Critic’s Rating: 4 / 5.0
4
It’s been a long, winding road through the Land of Women for Gala and her family.
And the adventure has finally come to – well, not an end, but a new beginning.
Though the season only had six episodes, Land of Women delivered Apple TV+ quality drama and intrigue.
With this final episode of the premiere season, audiences may have noticed certain things about the show.
Namely that it wasn’t the same show that it started out as six episodes ago.
So, without further ado, let’s take one more walk through the Land of Women.
Related: Land of Women Series Premiere Review: Styling in Stilettos up the Steep Streets of Spain
It is a story of wine, women, and what they’re capable of.
Land of Women Stuck the Landing from Beginning to End
It’s hard to believe that just a month ago, Eva Longoria entered viewers’ homes once again to stretch her comedic muscles.
While the series always promised to deliver hilarious hijinks, what many, myself included, received was so much more.
Without possibly meaning to, Land of Women changed its focus.
It went from being about a family of women on the run to a true sense of its namesake.
Using “bait and switch,” the Apple TV+ series drew in audiences with lots of laughs but kept them with a story about survival.
After the first couple of episodes, Land of Women transitioned into a plot about the Xatart women and their legacy.
But beyond that, it was about a town’s strength and resilience and the wine they tried with all their heart to make.
They might’ve been falling short for a while, but Gala brought hope to the otherwise lost cause that was the town’s wine.
The whole point of going on the run was to find a new beginning.
Thankfully, that’s precisely what they did, along with healing generations of trauma scars.
Related: Land of Women Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Chapter 3
Julia’s Journey Through the Land of Women
Speaking of generational trauma, Julia possibly had the most remarkable growth journey through the series.
She left La Muga, a scared young woman with a baby on board and no idea what she would find in America.
Through fate or coincidence, the Xatart matriarch was brought back to a town that was recovering in her wake.
It was definitely fun to watch her walk around the town with the eyes of many older men on her.
However, Julia had possibly the biggest reasons to return to La Muga despite not realizing it.
Even with Eva Longoria‘s Gala as the protagonist, Julia set the standard for how the Xatart women were welcomed in the town.
Sure, Julia slept with half the village when she was younger, but that was hardly something she batted an eye at.
No, the only thing that mattered to the older Xatart woman was finally seeing and reconciling with her sister.
However, now that that’s been resolved, who the heck is Gala’s father?
Andreu and the priest have the results, but the writers clearly thought leaving it a mystery would make for an effective cliffhanger.
I mean, it does, but come on!
Related: Land of Women Season 1 Episode 4 Review: Wayward Women & Wasted Wine
Gala and Her Guys Tore Through the Land of Women
We gotta give it up to Gala for putting up with the plethora of guys who only seem to complicate things.
From the moment Gala arrived in La Muga, male mayhem has been coming at her from all sides.
First, there was Amat, who was the bane of her existence, but we always knew this was leading to an ” enemies-to-lovers” situation.
It looks like Amat is not done causing Gala a headache with the news that Montse is pregnant.
And then there is Fred’s, played by James Purefoy (The Veil).
He’s a dumbass for just showing up and expecting to be the white knight in shining armor to save Gala.
For a progressive parent, Fred’s arrogance is as immense as his incompetence towards business.
Sure, we know now that he wasn’t having an affair and was trying to figure the situation out.
That still doesn’t change the fact that the situation wouldn’t have existed without his constant lies.
Sadly, we don’t know how much was in Fred’s safe on the cruise.
By the sound of it though, he likely had enough money to at least get Tony off Gala’s back.
Land of Women Will Always Have a Hold on Our Hearts
Taking all the cliffhangers into account, there’s Gala’s father, Amat’s child, and now the dead hitman on the road.
Maybe now the thugs will serve a purpose other than being cliched slapstick hitmen.
They seriously couldn’t decide if they knew what they were doing or were just bumbling idiots.
The only thing that didn’t work about the series was the inclusion of Kevin, played by Amaury Nolasco (Hightown), and Hank, played by Jim Kitson (The Red King), in such prominent roles.
They continuously pulled from Gala’s most interesting narrative about helping the town’s women create quality wine.
If I had to question one more thing, it was that the amazing mechanic and hero who lit a fire under Kate never got a name.
Seriously? How did the writers and showrunners drop the ball so hard on a character that was present in almost every episode?
Thankfully, Gala and her girls aren’t going anywhere for now.
Fans of the series will hopefully see more of the mechanic and all of the lovable characters in La Muga.
Related: Lady in the Lake Series Premiere Review: Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History
All that’s left now is for Apple+ TV to renew the series for another season, which could come at any time.
Though some viewers struggled with the show’s language barrier, critics praised the writing, acting, and overall storytelling of Land of Women.
Whatever the future holds for the Xatart women, we will always be thankful for the time we spent with them in the Land of Women.
What did you think of all the cliffhangers of the season finale?
Which character will you miss while we wait on word from Apple TV+ about a renewal?
Drop a comment below to let us know, and join us again when we review your next favorite series!
