Breathless (Spanish TV series)

Breathless (Spanish: Respira) is a Spanish hospital drama television series created by Carlos Montero.^[1] It stars Najwa Nimri, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Blanca Suárez, Manu Ríos, and Borja Luna. It was made available to stream on Netflix from 30 August 2024.

Breathless
Spanish	Respira
Genre	Hospital drama
Created by	Carlos Montero
Screenplay by	Carlos Montero Carlos Ruano Guillermo Escribano Pablo Saiz
Directed by	David Pinillo Marta Font
Starring	Najwa Nimri Aitana Sánchez-Gijón Blanca Suárez Manu Ríos
Country of origin	Spain
Original language	Spanish
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	8
Production
Executive producers	Carlos Montero Castiñeira Diego Betancor
Production company	El Desorden Crea
Original release
Network	Netflix
Release	30 August 2024 (2024-08-30) – present

The series was announced in July 2023.^[2] Principal photography commenced in August 2023 and ended in February 2024.^[3]

In December 2024, the series was renewed for a second season, which will premiere in 2025.^[4]

Premise

The series is set in and around the Joaquín Sorolla public hospital in Valencia, Spain.^[5]

Cast

• Najwa Nimri as Patricia Segura^[6]
• Aitana Sánchez-Gijón as Pilar Amaro^[6]
• Blanca Suárez as Jéssica Donoso^[6]
• Manu Ríos as Biel de Felipe^[6]
• Borja Luna as Néstor Moa^[6]
• Alfonso Bassave [es] as Lluís Bonet^[6]
• Ana Rayo as Leonor "Leo" Santapau^[6]
• Macarena de Rueda as Rocío Fuster^[6]
• Blanca Martínez as Blanca^[6]
• Abril Zamora as Neus^[6]
• Xoán Fórneas [es] as Enrique "Quique" Román^[6]
• Marwa Bakhat as May
• Víctor Sáinz as Rodrigo Donoso
• Rachel Lascar as Sophie (season 2)
• Pablo Alborán (season 2)
• Alex Medina as Hugo

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date	U.S. viewers (millions)
1	"Por encima de todo"	David Pinillos	David Pinillos	August 30, 2024 (2024-08-30)	N/A
2	"Madera de médico"	David Pinillos	Carlos Montero & Carlos Ruano	August 30, 2024 (2024-08-30)	N/A
3	"Páramos"	David Pinillos	Carlos Ruano	August 30, 2024 (2024-08-30)	N/A
4	"Confío en ti"	David Pinillos	Carlos Ruano & Pablo Paiz	August 30, 2024 (2024-08-30)	N/A
5	"Huelga"	Marta Font	Guillermo Escribano	August 30, 2024 (2024-08-30)	N/A
6	"El último hombre en pie"	Marta Font	Carlos Ruano & Pablo Paiz	August 30, 2024 (2024-08-30)	N/A
7	"Tierra quemada"	Marta Font	Guillermo Escribano & Carlos Montero	August 30, 2024 (2024-08-30)	N/A
8	"Gota fría"	David Pinillos	Carlos Ruano	August 30, 2024 (2024-08-30)	N/A

Production

The eight-part series is from Carlos Montero Castiñeira, who is the show's creator and showrunner. A production of El Desorden Crea, the series is executive produced by Carlos Montero Castiñeira and Diego Betancor. It is directed by David Pinillo and Marta Font, and written by Montero, Carlos Ruano, Guillermo Escribano, and Pablo Saiz.^[7]

The cast includes Najwa Nimri, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Blanca Suárez, Manu Ríos and Abril Zamora.^[8][9][10] In December 2024, it was announced that Netflix had renewed the series for a second season, with French actress Rachel Lascar and Spanish singer Pablo Alborán also being cast in new roles.^[11]

Broadcast

The series premiered globally on Netflix on 30 August 2024.^[12]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Breathless holds an approval rating of 71%.^[13]

Rebecca Cook writing for Digital Spy warned that the show may not be for those who are particularly squeamish given the nature of some of the hospital scenes, but along with the impossibly good looking people and the relationship drama there is also a political message of the pressure on a health service. She states that "some "will likely be put off by the politicking and the gore, while hardline medical procedural fans will guffaw at some of the plot contrivances… fans of Grey's Anatomy looking for something fresh-faced on a similar soapy level will relish the melodrama".^[14]