Review of Morangos com Açúcar

People in Portugal have realized that Morangos com Acuçar has become an industry; however, this does not take from the original cast and idea of the series. I feel that the first series (primeira temporada) was the best. These young actors really did a good job, and there are many memorable scenes for instance with Joana confronts Carla and her dad about their affair, or when Teresa find stands up for herself and tells Daniel what she really thinks about him and their marriage, or when Monica falls crazily in love with Professor Nuno, and she also has a good part when she leaves her father's house deciding to take none of her possessions. What people fail to realize is that this a soap opera, and we all know that soap operas play on the melodramatic, but deep down all these things come from some where, and one has to just set back understand what are the issues. The first series takes place in Cascais, a wealthy city not far from Lisbon. The themes that are treated in the first series are very cultural references as well as the issue of class, living in a society that has wealth with its expectations and norms. Essentially what the writer of this soap opera has done is to humanize those people and in a sense take a way that pedestal of privilege that is associated with wealth. We still that these people are not immune to everyday problems such as: teenage pregnancy, losing one's job, divorce, etc. Much of the content plays on this perception that Portuguese have of people from Cascais and Estoril with their distinct way of talking (in the upper classes) that is why Joana's relationship with Pipo is 'so wrong' compared to her relationship with Ricardo. It also explains why Carla seeks a relationship with an older man and treats her mother like a dog. I think that anybody who could not see the talent on the first series and storyline does not understand much. However, the latest series are of no comparison to the first!