Telenovelas have been a pillar of entertainment for the Hispanic community in the United States, and Telemundo has been one of the leading networks in the production of this genre. Over the years, it has created unforgettable stories such as La Reina del Sur, El Señor de los Cielos and Pasión de Gavilanes, which have left an indelible mark on the audience.
However, not all productions have had the same luck. Some telenovelas, despite having large casts and considerable budgets, failed to capture the public’s attention and ended up passing by without much success. What went wrong? Were these stories really failures or did they simply not get the opportunity they deserved?
What defines a success or failure?
The success of a telenovela is not only measured by its ratings, but also by its cultural impact, the loyalty of its audience and its presence in social networks.
In the age of streaming and content fragmentation, even a low-rated production on traditional television can find a second life on digital platforms such as Peacock, Netflix or ViX.
However, some failures are due to poorly executed scripts, characters that fail to connect with the audience or insufficient promotional strategies. Here are some examples of Telemundo productions that, for various reasons, failed to take off.
El Chema (2016)
After the overwhelming success of El Señor de los Cielos, Telemundo decided to expand its universe with a spin-off centered on El Chema, one of the most intriguing characters in the story.
However, what seemed like a safe bet failed to maintain the same level of excitement and adrenaline as the original series.
Although Mauricio Ochmann delivered a solid performance, many viewers felt that the plot was a repetition of what had already been seen in El Señor de los Cielos, without providing enough novelty.
As a result, the series lost steam over time and did not have the same impact as its predecessor.
Santa Diabla (2013)
With a stellar cast headed by Gaby Espino, Aarón Díaz and Carlos Ponce, Santa Diabla promised to be a revenge thriller full of passion and unexpected twists and turns.
The story of Santa Martínez, a woman seeking justice against the Cano family, had all the ingredients to succeed.
However, the plot became inconsistent as the episodes progressed, losing credibility and confusing viewers.
Despite its strong start, the series failed to sustain audience interest and ended with a mixed reception.
Falsa Identidad (2018)
Starring Camila Sodi and Luis Ernesto Franco, Falsa Identidad attempted to innovate with a story that combined action, drama and romance.
The first season had an acceptable response, but its second installment received strong criticism due to changes in the plot and character development.
Fans pointed out that the script lost consistency and that some plot twists seemed forced.
As a result, the series failed to establish itself as a lasting success within Telemundo’s catalog.
Why didn’t they work?
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The reasons why these productions did not achieve the expected impact vary, but the main factors include:
Predictable or poorly executed storylines: Some plots failed to innovate and felt recycled from other more successful telenovelas.
Disconnection with the audience: Characters with little charisma or unclear motivations caused the audience to lose interest.
Fierce competition: In an era where streaming services offer high quality content and more dynamic narrative rhythms, traditional telenovelas must adapt to stay relevant.
Despite this, some of these productions could have found a second chance with better development or more effective promotional strategies.
Telemundo’s legacy in the world of telenovelas
Despite these setbacks, Telemundo continues to be a benchmark in telenovela production and has been able to adapt to changes in the industry.
Series such as La Reina del Sur and El Señor de los Cielos have shown that audiences are still interested in well-constructed stories with solid characters.
The important thing is to learn from mistakes and continue betting on stories that represent our culture
Ejecutivo de Telemundo
With the growth of streaming and new digital platforms, the future of telenovelas continues to evolve, but one thing is certain: Telemundo will continue to focus on stories that connect with the Hispanic community.
Do you think any of these telenovelas deserved more recognition?
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