La que se avecina is a Spanish television sitcom created by Alberto Caballero, Laura Caballero and Daniel Deorador. The show is set in the fictitious Mirador de Montepinar, a condominium located in the suburbs of Madrid. The show is an indirect successor to the Antena 3 comedy Aquí no hay quien viva. The title is both an expression meaning "the trouble that is approaching" and a pun on "la casa vecina" - the neighbouring house - and so it alludes to the show's neighbourly setting as well as the regular quarrels between the characters.
La que se avecina debuted on Telecinco, and was later rerun by the same network as well as cable/satellite channels FDF and Comedy Central España. The series debuted on 22 April 2007, the show began to become much more prominent in its third season, becoming one of the most widely watched shows in Spain. Most characters in the show are stereotypical representations of different groups in Spanish society and occasionally pokes fun at Spanish politics.
Series overview
The story takes place in a block of relatively luxurious flats. Common themes in the story are the problems faced by people sharing apartments in Spain, the Spanish property bubble, and the hardships faced by young people trying to find a place to live. The block of flats itself is in the outskirts of the city, around 15 minutes from the centre. There are 3 floors, with a total of 10 flats. The residential area also contains a car park, the caretaker's office, commercial spaces and some communal areas.
Reception Ratings
Cast and characters
Main characters Actor Character Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Ricardo Arroyo Vicente Maroto bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="15" Pablo Chiapella Amador Rivas bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="15" Nacho Guerreros Coque Calatrava bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="15" Eva Isanta Maite Figueroa bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="15" Jordi Sánchez Antonio Recio bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="15" Nathalie Seseña Berta Escobar bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="15" Macarena Gómez Lola Trujillo bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="4" Guest bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="7" Rec. bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="2" Fernando Tejero Fermín Trujillo Rec. bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="9" María Adánez Rebeca Ortiz bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="2" bgcolor="#E0FFFF" Petra Martínez Fina Palomares bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="8" Miren Ibarguren Yolanda Morcillo bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="7" Luis Merlo Bruno Quiroga bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="7" Loles León Rec. bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="6" Carlos Areces Agustín Gordillo bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="5" Margarita Asquerino Logi Sarrión bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="3" Mamen García Victoria Rafaela bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="3" Félix Gómez Óscar Serra bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="3" Rocío Marín Greta Garmendia bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="3" Elisabeth Larena Andy Quirón bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="3" Carlos Chamarro Esteban Guijarro bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="3" Ainhoa Larrañaga Julia Guijarro Rec. bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="2" Ana Arias Cristina San Román bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="2" Raúl Peña Martín Segurola bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="2" Ana Álvarez Gloria Rec. bgcolor="#E0FFFF"
Pablo Chiapella as Amador Rivas, father of Carlota, Fernando and Rodrigo, former bank employee now without stable work and divorced from Maite. Jordi Sánchez as Antonio Recio, husband of Berta, father of Alba (with Berta) and Toñín (with Nines via IV), seafood wholesaler. Nacho Guerreros as Jorge "Coque" Calatrava, a stoner, former gardener, now caretaker of the building. Nathalie Seseña as Berta Escobar, wife of Antonio. She is a devoted Christian. Eva Isanta as Maité Figueroa, former wife of Amador, mother of Carolta, Fernando, Rodrigo and Amador Jr (with Sergio), without permanent employment who was sentenced to jail. In season 8, she became a best-selling erotic writer. Ricardo Arroyo as Vicente Maroto, father of Javier, widower of Gregoria, retired. Macarena Gómez as María Dolores "Lola" Trujillo, former photographer turned successful actress who is now unable to find any job. She divorced from Javi in season 12. María Adánez as Rebeca Ortiz, a divorce lawyer who is an old high school friend from Judith. Fernando Tejero as Fermín Trujillo, an espeto seller in the coast of Málaga and Lola's estrangend father, who moves to bond with her daughter. Petra Martínez as Fina Palomares, a retired elderly woman who drive the neighbours crazy. Miren Ibarguren as Yolanda Morcillo. She is a haberdasher and dreams to become a well known fashion designer. Loles León as Menchu, Yolanda's loud mother. Carlos Areces as Agustín Gordillo, a man who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. Laura Gómez Lacueva as Greta Garmendia, the iron-fisted board president of Contubernio 49. Carlos Chamarro as Esteban Guijarro, Greta's tax inspector husband that doesn't like conflict. Mamen García as Victoria Rafaela Balmaseda de Unzeta y Téllez-Girón, marquise of Francavilla and Sacromonte, a grumpy aristocrat at bankruptcy that owns apartments at Contubernio 49. Margarita Asquerino as Logi, a Contubernio 49 resident, Victoria Rafaela's maid and her only friend. Inma Pérez Quirós as Victoria Rafaela Balmaseda de Unzeta y Téllez-Girón, who recently moved to Contubernio 49 after spending time in a psychiatric. She isn't on speaking terms with her sister. Félix Gómez as Óscar Serra, a charismatic and wealthy fashion photographer living at Contubernio 49. Elizabeth Larena as Andy, a waitress living with Karma and Giorgi in a rented apartment at Contubernio 49. Ainhoa Larrañaga as Julia Guijarro, daughter of Greta and Esteban, lives on Contubernio 49 with her family. Ana Arias repraisin her role from El Pueblo as Cristina San Román, a married dentist who moves in from a small town with her newborn. Raúl Peña repraisin his role from El Pueblo as Martín Segurola, a married chef who moves in from a small town with his newborn. Ana Álvarez as Gloria, Bruno's ex-wife.
Recurring characters
Carlota Boza as Carlota Rivas, Amador and Maite's older daughter. (Seasons 1-current) Fernando Boza as Fernando "Nano" Rivas, Amador and Maite's middle son. (Seasons 1-current) Rodrigo Espinar, as Rodrigo Rivas, Amador and Maite's younger son. (Seasons 1-current) Álvaro Giraldo as Amador Arias Figueroa, also known as "Ojos de pollo", the son of Sergio and Maité result of an extra-marital affair that Maité had while married to Amador. (Seasons 2-current) Adam Sounita as Toñin, The in-vitro son of Nines and Antonio. It was supposed to be a surprise son for Berta, but she rejected it. (Seasons 2–12, 15) Fran Nortés as Father Alejandro. He is the priest Berta use to visit. (Seasons 3–4, 7-current) Matilde Fluixa as Doña Tránsito, a religious friend of Berta. (Seasons 9-current) Dario Paso as Josito, Yoli's socially unadapted brother. (Seasons 9-current) Helena Dueñas as Remedios Infante, a woman that works taking care of elderly that ends married to Vicente. (Seasons 12-current) Walker Liu as Xiang Li, the server at "La Grulla Shaolin". (Seasons 13-current)
Former main characters Former characters Actor Character Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Malena Alterio Cristina Aguilera bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="1" Emma Penella (†) Charo de la Vega (†) bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="1" Fabio Arcidiácono Fabio Sabatani bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="1" G. Roberto San Martín Silvio Ramírez bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="1" Rec. Sofía Nieto Sandra Espinosa bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="2" Elio González Eric Cortés bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="2" Guillermo Ortega Joaquín Arias bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="2" Manuel Andrés (†) Julián Pastor (†) Rec. bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="1" Mónica Pérez Blanca Neruda bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="1" Beatriz Carvajal Goya Gutiérrez (†) bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="4" Gemma Cuervo Mari Tere Valverde bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="4" Carlos Alcalde Rosario Parrales G. bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="1" Rec. G. María Casal Reyes Ballesteros bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="1" Amparo Valle (†) Justi Latorre (†) bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="1" G. Mariví Bilbao (†) Izaskun Sagastume (†) bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="6" Eduardo García Fran Pastor bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="6" Eduardo Gómez (†) Máximo Angulo bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="6" Adriá Collado Sergio Arias bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="2" bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="1" Silvia Abril Violeta Recio Rec. G. bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="2" Antonia San Juan Estela Reynolds bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="2" G. bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="1" Luis Miguel Seguí Leonardo Romaní (†) bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="8" Cristina Castaño Judith Becker bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="7" Isabel Ordaz Araceli Madariaga bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="1" G. bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="3" Rec. bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="1" Antonio Pagudo Javier Maroto bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="11" Ernesto Sevilla Teodoro Rivas G. Rec. bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="3" G. José Luis Gil Enrique Pastor bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="12" Vanesa Romero Raquel Villanueva bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="12" Cristina Medina Nines Chacón bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="11" Víctor Palmero Alba Recio G. G. bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="4" Darío Paso Josito Morcillo Rec. bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="2" Ricardo Nkosi Ongombo Rec. bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="2" Pepa Rus Clara Gutiérrez Rec. bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="2" Paz Padilla María Jesús "Chusa" G. G. Rec. bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="4" Rec. Álex Gadea Alonso Martínez bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="1" Rec. Álex Delacroix Karma bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="2" G. Jaime Riba Giorgi Verdugo bgcolor="#E0FFFF" colspan="2" : The character of Alvaro Recio (later Alba Recio) was interpreted by Eduardo Espinilla in season 1 and Sergi Ruíz in seasons 2 and 3 before Victor takes the role in season 8.
José Luis Gil as Enrique Pastor, ex-husband of Judith and Araceli, father of Fran, a long time city councillor, who becomes the city mayor in season 9. Vanesa Romero as Raquel Villanueva, former real estate agent director, cousin of Nines. Antonio Pagudo as Javier Maroto, husband of Lola, son of Vicente and Gregoria, computer technician Luis Miguel Seguí as Leonardo "Leo" Romaní, vacuum-cleaner salesman. He died in a parachuting accident while celebrating his wedding to Alba. Eduardo García as Francisco Javier "Fran" Pastor, son of Araceli and Enrique. He left Montepinar to live with his girlfriend in Brasil. Eduardo Gómez as Máximo "Maxi" Angulo, bar owner and ex-janitor of Montepinar. Mariví Bilbao as Izaskun Sagastume, retired smoker that escaped an asylum with Mari Tere. Beatriz Carvajal as Gregoria "Goya" Gutiérrez, Vicente's wife, Javi's mother. Died at the end of the fourth season. Gemma Cuervo as María Teresa "Mari Tere" Valverde, retired. She escaped an asylum with Izaskun. Adrià Collado as Sergio Arias, father of Amador Jr after having an affaire with Maite. He is a soap opera star. Guillermo Ortega as Joaquín Arias, younger brother of Sergio, former real estate agent. Sofía Nieto as Sandra Espinosa, assistant to Araceli in her hairdressing salon. In season 2 she works at the bar. Elio González as Eric Cortés, real estate agent. Isabel Ordaz as Araceli Madariaga, ex-wife of Enrique and mother of Fran, bisexual, former hairdresser that adopted a 'hippie' lifestyle. Fabio Arcidiácono as Fabio Sabatini, hairdresser. Roberto San Martín as Silvio Ramírez, Cristina's gay flatmate. Emma Penella as Rosario "Charo" de la Vega, Araceli's mother. Malena Alterio as Cristina Aguilera, a soon-to-be-married woman who is dumped days before the wedding. Manuel Andrés as Julián Pastor, Enrique's father. Víctor Palmero as Alba Recio (born Álvaro Recio). He was the gay son of Berta and Antonio in the first three season. In season 8, she makes a comeback to her home, now as a transgender girl named Alba that wants to pursue a baking career. Cristina Medina as Angelines "Nines" Chacón, cousin of Raquel, mother to Toñín, bar staff. Mónica Pérez as Blanca Neruda, Raquel and Nines's flatmate.