La candidata is a Mexican telenovela produced by Giselle González for Televisa. It is an original story about the world of politics. A total of 60 episodes have been confirmed so far.
La Candidata was well received by critics, with its divergence in tone from previous telenovelas and the addressing of topics, such as political corruption, being particularly praised. It won eight awards at the 35th TVyNovelas Awards, including Best Telenovela of the Year.
Plot The main character, Regina, is a senator married to the leader of her city's government. The show follows Regina's attempts to improve the political situation for the people she represents against a backdrop of her strained relationship with her husband and the rebellion of her young son.
When Regina's husband Alonso decides to run for the presidential candidacy, he reveals darker aspects of his personality as he ruthlessly pursues his political ambitions. Regina's political ideals clash with her husband's as he disregards her earlier contributions to his success and takes steps to destroy his current political adversaries, not realizing his wife is now among their number. As the political tension between Regina and her husband becomes untenable, Regina's former lover, a man named Gerardo, reappears in her life. Gerardo becomes Alonso's rival in both politics and love. Regina decides that her life with Alonso has been a lie and takes steps to end their relationship.
Many of Alonso's corrupt political dealings are made public, confirming for Regina that she made the correct choice to leave him. The revelations about Alonso's political activities also convinces Regina that someone must permanently destroy Alonso's political career in order to put an end to his corruption. Gerardo puts aside his own political ambitions in order to support Regina as she joins the race for the presidential nomination and becomes the candidate herself.
Cast
Main Silvia Navarro as Regina Bárcenas Víctor González as Gerardo Martínez Rafael Sánchez Navarro as Alonso San Román Susana González as Cecilia Aguilar
Secondary Nailea Norvind as Teresa Rivera Ari Telch as Ignacio Helena Rojo as Natalia de San Román Patricio Castillo as Omar San Román Luz María Jerez as Noemí Juan Carlos Barreto as Mario Bárcenas Juan Carlos Colombo as Morales Verónica Langer as Magda Adalberto Parra as Mauro Castillo Pilar Ixquic Mata as Isela Aguilar Gilberto de Anda as Almirón Enrique Arreola as Pacheco Irineo Álvarez as Larreta José Carlos Ruiz as Presidente del Senado Fabiola Guajardo as Florencia Fernanda Borches as Daniela Federico Ayos as Emiliano San Román Bárcenas Juan Martín Jáuregui as Hernán Karla Farfán as Ximena Martínez Rivera Aleyda Gallardo as Nieves Ángel Cerlo as Ochoa Ricardo Crespo as Javier Bárbara Falconi as Nayeli Michelle González as Marcia Fabián Robles as José Montero Aurora Clavel as José's mother
Special participation Liz Gallardo as Déborah Rondero Fernando Larrañaga as Pablo Contreras Tony Marcín as Mother of Hugo Martha Julia as Jéssica Manjarrez
Production Filming began on August 16, 2016, at Televisa San Ángel.
Casting Casting for the telenovela began from June through August 2016. Actors Juan Carlos Barreto, Helena Rojo, Luz María Jerez, Nailea Norvind, Ari Telch, Federico Ayos and Adalberto Parra were cast in unknown Roles. On July 13, 2016, Susana González was cast as the sister of the protagonist. Two days later, Rafael Sánchez Navarro was cast as the husband of the protagonist. Blanca Guerra was cast as the titular role, but was replaced by Silvia Navarro because of tight schedule. For the role of the main male protagonist, Mark Tacher, Víctor González and Juan Pablo Medina were nominees, but ultimately the role went to Víctor González.
Reception Following the premiere, television critic Álvaro Cueva said La Candidata represented a fundamental change for the better of the national television industry. Besides its theme (which he contrasted with previous political telenovelas), Cueva also praised the cinematography, hair and makeup, wardrobe, and music. After the finale, Cueva lauded the creators for the original script and for their depiction of a gritty situation in Mexico, rather than making another remake or Cinderella story.
In November 2016, certain media outlets that support MORENA leader Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a likely presidential candidate, expressed their belief that this television program was created in order to favor former First Lady Margarita Zavala, possible PAN candidate, in the 2018 Presidential Election. In an overview after the show's finale, Milenio commentator Fernando Mejía Barquera mentioned these assertions saying that those "who held this position must have abandoned it during the course of the telenovela because nothing of the main character was reminiscent of the former first lady." With the main character being described as a populist.
Episodes
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryNominatedResult 2017 35th TVyNovelas Awards Best Telenovela of the Year Giselle González Best Actress Silvia Navarro Best Actor Victor González Best Antagonist Actress Nailea Norvind Best Antagonist Actor Juan Carlos Barreto Best Leading Actress Helena Rojo Best Leading Actor Patricio Castillo Best Co-lead Actress Susana González Best Co-lead Actor Rafael Sánchez Navarro Best Supporting Actress Pilar Mata Best Supporting Actor Ari Telch Best Young Lead Actress Karla Farfán Best Young Lead Actor Federico Ayos Best Female Revelation Michelle González Best Male Revelation Juan Martín Jáuregui Best Original Story or Adaptation Leonardo Bechini Best Direction Eric Morales and Juan Pablo Blanco Best Direction of the Camaras Armando Zafra and Luis Rodríguez Best Musical Theme "Instrumental" (n/a) Best Cast La candidata
References
External links