Recently I am watching Spanish and British serials rather than American series and BitterDaisies is a good choice for this decision. Story, atmosphere,actings are suberb. The main character Maria Mena as Rosa is amazing. Looking forward season 2!!!!!!!
59 Reviews
Above average European crime mini series
fiona_r_lamb31 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Just binge-watched this mini-series. I quite enjoyed it. Strange how the cast list on IMDB is not filled out properly, nor is there a plot summary. However, all in all this was pretty decent - lots of red herrings and plot AND character twists. Acting also not bad esp. The police officers.
I will say that I'm getting tired of seeing all these crime series feature female exploitation of all ages but mainly underage. And then MOST of the men are all evil and/or sexual perverts. The lead character/hero/detective is also inevitably female, young, beautiful but with dowdy unkempt hair and boring unsexy clothes. Same as The Bridge and The Killing. Not that I'm complaining as I'm sick of seeing American-type impossibly glam leads who go around with 4-inch heels, but I think the Europeans are taking it a wee bit too far in the other direction.
But overall this was solid and held my interest throughout, altho' it was also the first Spanish tv series I've seen and I had to focus VERY intensely on the subtitles because the Spanish actors spoke sooooo fast.
May 2021: Just finished the second season of Bitter Daisies. It was pretty good BUT the storyline made me wince - again, female child trafficking and nasty gross men often in powerful positions getting away with rape and murder. But it had many twists and turns that kept my interest but often I had to look away from the screen, and I know that what they showed was very vanilla in comparison to the real thing. I did think it clever how the story involved the dark web and the evil it poses to society.
I sense a third series is en route along the same vein. But it's what the police Chief said: you get rid of one scumbag ring there's lots more wanting to take its place. Sad. But at least this is exposing some of the horror and dangers young kids can face. But I so wanted to punch all the disgusting vile men featured.
I will say that I'm getting tired of seeing all these crime series feature female exploitation of all ages but mainly underage. And then MOST of the men are all evil and/or sexual perverts. The lead character/hero/detective is also inevitably female, young, beautiful but with dowdy unkempt hair and boring unsexy clothes. Same as The Bridge and The Killing. Not that I'm complaining as I'm sick of seeing American-type impossibly glam leads who go around with 4-inch heels, but I think the Europeans are taking it a wee bit too far in the other direction.
But overall this was solid and held my interest throughout, altho' it was also the first Spanish tv series I've seen and I had to focus VERY intensely on the subtitles because the Spanish actors spoke sooooo fast.
May 2021: Just finished the second season of Bitter Daisies. It was pretty good BUT the storyline made me wince - again, female child trafficking and nasty gross men often in powerful positions getting away with rape and murder. But it had many twists and turns that kept my interest but often I had to look away from the screen, and I know that what they showed was very vanilla in comparison to the real thing. I did think it clever how the story involved the dark web and the evil it poses to society.
I sense a third series is en route along the same vein. But it's what the police Chief said: you get rid of one scumbag ring there's lots more wanting to take its place. Sad. But at least this is exposing some of the horror and dangers young kids can face. But I so wanted to punch all the disgusting vile men featured.
Gripping
iannikkibanks18 November 2019
Some weird spoilers in this?
ejh-6062222 February 2021
Watched on Netflix. It's a very good show, but please fast forward until after the intro song in every episode if you want to make sure you're not getting hints or even spoilers. There's like a reversed summary in the beginning of every episode. Also it might take some time to get used to some of the characters played by the supporting cast.
Top Notch Murder Mystery
paul-21486 April 2019
This is a very compelling murder mystery with a strong female lead. Keeps you guessing until the very end just who are the good guys and who are the bad. Plenty of twists and surprises along the way. Surprisingly, it's an emotional journey as well, with terrific acting.
Worth a binge watch
Vindelander30 April 2019
Pretty good with a convoluted plot and a real sting in the tail. Not far off Wallander in quality and the acting and production are well up to the storyline. Best seen in one or two sittings as there are quite a few characters and the story gets complicated at times.
Great rural thriller
rls-7953019 May 2019
Compelling !!
sankhaghosh13 April 2019
This mini-series is a compelling and addictive murder mystery. The acting is quite decent. While the editing could have been more tight - the series aims at slowly creating the build up to the climax.
A few of the characters were kept half-baked and seemed to have rushed towards the end. The lead female character is strong and very well played. The mystery is entangled with emotion, corruption and also societal issues.
Overall, a decent watch !!
Overall, a decent watch !!
A Real Page Turner
rw9300326 April 2019
More than meets the eye
manugw6 May 2019
The first part looks like the ordinary crime whodunit scheme you have watched countless times and read other many times in books, but as the plot progresses toward the ending, all surprises that were hold under the sleeve, spring out increasing the level of tension, jaw-hanging and entertainment. Although a little bit far fetched, this sly multilayered tale achieves its purpose, to satisfy a demanding viewer who loves to guess
Keeps you guessing
gallagherkellie12 April 2020
not the best
quaseprovisorio11 November 2021
First of all: all of the episodes are big, but this galician show actually has a decent pace and is compelling to watch. I saw both seasons: the first one is more interesting in terms of the small town dynamics, the second one is more complicated to follow due to the huge amount of characters but yes its darker and still has good moments.
It has a bunch of plotholes, and mostly plotlines that kinda leads us nowhere. That was my main problem. Some of the dialogues are dull and we know this is not very believeable if we compare it with the reality. But this is fiction: being fiction i think its fine enough, even if its not the best crime series you will ever watch. Also some of the plotwists are too repetitive which is also a bummer - still was i bored? Not much.
Its a good job from our galician friends even though they wanted too much to and elements and to surprise the viewer, even if it was not necessary. I think there will be a third season, maybe i watched it maybe not. Its not the most solid recomendation. However if you like this type of show i think you will like this.
It has a bunch of plotholes, and mostly plotlines that kinda leads us nowhere. That was my main problem. Some of the dialogues are dull and we know this is not very believeable if we compare it with the reality. But this is fiction: being fiction i think its fine enough, even if its not the best crime series you will ever watch. Also some of the plotwists are too repetitive which is also a bummer - still was i bored? Not much.
Its a good job from our galician friends even though they wanted too much to and elements and to surprise the viewer, even if it was not necessary. I think there will be a third season, maybe i watched it maybe not. Its not the most solid recomendation. However if you like this type of show i think you will like this.
Weird, but entertaining
pietrosalazar20 April 2019
This is definitely the opposite of slick. The directing and acting have a somewhat home-baked feel, and conversations often show the stilted character of afternoon soaps. It's not fast-moving, and when they try some action toward the end, the staging gets downright silly, like they should have practiced a few more times.
But the story is strangely compelling, with a nice onion of a mystery that gets unpeeled until everybody is a suspect. The whole thing at times reminds you a bit of a Spanish "Twin Peaks", with about the same level of realism, although no owls. And you really don't know what exactly is going on until the last episode.
It's compact at six episodes of a little over an hour, and the storyline does not invite a second season. Worthwhile checking out.
But the story is strangely compelling, with a nice onion of a mystery that gets unpeeled until everybody is a suspect. The whole thing at times reminds you a bit of a Spanish "Twin Peaks", with about the same level of realism, although no owls. And you really don't know what exactly is going on until the last episode.
It's compact at six episodes of a little over an hour, and the storyline does not invite a second season. Worthwhile checking out.
Strong female character
weanedon200110 May 2021
Fairly good as far as these things go. Filmed in a particularly verdant corner of Spain (Galicia), Bitter Daisies has enough to keep you watching : Interesting locale, solid performances and compelling serial killer type storyline. Anchoring it all is a low key but effective performance by Maria Mera playing the strong, silent type of police investigator. You never quite know what she will do next to unearth the truth bubbling under the surface of a seemingly idyllic small town, and her veiled psychology is rather fascinating to watch.
Tropes I could do without in international crime dramas : 1) The mentally disabled character who seems to wander around the village unsupervised and you know is just another red herring in the storyline. This type of character is an unwanted update to the "village idiot" of films from times gone by and (deservedly)long forgotten. 2) Ineffectual/Psychotic Male characters who either bumble around, unconsciously obstructing the lead character's investigation or are irredeemably psychotic. Of course, the flipside to this is the lone strong female character in a sea of female characters that exist merely to be violated/bumped off.
Tropes I could do without in international crime dramas : 1) The mentally disabled character who seems to wander around the village unsupervised and you know is just another red herring in the storyline. This type of character is an unwanted update to the "village idiot" of films from times gone by and (deservedly)long forgotten. 2) Ineffectual/Psychotic Male characters who either bumble around, unconsciously obstructing the lead character's investigation or are irredeemably psychotic. Of course, the flipside to this is the lone strong female character in a sea of female characters that exist merely to be violated/bumped off.
Just enough pace and a couple of nice twists
limaecho-9970030 September 2019
A bingeworthy European whodunit with suspicion, intrigue and quality acting. I personally enjoy a movie where I don't know the end before I see it; this movie fulfilled that. The pace can be a little slow at times but stick with it as it's rewarding.
Good, but not great.
Bh_sarah18 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Please mind the spoilers ahead!
I'm on a Spanish marathon of movies and tv shows so Netflix obviously suggested it to me. I'm a sucker for crime investigation shows, so I gave it a go.
It is long. I mean, 1h10 of each episode is just tiring. But I started watching on a Friday night and finished on Sunday's afternoon so it caught my interest. I was amazed about how similar Galician is to Portuguese and ended up discovering that a language called Galician-Portuguese originated them both, so that's why.
Anyway, the main character is obviously a mystery and I couldn't relate to her until the very end, when I discovered why she had to be so mysterious. Since the beginning I knew something was off with that investigator, trying to implicate it was not a real case, that things in that city are not like she's used to, blah blah blah. So that wasn't a big plot twist to me. The red herrings were so-so and somethings came out of nowhere - I still don't know who's Erika, there was ever a body??? What did I miss?
But, overall, the show is good. Has a lot of twists and turns and a reasonable closure to it, but most of the characters are just obnoxious and I just couldn't care less about them. The jealous wife was depressing, the daughter was way too stupid, all characters were annoying. I couldn't even care about the missing girl. The only one I actually cared about was poor Dori - she clearly had time to return the dog, Dori didn't deserve that!!!
I'm on a Spanish marathon of movies and tv shows so Netflix obviously suggested it to me. I'm a sucker for crime investigation shows, so I gave it a go.
It is long. I mean, 1h10 of each episode is just tiring. But I started watching on a Friday night and finished on Sunday's afternoon so it caught my interest. I was amazed about how similar Galician is to Portuguese and ended up discovering that a language called Galician-Portuguese originated them both, so that's why.
Anyway, the main character is obviously a mystery and I couldn't relate to her until the very end, when I discovered why she had to be so mysterious. Since the beginning I knew something was off with that investigator, trying to implicate it was not a real case, that things in that city are not like she's used to, blah blah blah. So that wasn't a big plot twist to me. The red herrings were so-so and somethings came out of nowhere - I still don't know who's Erika, there was ever a body??? What did I miss?
But, overall, the show is good. Has a lot of twists and turns and a reasonable closure to it, but most of the characters are just obnoxious and I just couldn't care less about them. The jealous wife was depressing, the daughter was way too stupid, all characters were annoying. I couldn't even care about the missing girl. The only one I actually cared about was poor Dori - she clearly had time to return the dog, Dori didn't deserve that!!!
Entertaining Binge Watch
bshaef6 April 2019
I'm getting hooked on Spanish and Mexican (remember the guy who was into S&M from that comedy) series? Takes my eyes about 2 minutes to adapt to the CC's but after that its a breeze and if I miss anything I replay it. What's not to like about Netflix? Good content, easy to watch and lifetime of shows at the touch of my remote control. Thank you Netflix. You are easily worth every cent I pay for my subscription.
Not bad for a Galician series, but not bright-line in European terms
BeneCumb11 June 2019
Well, considering the fact that Galicia is no big/known spot for crime dramas, it is more than average, but the plot has gaps, the thrill fades from time to time, plus it is hardly plausible to believe that all those events can happen in a small town where people tend to be nosy and observant. All the performers were unknown to me - no wonder - but I was unable to pick almost any of them whose "fate" to be followed later; perhaps Denis Gómez as Bernabé had a more versatile character to perform...
But still, for the sake of widening horizons and making comparisons, O sabor das margaridas was definitely no waste of time; 7/10 reveal just my rating after various Scandinavian, British or even French series when it is almost painful to long for the new episode.
But still, for the sake of widening horizons and making comparisons, O sabor das margaridas was definitely no waste of time; 7/10 reveal just my rating after various Scandinavian, British or even French series when it is almost painful to long for the new episode.
Excellent murder mystery
s-andra-19575 April 2021
The cast is fantastic in this excellent murder mystery. Maria Mera us an awesome lead and carries this very complex character with a dynamic focus that draws you into the series and carries you through a fantastic story. Season two is also very well done and here's hoping for season 3!
I Have Only One Question.
clintstevens7 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Honestly, I really tried to follow the story of this series, which, because of each episode's length, was a real challenge. Most everything was explained in the final hour, save for one question...why did Rosa refuse to return the poor little chubby dog. Dori, to her young owner, and did she kill the dog when she was shown calling the owners to tell them Dori got away, while she kneels in front of the dog's lifeless body in a shallow grave? I just don't get the reasoning behind that entire subplot.
An entertaining murder mystery that gets 9 stars, minus 2 for the dead doggie.
An entertaining murder mystery that gets 9 stars, minus 2 for the dead doggie.
The killing of ...
GulpFriction28 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
... that sweet and nervous little dog Dori and the whole unnecessary sub-plot spoilt the first season for me and consequently I'm not even going to attempt season 2.
I certainly had no sympathy whatsoever for the main character for her laziness and selfishness in not returning Dori to the little girl who missed the dog so much.
Spanish producers should realise most Australian, British, American etc viewers do not appreciate gratuitous violence to animals even if it is 'just a movie or series'.
I certainly had no sympathy whatsoever for the main character for her laziness and selfishness in not returning Dori to the little girl who missed the dog so much.
Spanish producers should realise most Australian, British, American etc viewers do not appreciate gratuitous violence to animals even if it is 'just a movie or series'.
Excellent Plot Twist
milly_ele18 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The story is told in a very engaging manner. I was intrigued from the very beginning. And the plot twist at the end is one that I didn't see coming. I love a good plot twist and this one didn't disappoint.
I didn't understand the reason for the subplots that didn't go anywhere (the teen photography thing, the peso teacher and the weird fetish guy). There were also many plot holes and I'd like to know the number of hours in a day in Spain. So much happened in one day that it's not even believable; especially all the events in episode 6. I'll attribute it to creative liberties taking precedence. Also, Mauro's daughter was terribly miscast. Not only is she a poor actor, but she wasn't likable enough to have us believe that 2 guys would be fighting over her - 3 if you include the teacher.
I didn't understand the reason for the subplots that didn't go anywhere (the teen photography thing, the peso teacher and the weird fetish guy). There were also many plot holes and I'd like to know the number of hours in a day in Spain. So much happened in one day that it's not even believable; especially all the events in episode 6. I'll attribute it to creative liberties taking precedence. Also, Mauro's daughter was terribly miscast. Not only is she a poor actor, but she wasn't likable enough to have us believe that 2 guys would be fighting over her - 3 if you include the teacher.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
