The latest offering on Netflix, Two Graves, directed by Kike Maillo, has sparked heated debates due to its unconventional structure. Is it a miniseries, or is it just a movie split into episodes? The show, based on Agustin Martinez’s script, follows the story of two girls, Veronica and Marta, who vanish after attending a party in the coastal town of Frigiliana, Spain. The police quickly shelve the case as a cold one, but Veronica’s grandmother, Isabel, isn’t ready to give up on her granddaughter. Her investigation leads her down a dark path, uncovering a disturbing truth.
While the premise seems intriguing, Two Graves ultimately suffers from its format. The series, which spans just three episodes, unfolds the plot at a sluggish pace, leaving viewers with little time to digest or become attached to the characters. By the end, Two Graves feels more like a long movie than an actual miniseries, despite the creators’ attempt to give it an episodic structure.
The Story: A Basic Premise with Untapped Potential
The plot centers around the disappearance of two girls, Veronica and Marta. Veronica comes from a modest background, with a restaurateur father and a piano-teaching grandmother. Marta, on the other hand, is the daughter of a feared gangster, Rafael Salazar. One night, both girls attend a party, but only one—Marta—is found dead, with no trace of Veronica. After two years, the case is left unresolved, and the police, including Miguel Zaera, give up. But Isabel refuses to let go, beginning her own investigation.
Though the mystery holds potential, the narrative feels too simple, and the supposed twists are underwhelming. The first two episodes delve into Isabel’s amateur investigation, but it’s in the final episode that the audience is hit with a flood of information, culminating in a twist that doesn’t land with the intended impact. This hurried, uneven storytelling could have been better suited for a full-length movie rather than being spread thin across three episodes.
The Questionable Format: Why a Miniseries?
This brings us to the core issue with Two Graves: its episodic format. Movies are meant to be compact, with a clear beginning, middle, and end, whereas TV shows have the luxury of expanding on characters and plotlines. But Two Graves fails to utilize either format effectively. Instead of becoming a full-fledged miniseries that explores themes like justice, crime, and parental sacrifice in depth, the show offers only a cursory glance at these issues.
The creators chose to introduce complex themes like the shortcomings of the justice system, sexualization, and organized crime, but they never fully explored them. The result is a series that feels incomplete, leaving viewers wishing they had either gone deeper into these topics over the course of several episodes or condensed everything into a tight, impactful movie.
Performance and Direction: What Could Have Been
While Two Graves has its flaws, the performances stand out. Kiti Manver carries most of the emotional weight of the show, giving a solid performance as Isabel. Alvaro Morte, while a recognizable face, remains too stoic to bring much depth to his character. Hovik Keuchkerian is given a complex role, but the character’s potential is never fully realized due to lack of screen time.
Despite the competent performances, the show’s biggest issue lies in the storytelling. The characters’ arcs feel rushed, and by the time the twist is revealed, viewers are left more confused than intrigued.
A Missed Opportunity
Ultimately, Two Graves feels like a missed opportunity. If the creators wanted to dive deeper into the multiple themes the show touches on, they could have expanded it into a more meaningful eight-episode series. Instead, they opted for a truncated three-episode format that does not allow for proper development or exploration. The series could have been a gripping commentary on modern issues, but it’s reduced to a basic mystery that falls flat.
While Netflix’s trend of turning movies into miniseries isn’t new, Two Graves highlights the flaw in this practice. Some stories just don’t need to be stretched out for the sake of episodic content, and Two Graves is a prime example. It could have been a solid movie, but instead, it’s a missed opportunity wrapped in an underwhelming miniseries format.
Conclusion: Should You Watch ‘Two Graves’?
If you’re a fan of simple murder mysteries or you’re looking for something to watch without much thought, Two Graves may fit the bill. However, if you’re hoping for a richly developed story or a series that digs deep into its themes, you might be left disappointed.
Share your thoughts in the comments below. Do you think Two Graves should have been a movie instead of a miniseries?
