Hispania, la leyenda

Hispania, 2nd century BC. In a world where the power of a few governs the lives of many, there a group of Hispanic rebels led by Viriato forges their own destiny. As Viriato (Roberto Enriquez) is a Hispanic shepherd who enjoys a simple life with her little daughter until the arrival of the Roman troops of the praetor Galba (Luis Homar). It will changes his destiny. His tribe is attacked and massacred. Viriato, full of hate, swears not to rest until revenge. It is the story of a group of warriors, young and brave, determined to give everything for freedom. Because Viriato will not be alone in his fight ; Darío (Alfonso Bassave) , Sandro (Hovik Keuchkerian) , Paulo (Juan Jose Ballesta) , Héctor (Pablo Derqui) . .. Together they form a small but resistant group of rebels willing to risk their lives to fulfill their objective: to liberate Hispania from the Roman siege .

This is a nice TV series (2010-2012) formed by 3 seasons in 20 episodes. Dealing with a group of brave rebels , as they will fight against Rome to defend their territory: Hispania. It is the story of a group of obstinate young men, determined to give everything for their people. "Hispania, the legend" is a TV series that chronicles the extraordinary journey of a humble man become a warrior to defend his people. This Spanish television series premiered in 2010 that was broadcast on the Spanish network Antena 3 and that , like its succsessor ¨Imperium¨ , is set in the second century BC. The series was well produced by Bambú Producciones and had an approximate budget of 20 million euros , achieving share enough on the small screen . Hispania is loosely based on historical events , and they are some real characters , but mostly displaying the logical additions from imagination for a series plot . It results to be an enjoyable introduction in heart of a time and concerning the strong rebellion of the Spanish natives against Roman Empire commanded by the villain and ruthless Pretor Galba. With an inspired cast, with emotional set pieces , with nice interpretations , evocative musical score by Federico Jusid , as well as colorful cinematography by cameramen Jacobo Martínez , Jokin Pascual , Miguel Amoedo and adding other very old recipes , though tiring in few moments, fantastic in others, but realistic for its honest desire to present truth more than a magic moment . Stars competently Luis Homar as Galba who set out right away to consolidate his power in Hispania because his ambition was to rule tyrannically the country at whatever cost and Roberto Enriquez as the stubborn Celtiberian rebel who will stop at nothing to free his country. They're well accompanied by a good cast with plenty of TV familiar faces , such as : Nathalie Poza , Jesús Olmedo , Manuela Vellés, Alfonso Bassave , Hovik Keuchkerian , Ángela Cremonte , Pablo Derqui, Thais Blume , Juana Acosta , Javier Rey , Irene Arcos, Iván Sanchez , José Angel Egido, William Miller, Nacho Fresneda , José Sancho and the Hollywood actress Ana de Armas. The series was professionally directed by Alberto Rodríguez , Carlos Sedes , Pablo Malo, Víctor García León , Santi Amodeo, Oskar Santos.

This Hispania, la leyenda (2010-2012) had a sequel : Imperium (2012) , it is an inferior and failed follow-up . It got moderated TV share which translates into 1,849,000 viewers, less than expected considering the great marketing invested in it , that's why the series was unfinished . The first season has 6 episodes. Initially, 13 episodes were planned, but the network finally agreed to shoot only 6 episodes to observe the data in the audience. Its filming began on March 7, 2012 and finally, on Thursday, October 11, the Spanish network Antena 3 put an end to the series due to the low audience of its 1 season . While Hispania was a successful TV blockbuster , this Imperium was a flop . Back from the campaign of Numancia, Galba (Luis Homar) has been dispossessed of everything that made him a respected and powerful man . The Senate repudiates him, his family is ruined and his wife, Claudia (Nathalie Poza) , fled with his firstborn Cayo to the arms of the man who made him fall into disgrace: Quinto Servilio Cepión (José Sancho) . Without his honor and without his newborn son, Galba swears revenge against Quinto and he begins an inexorable rise to power to recover the position that he snatched him. His family, the Sulpicio formed by Galba himself , his sister (Belén Fabra) , his brother Ocatavio (Antonio Mourelos) , his wife (Elvira Minguez) and sons , as Galba must get back the name that they deserve in Rome and he is willing to do anything for it.

it is a honest film. and that is its central virtue. it seems like many other stories about fight against evil and charm of good guys. but its message is universal. and part of each period. a film who mixed historical details and fiction for give soul to a world. a mirror, a testimony, really different by Roma or Spartacus series but more gentle and precise with aspects of Antique universe. in fact, a form of smart propaganda. with an inspired cast, with emotional pieces, with nice music and a very old recipes. a kind of history lesson, boring in few moments, fantastic in others but realistic for its honest desire to present truth more than a magic moment.Hispania is not soap - opera or blockbuster. it is introduction in heart of a time. in the voice of a different reality of life, death, sacrifice and love. a map for study Spanish soul, far from corrida or vine. interesting, intense and smart.

It's been a long time since a good historical series was produced for the last time in Spain. Something repeated in many internet forums is that this series is not like "Rome" the last American Peplum, and it's true. The production means aren't the same either. For a regular private Spanish TV broadcast production It's quite good. The story is based quite accurately in historical facts about a century earlier than those of Rome, with the logical additions from imagination for a series plot. The resistance of Hispanic people to Roman conquest is not very well known out of the Iberian Peninsula. While Julius Caesar conquered Galia in 5 years, it took Romans more than 200 years to conquer the whole Hispania. Octavius himself finished it after Julius Caesar death. This series starts with a very significant episode of this resistance, when Viriathus rebelled against Servius Sulpicius Galba troops. Despite some minor mistakes in historical details, such as Greek names for all the Lusitanian characters, General and Pretor Imperial helmets in republican times,and the irregular acting of the many secondary characters, the result is quite interesting and promising. Lluis Homar is great as the treacherous and mean Galba and Enriquez gives a good impression of Viriathus. The plot seems simple and manichaeist, but follows quite strictly the contemporary historians texts. Let's hope this series will have a long and improving development.

serving a simple idea. about freedom , rights,national proud, courage and victory of ideal. not impressive for story, cast or performances but useful for discover a Spain out of clichés. because, more than a series about Rome against people looking reconquest the freedom, it is an useful image about love, courage, sacrifice and friendship, vulnerability and corruption as parts of each period. the mixture of small historical references, the romanticism, the stories of love and hate are virtues of a patriotic fresco about values of Spanish people. it is not result of only good intentions. but it is a beautiful story who preserves drops of soap opera but gives a rare occasion to discover the past in honest manner. and that fact is not ordinary detail.