Netflix has me hooked on this ‘naughty’ hidden gem Spanish period drama

This week I’ve been bingeing a new-to-me period drama that’s a whole heap of fun, but I somehow missed when it was initially released earlier this year.

However, my Netflix recommendations eventually came through for me last weekend when they suggested I try a Spanish historical show.

A hidden gem, The Lady’s Companion tells the story of chaperone Elena Bianda (Nadia de Santiago), who is hired on a trial basis to find husbands for three wealthy sisters (Isa Montalbán’s Cristina, Zoe Bonafonte’s Sara and Iratxe Emparán as Carlota) in Madrid by their foreboding father, Don Pedro (Tristán Ulloa).

Battling the sharp elbows of her fellow chaperones alongside frustrating relatives of the family’s, it soon becomes clear that Elena is also hiding from a past that comes back to bite her, with the audience drawn into a late 19th-century world of love, scandal and comic intrigue.

And obviously there are several potential suitors running around, causing chaos, including Álvaro Mel as Santiago, Iván Lapadula as Eduardo and Carloto Cotta as Gabriel.

I would describe The Lady’s Companion (Spanish title: Manual para señoritas) as a mix between Bridgerton and Fleabag with a touch of Amélie’s vibrant colour and whimsy, producing an entertaining and period drama in its own right – with a sprinkling of naughtiness.

It has some of the sauciness and irreverence towards the traditional view of these kinds of shows as Bridgerton does; there are certainly some pre-marital bedroom shenanigans going on from as early as the first episode…

Our heroine Elena regularly breaks the fourth wall, addressing the camera and talking directly to the audience à la Fleabag (although no one’s caught her out yet, like Andrew Scott’s Hot Priest). She also argues with the show’s narrator when she deems he’s stepping out of line.

While the abundance of flowers and the characters’ gorgeously sumptuous dresses are also reminiscent of Bridgerton, with the brightness turned up to 11 on the colour as well as the quirkiness of fun graphics onscreen, we are also – knowingly – enjoying the artifice and fantasy, as with Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s 2001 French film starring Audrey Tauou.

The Lady’s Companion also reminds me a bit of The Law According to Lidia Poët, although this show has matchmaking and romance more at the centre of it than Lidia Poët’s mystery and crime.

But Sara’s quest to become a doctor also has a clear parallel to Lidia’s experience as a female lawyer also trying to succeed in a male dominated profession and society.

The show boasts plenty of racy moments alongside the general rebelliousness of its female characters, including its very own raunchy carriage-based rendezvous and plenty of illicit affairs.

Anachronistic music choices are also injected, like Bridgerton, to spice up certain scenes, such as Whitney Houston’s version of I Will Always Love You and The Turtles’ iconic 1967 song Happy Together soundtracking a group dance number.

I’m far from the only one enjoying The Lady’s Companion either, with it nabbing 89% from fan reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

‘Amazing! I binge watched this. It is witty, funny, romantic, and has a fascinating storyline that forces you to develop an attachment to the characters. It is impossible not to love this series,’ enthused Elise Hartley in a Google review as Rawan Najji G added: ‘I love it. Can’t wait for season TWOOO LETS GOO [si]. I literally finished it in one day y’all 😭😭’

Sylvia W also revealed she had ‘binged it in less than a week, which is very unusual for me’ on Rotten Tomatoes, while Hannah labelled it ‘a must watch’.

‘Me and the wife could not stop laughing. We both agree they MUST not leave us hanging and bring it back for season 2,’ chimed in Erich H.

Sadly, it looks like The Lady’s Companion may have fallen foul of the Netflix curse after the streamer confirmed in May that it had been cancelled after one season – despite being shaped around a continuation and ending on a cliff-hanger.

Still, if you enjoy escaping into the safe space of a glossy and witty period drama, there are eight episodes waiting for you, nonetheless.

The Lady’s Companion is streaming now on Netflix internationally.

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