I could say so many things about Veneno. First and foremost, it's an incredibly raw and emotional story. I'm not the type to cry during shows/movies (unless it's a very beautiful and tragic queer love story) but Veneno hit me hard. I cried my eyes out at the ending of the first!! episode and almost cried on, like, ten other occasions.
As a transmaculine non-binary person, the themes of gender identity are very personal to me (even if the transfeminine journey is very different), but I don't think you have to be trans or queer to enjoy this series. Every aspect of the show is incredibly well-done. It's both entertaining and touching. It will make you laugh AND cry. The characters are bright, realistic and very human.
Can I just say it is SO nice to see a high-production show (other than FX's Pose, which is also great) that focuses on trans women and has an all-trans cast? Trans women constantly being played by men only contributes to the harmful thinking of trans women being 'men in disguise', further endangering a group that is already struggling. Veneo proved that having a an all-trans cast (playing women of different ages in different stages of transition) is very much possible. I really wish more film/show makers would give a chance to these beautiful and talented women to accurately portray the trans experience.
But this show isn't just about being trans. It also gives us an insight into the human condition and what fame (and the loss of it) does to a person. I had honestly never heard about Cristina 'La Veneno' before watching this show, but I think it really does justice to her bigger-than-life persona. I am sincerely thankful to the creators of the show for telling this incredible story. So, if you're not watching Veneno, what the hell are you even doing?!?
Review of Veneno
