It’s always exciting to see long-time friends and collaborators Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna share the screen.
Whether it’s in the acclaimed Y tu mamá también or the humorous Casa de mi Padre, their chemistry and shared history make for compelling viewing.
In La Máquina, Hulu’s first Spanish-language original series, they reunite once again, this time in the boxing world. The idea for this series was first conceived by the duo over a decade ago, and now, it has finally come to life.
Ramirez, who also created The Defenders and the reboot of The Twilight Zone, brings his strong writing skills to the series.
This is not Ramirez’s first experience with boxing, as he previously wrote the award-winning play The Royale, showing his passion and deep understanding of the sport.
In La Máquina, boxing is not just a profession or sport but almost a character in its own right. It dominates the series, taking up every inch of the screen.
The direction by Gabriel Ripstein, who previously worked with Bernal on Here on Earth, adds another layer of depth, guiding viewers through the complex and unpredictable story Ramirez has created.
A Boxing Match With Consequences
La Máquina wastes no time, throwing audiences right into the pre-fight chaos as Esteban “La Máquina” Osuna (played by Gael García Bernal) prepares to face off against a younger, more skilled boxer. Esteban’s loss in the ring is the catalyst for a series of events that spiral out of control.
His best friend and manager, Andy Lujan (played by Diego Luna), is caught off guard by the aftermath, as both friends try to show a world filled with danger and corruption.
While wrestling is often understood to be scripted entertainment, boxing has a history of real-life scandals involving corruption and match-fixing, some as recent as 2018. This shady side of the sport forms the heart of the plot in La Máquina.
Andy pushes for Esteban to have a rematch to reclaim his title as champion, but a powerful, secretive organization resists their efforts.
This organization, pulling strings behind the scenes, has deadly consequences for everyone close to the two friends. The show goes into the dangerous underworld of boxing, showing how far corruption can reach and how it can affect even those with the best intentions.
Gael García Bernal’s Complex Performance
Gael García Bernal has long been an underrated talent in Hollywood. While his performance in Mozart in the Jungle brought him some attention, and his recent role in Cassandro earned critical acclaim, he has yet to fully break into mainstream recognition.
Last year, his portrayal of a gay wrestler in Cassandro was highly praised, and his role in Marvel’s Werewolf By Night was hailed as one of the best in the MCU in recent years. Now, in La Máquina, Bernal delivers another standout performance.
His character, Esteban, is a complicated man—he is the series’ heart and soul. Esteban is a boxer whose life in the ring has taken a toll on his personal life. His career has destroyed his marriage, led him down a path of addiction, and left his body broken.
Yet, despite all this, Esteban is determined to get back into the ring and prove himself once again. He is portrayed as boxing’s version of the “tortured poet” trope, a man driven by inner demons.
The series frequently shifts between the past and present, giving audiences a look inside Esteban’s mind, which is filled with regret, pain, and the desire for redemption.
Bernal’s portrayal of these highs and lows makes Esteban a deeply compelling character, and his performance is one of the strongest aspects of the show.
Diego Luna’s Surprising Turn as Andy Lujan
Diego Luna’s character, Andy Lujan, offers a very different perspective from Esteban’s. The last time Luna graced television screens, he was leading a rebellion against the Empire in Andor.
In La Máquina, he’s fighting entirely different battles—ones involving his personal life and career. Andy is a slick, flashy manager who cares more about appearances than genuine relationships.
From the moment we meet him, it’s clear Andy is someone who hides behind a carefully crafted image.
In one of the first scenes, we see him preparing for the day: he puts on a hairpiece, plumps his lips with injections, and covers himself in self-tanner, all to project a picture-perfect persona.
Still from La Máquina (Credit: Hulu)
He struts around in luxurious clothes, living in a lavish house, but beneath all of this, he is a deeply insecure man. While Esteban struggles with his own personal issues, Andy is just as flawed, though in a different way.
He is not only a bad manager, but he’s also a terrible friend. His selfishness and obsession with success cloud his judgment, and throughout the series, it becomes clear that he treats Esteban with indifference.
One of the major subplots in the series focuses on Andy and his wife, Carlota, as they try to start a family. Even though Andy clearly cares for her, their relationship feels more like another part of his public image. Carlota is a piece in Andy’s puzzle, a part of the persona he’s trying to maintain.
Their marriage never feels like an equal partnership, and this imbalance is highlighted by the way Andy’s relationships are portrayed throughout the series. The women in La Máquina, particularly in Andy’s life, often feel like they exist solely to serve the men around them.
This dynamic is especially clear in the case of Andy’s mother, Josefina (played by Lucía Méndez), who is a constant thorn in his side. Josefina is a stereotypical “overbearing mother” who meddles in every part of Andy’s life, often making things worse.
Eiza González’s Underused Role
Eiza González plays Esteban’s ex-wife, Irasema, a journalist investigating the corruption within the boxing world. Despite her being a central character, the series struggles to give her the attention she deserves. González is an incredibly talented actress, but her role in La Máquina is underused.
Irasema’s storyline feels secondary, even though she is involved in uncovering the dark truths behind the sport. At times, her investigation is one of the most compelling parts of the show, but it’s frustratingly overshadowed by the drama surrounding Esteban and Andy.
Instead of focusing on Irasema’s gritty and important work, the series often reduces her character to being concerned about Esteban’s health and behavior. Even though the writing tells us that Irasema is strong and independent, she rarely gets the opportunity to show that on screen.
Pacing and Structure Issues in La Máquina
While La Máquina has a lot of strong elements, its pacing is one of its biggest flaws. The series is made up of six episodes, which feels like the right length for the story it’s trying to tell.
Still from La Máquina (Credit: Hulu)
However, the show struggles to balance its ensemble cast, and with such a limited runtime, some characters don’t get the development they deserve.
The stakes in the story are high, but without enough time to flesh out these characters, it’s hard to feel deeply invested in what happens to them.
Each episode follows a similar structure, with the first twenty minutes reacting to the events of the last few minutes of the previous episode. This pattern worked well in traditional week-to-week TV shows, but in today’s streaming world, where audiences often binge entire seasons in one sitting, it feels repetitive.
The pacing makes the series feel like a rollercoaster with a few sharp drops, but not enough build-up. The show relies on shocking moments to hook the audience, but this tactic doesn’t always pay off.
By the penultimate episode, there are still many loose ends to tie up, and it’s unclear whether the final episode will be able to address them all.
La Máquina Stands Out As a Bold New Project
Despite its flaws, La Máquina is a bold move for Hulu. It’s not an IP-driven show, nor is it based on real events. Instead, it’s a completely original story, created by a passionate team of filmmakers who care about the world they’ve built.
Shows like La Máquina are important because they challenge the idea that art needs to have a pre-existing audience or built-in fanbase to succeed.
The series takes risks, and although not every risk pays off, it’s refreshing to see something that feels different from the usual streaming fare.
Still from La Máquina (Credit: Hulu)
The chemistry between Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna is one of the show’s biggest strengths, and their performances alone are enough to draw viewers in.
La Máquina may have its issues, but the unfolding mystery and dynamic performances make it a series worth watching. Even if it stumbles along the way, the journey is one that viewers will want to see through to the end.
La Máquina premieres with all six episodes on October 9 on Hulu.
This week’s Doctor Odyssey episode brings a thrilling combination of love, heartbreak, and unexpected medical emergencies, all set aboard the luxurious cruise ship, the Odyssey. The story begins with two of the main characters, Max (Joshua Jackson) and Tristan (Sean Teale), both dealing with their complicated feelings as they work out together.
Their bond has been strained since the premiere when Max made a mistake by pursuing Avery (Phillipa Soo), who happens to be Tristan’s crush and subordinate. This breach of trust has weighed heavily on Tristan.
He hints that he could take action against Max for breaking the ship’s rules, but instead, he chooses to focus on something else—singles week. With this special event happening on the cruise, Tristan aims to forget his feelings for Avery by finding someone new and having fun.
Singles week kicks off with an exciting array of guest stars who bring even more heat to the episode. Shania Twain steps aboard, playing a possible love interest for Captain Massey (Don Johnson), the charming silver-haired leader of the ship.
Chord Overstreet also makes an appearance, using his swagger to draw the attention of several women, while Stephanie Sugnami joins the cast as Kelly, who becomes the center of Tristan’s attention. For the first time, not everyone is focused on Max, and Tristan feels free to show his own romance on the ship.
Tristan Finds New Love, but a Crisis Hits
The episode shows Tristan quickly hitting it off with Kelly. She makes the first move by confidently asking him to dance during dinner. Tristan is thrilled since, for once, the spotlight isn’t on Max.
Meanwhile, Max tries to get Shania Twain’s attention, but she politely redirects him toward her granddaughter. She herself is more interested in Captain Massey, and they start to connect over their shared experiences.
After dinner, Tristan and Kelly leave for his quarters, eager to spend more time together. But what starts as a promising evening takes a sudden turn when Kelly collapses.
Tristan rushes her to the ship’s medical bay, where the doctors scramble to figure out what went wrong. At first, they think it might be an acute aortic dissection, a life-threatening condition that affects the heart. If this were the case, Kelly would need immediate surgery, or her chances of survival would be slim.
However, while the doctors are conducting tests, Kelly’s condition worsens, and they realize something else must be going on.
Still from Doctor Odyssey (Credit: ABC)
Tristan is very caring toward Kelly during this ordeal, a quality that doesn’t go unnoticed by Avery. She seems to be paying closer attention to how sweet Tristan is, despite claiming that they’re just coworkers. Perhaps her feelings for him run deeper than she’s admitted.
A Mystery Solved: Kelly’s Health Crisis Explained
Midway through the episode, the mystery of Kelly’s sudden collapse is finally solved. Avery gets a surprising tip from Overstreet’s character, who refers to himself as a “ladies’ man.” It turns out that Kelly has been secretly adding a supplement to her water, one that acts like a diuretic.
She had hoped it would make her look slimmer during the cruise, but instead, it caused her body to lose too much fluid and put dangerous stress on her heart. The solution to her problem is simple—they flush her system and stop the supplement. Kelly’s condition improves, and everyone breathes a sigh of relief.
This plotline adds an interesting twist, showing how the pressure to meet beauty standards can have serious consequences. While Kelly’s medical emergency is handled, it leaves Tristan shaken but relieved that things turned out alright.
Captain Massey’s Tragic Past and a New Romance
Another major focus of the episode is the deepening relationship between Captain Massey and Shania Twain’s character. In the premiere, viewers didn’t get to learn much about the Captain, but this episode dives into his backstory, revealing a heartbreaking chapter in his life.
As he dances with Shania Twain’s character, the Captain opens up about the fact that he’s a widower. His wife died of cancer just a year ago, and her loss still weighs heavily on him. He describes her as his “everything,” and it’s clear that he hasn’t fully moved on from the grief.
Shania Twain’s character, who has also faced personal tragedy, bonds with the Captain over their shared experiences. The two spend the evening dancing and talking, and the next day, they share a quiet meal together in the Captain’s quarters. Their connection is deep, and it’s clear that they are helping each other heal from their losses.
Still from Doctor Odyssey (Credit: ABC)
However, just as the Captain is starting to feel a spark of happiness again, he suddenly collapses during their meal. The medical team quickly steps in, and it seems like the Captain may be suffering from a heart attack. But after running a few tests, they are puzzled to discover that it’s not a typical heart attack.
By the end of the episode, the doctors figure out that the Captain is actually suffering from something called “Broken Heart Syndrome.” Although this condition might sound like it comes from a fictional story, it’s a real medical issue that can happen after a person experiences extreme emotional stress.
Max, who initially dismisses it as nonsense, prescribes the Captain medication to help him recover. Thankfully, Shania Twain’s character proves to be just what the Captain needs emotionally as well, and by the end of the week, they share a kiss and agree to give their romance another shot.
Avery Struggles with Her Own Emotions
While all of this drama unfolds around her, Avery is dealing with her own emotional crisis. The passengers on the ship aren’t the only ones feeling lost and confused—Avery herself is overwhelmed by everything that’s happening.
During this episode, the Odyssey rescues a Venezuelan woman, played by Kassandra Cruz, who was stranded at sea. The woman had fled her country with her fiancé, but while she survives, her fiancé is missing and presumed dead. Her story touches Avery deeply, as the woman speaks about the dreams and future she had with her fiancé.
Avery starts to feel the weight of her own struggles. She feels stuck on the ship, unsure of her future and her career. She fears that she will never become a doctor and that her life will be filled with meaningless flings instead of real connections.
Things become even more complicated when Tristan, who is dealing with his feelings for her, decides to pursue her after watching her get close to Overstreet’s character. Although Avery spends some time with him, she quickly backs out when she notices that he has a rash.
Tristan, seeing Avery’s distress, takes the opportunity to comfort her. In a vulnerable moment, she opens up to him, and they share a kiss. Max, who happens to witness this, doesn’t seem too surprised, though he is clearly annoyed.
The love triangle between Max, Tristan, and Avery continues to intensify, leaving viewers wondering how it will resolve. Despite this, Max shows his caring side by helping Avery in a meaningful way.
Still from Doctor Odyssey (Credit: ABC)
He discovers that the cruise line offers a scholarship for employees who want to pursue higher education, and he arranges for Avery to apply for it. This opportunity gives her hope for her future, and she’s incredibly grateful.
The Castaway’s Happy Reunion
As the episode comes to a close, the castaway’s story takes a hopeful turn. Against all odds, her fiancé is found alive and reunited with her. This happy ending mirrors the theme of the show, which often focuses on keeping the dream alive for its characters, even in the face of tragedy.
Although Avery, Tristan, and Max’s love triangle is still unresolved, the episode wraps up with several emotional storylines coming to a satisfying close. Fans can expect even more drama and intrigue in next week’s episode, which promises to bring new challenges when plastic surgery week arrives aboard the Odyssey.
