA. You heart of gold, you.

So… the plan is underway.

AHHHH CHICAS. Marga faking an early delivery. Carlota going into Carmen’s LAIR. SUCCESS! PHEW!

Dios mio. This MOMENT between Isidro and Pablo.

OMG. MARGA y SOFIA overhearing EVIL Doña Carmen’s EVIL BABY PLAN.

Omg…. this tender moment between Oscar y Carlota. THESE TWO.

But. THIS OPPOSITELY UNTENDER MOMENT between Sofia and her PRIEST EXBOYFRIEND!

I love this papa moment between Francisco & Sofia.

WHY IS ROMERO FOLLOWING LIDIA & FRANCISCO?! Ugh. We know why but, like, ugh.

Omg this barricade plan. I am shook.

Francisco… what if we got a truck TONIGHT. TONIGHT. TONIGHT?!??!?!?!??!?! LIKE, THIS PLAN IS HAPPENING TONIGHT?!

The…. the barricade plan, TONIGHT?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!??!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!??!

WHAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!

THE GUNPOINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT IS HAPPENING SO FAST I CAN’T HANDLE PROCESS ERMIGAH

Ohhhh, hold on, let me fan myself, Felipe is here to burn down the maternity ward. Umm, wow.

omg the barricade has begun, I am shaking in my boots fluffy socks.

OMG THIS STANDOFF. THE REVEAL.

ELISAAA DON’T GO BACK INSIDE AGAIN GIRL, THINK ABOUT YOUR LIMP, DON’T GO GIRL!

Goddamn.

AND SHE REALLY SPIT SOME WORDS IN THE END THERE DIDN’T SHE?

“How does it feel to see the only person who still loves you… DIE?”

DAYUUUUUUUUUUUUMN ELISA. THOSE ARE SOME PARTING WORDS

Season 6 Episode 4, Chapter 41 “Defeat”

WE OPEN ON THE BRUJA. Need I say who. FINALLY, but, CAN’T TRUST THAT B. CAN’T TRUST HER.

“I’ve been the worst mother in the world. My children had to die for me to become aware of it.”

…..

….

…

..

.

CRICKETS CHIRPING. DID THEY THOUGH? DID THEY HAVE TO *******DIIIIIIIIE******* FOR YOU TO “BECOME AWARE OF IT? DID (HOT IDIOTA) CARLOS MF SPITTING IN YOUR FACE LEFT AND RIGHT NOT DO THAT?

For someone who is so devastated she seems to have cleaned up.

Barricade part dos. An interesting pause…

This plan with Pablo re: Salgado & Romero…. I HOPE THIS WORKS.

MARGA. MARGA IS HAVING HER BABY! AHHHHH!!!!!!!!! What a time to be delivering a baby AYYYYYYYYY

The phonecall with Pablo, I can’t.

OMG LIDIA IN A WIG, WE’RE BACK TO SEASON 1 BABY!

Ummmmmmmmm… Doña Carmen’s revenge is as cold-hearted as you’d expect. But it seems like the right prescription for that dude.

Wow. Wow… the Pablo, Isidro handshake…

Lawd. The truck is here. Francisco is here with the truck.

UMMMM OKAY FELIPE IS PRIEST NO MORE!

Pablo sees his baby!!!!!!

THE TRUCK IS LOADED.

DOÑA CARMEN IS…..

UMMM OKAY LIDIA DO YOU HAVE AMNESIA DURING THIS CLOSING MONOLOGUE???????????????

Seriously though, is Doña Carmen really dead?!?!?!?!?! I’m honestly expecting her ghost to hunt down the truck and stop Lidia once again.

Season 6 Episode 5, Chapter 42 “THE END” – UGH!!!!!!

I can’t. I can’t. I CAN’T WATCH THIS. I CAN’T!

The truck. Dolores dying. Lidia holding Eva in her arms.

This is just the beginning.

The train. THOSE FLASHBACKS TO YOUNG FRANCISCO AND LIDIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honestly, this is the last of what I can write about without crying.

I truly can’t believe the rest. It’s so true to our heroine’s characters… but I so hoped…

I so hoped.

I really tried to watch those closing images and not think. Like. This can’t be adding up…

I guess………… our Chicas are reunited with hot idiota Carlos and Angeles after all. And Elisa. And Doña f***ing Carmen.

PORQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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They did leave some things open, like, we still have (freakin’) Sofia. Maybe there will be a Chicas del Cable spinoff that picks up after her adventures in America (or maybe she stays back in Spain!). Either way, I understand the show writers wanted to close the chapter on our heroines in the way they truly would have gone out. Brave, brilliant, foolish, heartful, friends, til the very end.

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Sigh, chicas. If you find yourself looking for something to watch after that marathon, I have a show for you – my own in fact! It’s called Unfair & Ugly, and its about a South Asian Muslim American family in Orange County, California trying to keep it together. Give it a watch and do let me know your thoughts! <3