Success in La Reina del Sur

     A new sub-plot has developed in La Reina del Sur and this time it has nothing to do with the main characters of Theresa or Santiago but everything to do with fun-loving Fatima. Fatima was Theresa's first friend when she came to Spain and has proven to Theresa, along with the audience, to be a great friend and right-hand woman. Moreover, she also happens to be the "ray of sunshine" that brings a happier element to the story when things are not going too well. Despite her seemingly happy surface, us as an audience are exposed to Fatima's dark reality in which we learn of her life beyond the club. Theresa is an illegal Moroccan immigrant who came to Spain in search of a life filled with  more freedom outside of the restrictions Morocco has on women. In doing so, she left behind her young son with an aunt of hers. Due to a sad change of events, Fatima's aunt's death, leaving her son alone in Morocco with neighbors who Fatima has never met. A devastated Fatima is left feeling hopeless as she can't return to Morocco seeing as she's an illegal immigrant and wouldn't be allowed to re-enter Spain, if she were to leave, and she is a prostitute which is an illegal form of work in Morocco. However, with the help of a determined Theresa and her boyfriend Santiago, Fatima is able to cross over to Morocco and reunite with her son who she successfully brings back to Spain so they can be together and happy once again. Even though this part of the show is not that major, but leads to a major development of the story, it served as a feel good moment in a show that seems to be filled with nothing but sad elements, such as, the drowning death of a young boy crossing into the border by boat with his mother and the beating of Sheila. It was refreshing to have something go right for once in the show and to see happiness that stretched beyond Theresa's love stories.

Comments

  1. I agree with you assessment of Fatima and the sub plot centered around her life being an important addition to the story of "La Reina del Sur"! I am also watching this telenovela and throughout my watching Fatima has been one of my favorite characters. She has been such a loyal and supportive friend to Teresa since they had crossed paths and I love the humor and witty comments she is able to add to many of the scenes she is a part of. Additionally, I love that you recognized this moment focusing on Fatima as a break from the other chaos unraveling in the show! While following Teresa in her adventures with love, heartache, and adventure is extremely enticing and makes "La Reina del Sur" the show that it is, I loved being able to enjoy a focus other than Teresa and the complexities of her life and it was so relieving to be able to watch a storyline to pan out to a happy ending for once!

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  2. Fatima's sub plot was definitely one that wasn't to be overlooked. Even though she was considered a supporting character and not a main character, the show wouldn't have been the same without her bubbly attitude and positive energy. She was Teresa's best friend, and for a long time, she was the only consistent thing in Teresa's life. When they were able to successfully go and get her son for Morocco, I couldn't have felt happier for her. I didn't realize at the time how much mayhem was happening around the same time in the show, so looking back i can see how refreshing it was to take a break from all the bad things happening.

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