The Spanish Netflix series 'Respira' will be available to stream from 4 AM Argentina time.
What is 'Respira' about? The series is set primarily at the public Hospital Joaquín Sorolla in Valencia and follows the lives of the medical team, both residents and attending physicians, who work tirelessly in the chaotic emergency room.
The catalyst for the plot is the dire state of the public healthcare system, culminating in a major social conflict: an unprecedented general strike by healthcare workers. The arrival of a high-profile patient, Patricia Segura (played by Najwa Nimri), who is the President of the Generalitat Valenciana and an advocate for private healthcare, puts the political and ethical tensions of the system into sharp focus.
Meanwhile, the doctors, led by figures with a strong sense of social justice like oncologist Néstor Moa (Borja Luna), must decide whether to go on strike to fight for better working conditions and the quality of public care.
The series delves into the lives of the doctors and residents, showing the pressures, emotions, and personal dramas that intersect with life-or-death situations in the hospital.
Residents: The show follows the evolution of young, inexperienced doctors like Biel de Felipe (Manu Ríos), who face excessive responsibility while navigating complex relationships and ethical dilemmas.
Attending Physicians and Executives: The more experienced team struggles between the calling to save lives and systemic frustrations, with plots that include romantic conflicts, professional rivalries, and the sacrifices that come with devotion to the profession.
In essence, 'Respira' is a blend of a classic medical drama (like 'Grey's Anatomy' or 'ER') with a strong social and political critique, showing the human consequences of cuts and precariousness in the Spanish public health system.
Following the success of the first season, the second season premieres this Friday. When she is diagnosed with a serious illness, her presence in a public hospital highlights the political and ethical tensions of the system.
