Los Enviados, by Juan José Campanella, what did the critics say about the first season?

Los Enviados, by Juan José Campanella, what did the critics say about the first season – This original Paramount + production captivated lovers of mystery and the paranormal thanks to its plot and agile chemistry between its protagonists.

By Megan Sauer
Los Enviados is a Mexican series of intrigue and suspense that premiered on December 12, 2021 on Paramount+, directed by the acclaimed Argentine director who won the Oscar in 2010 for Best Foreign Language Film, for the film El Secreto de His Eyes, Juan José Campanella , in collaboration with the filmmakers Hiromi Kamata , Martino Zaidelis and Camilo Antolini . The main cast of the show is led by Mexican actor Luis Gerardo Méndez , Spanish actor Miguel Ángel Silvestre , Mexican actress Irene Azuela , Mexican performer Miguel Rodarte and more.

Keep reading: The best films of Juan José Campanella

What is The Envoys about?

The plot revolves around two priests from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, played by Luis Gerardo Méndez and Miguel Ángel Silvestre , who are sent to a town called San Acacio in Mexico. 

Their mission is to investigate a supposed miraculous healing performed by another priest who has mysteriously disappeared.

Méndez plays Pedro Salinas, one of the priests sent to San Acacio, while Silvestre plays Simón Antequera, the other religious. Azuela plays the role of Adriana Cortés, a character who also becomes involved in the investigation, while Rodarte plays Federico Molina Reyes, a mysterious character from the town.

The second season of Los Enviados moves the plot from Mexico to Spain, specifically to a Galician town. In this new installment, clerics investigate a case involving three blind nuns who claim to have experienced a miraculous vision. 

This appearance revealed to them the whereabouts of a girl who had disappeared years ago and that no one had been able to find until then.

The new episodes of the series expand its focus towards more detective aspects. It continues the vein of exploring supernatural and spiritual themes, raising questions about faith, miracles and the need to believe in something higher. 

The plot plays with the duality between what can be explained scientifically and what escapes human understanding, keeping the audience in suspense as the characters plunge into a world of darkness.

What did the critics say?

From the first season, critics highlighted the chemistry between Méndez and Silvestre, the research dynamic that sees the religious who adheres to the faith and the priest who studies the events from the scientific side. 

The good cop and the bad cop, but in a religious version. The reviews highlighted the balance of a script and direction that has comedic winks achieved in the midst of suspense, and without taking a definitive position on the events, and leaving it to the viewer to draw their conclusions. 

The second season is now available. In case you haven’t seen the first season yet, we share with you what the film journalists said about the first part of Los Enviados.

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Furanu in Moviements :

Juan José Campanella, whom you will know from other fantastic works such as ‘Colony’, ‘Night sky’ or one of his most famous works, ‘El secreto de sus ojos’, is responsible for this new drama with a dose of suspense. 

What I liked most about ‘The Sent Ones’ is that without needing a great show or artifice it manages to have charisma, arouse sympathy and of course generate a lot of mystery. It is a non-episodic series, which follows a single plot in a simple and very efficient way.

Warren Bull on Writers Who Kill:

This is a clever production, so the viewer must pay attention to the changes in time and location to fully understand the plot. I’m sure I missed some of the cultural nuances and enjoyed what I caught, like the tension between Spanish and Mexican. 

The interactions between the characters develop them in depth. The exploration of faith and reality was compelling.
Steve Greene on [i]IndieWire :

The Envoys takes what could be an obvious skeptic/believer story and gives it room to breathe (…) the more the season goes on, the more the show embraces its horror DNA, along with some of the surreal streaks it does so well. they align with stories that draw on complicated relationships with religion. 

Juan Arcones in El Televisero :

Technically, ‘The Envoys’ is beyond reproach. You can see the care and attention given to the photography and the soundtrack, despite the somewhat embarrassing beginning, with some shots of the supposed Heaven that are quite homely. 

Except for that moment, the series remains at a good level, although it remains to be seen how far it will go. The series has all the elements to work and be a success for the platform. In fact, if you play your cards right, you could attract new subscribers, eager to see a new series by Miguel Ángel Silvestre. And religious mysteries always work well. The first chapter leaves you wanting more, to continue investigating.

Chaodiets on PeakD :
“At least it forces you to question many things, such as: Are the men of the church holy? Does the devil exist? How fragile is faith? Can we have beliefs in demonic acts in the 21st century? How far can it go? the church to cover the crimes committed by its priests?

Are the miracles real or frauds? and an endless number of more questions that I will not continue listing because I may create spoilers.

Karina Adelgaard in Heaven of Horror :

If you like classic mystery series with character-driven stories and a strong cast, be sure to check out The Envoys. I won’t say it’s at the level of Campanella’s multi-award-winning film. 

I will say, though, that I wasn’t surprised when I found out he was behind this Paramount+ series.

Ekaitz Ortega in HobbyConsoles :

The Envoys starts off solidly by showing that they know how to handle their strengths and the necessary references. 

It is a worthy hobby that has no greater ambition than to be easy to see by any viewer, which is no small thing these days.

Kimberlyn Flores in Naciónflix :

…promises to be one of the most interesting series of 2021, it hints at having an intriguing terror, which although it does not seem to be supernatural, it is that horror that is usually seen in plots that mix religion between its lines.

Greta Padilla in Sopitas :

Irene Azuela comes to this production as Adriana Cortés while Miguel Rodarte plays Federico Molina, who serve as witnesses in this story that navigates between several genres and completes a spectacular cast with a story that requires several nuances.

Hernán Soto in Clarín :

As a thriller it gives the viewer a more than respectable start with several points to analyze throughout the season (…) and shows that, as an original production, it has nothing to envy of the rest.