The Spanish series The New Years has premiered on Mubi, offering a poignant exploration of a decade-long love story. Spanning 10 episodes from 2014 to 2024, it follows the evolving relationship between Ana and Óscar in Madrid and beyond. Created by Rodrigo Sorogoyen, the show draws comparisons to the intimate romances of Éric Rohmer and Richard Linklater.
The New Years, a new Spanish television series, made its debut on the streaming platform Mubi this month, earning praise for its slow-burn romance and character depth. Directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen—known for his 2022 drama The Beasts, also available on Mubi—the series was co-written by Sara Cano and Paula Fabra. Over 10 episodes, each running between 35 and 55 minutes for a total of nearly eight hours, it chronicles the love story of two young Madrileños, Ana and Óscar, as their relationship unfolds across a decade.
The narrative employs a unique structure: each episode is set exclusively on December 31, progressing from 2014 to 2024. In the premiere, Ana, portrayed by Iria del Río with a sense of restless yearning, is a 30-year-old bartender on her birthday, uncertain about her career path. After a night of partying, she encounters Óscar, played by Francesco Carril as a quiet yet resilient medical student. Their alcohol-fueled hookup blossoms into a deep but mismatched connection—Ana craves adventure, while Óscar seeks stability.
The series travels from Madrid to Berlin and Lyon, emphasizing life's push and pull through candid sex scenes and subtle psychological insights. As the story advances, mid-series developments heighten emotional stakes, fostering a novelistic intimacy with the protagonists and their circle. Ana evolves into a chef driven by her appetites, while Óscar becomes a kind but guarded doctor shaped by past wounds.
Mubi is releasing episodes weekly through January, allowing viewers to savor the gradual revelations. Though light on plot twists, The New Years excels in conversation and emotional nuance, evoking the talky masterpieces of Éric Rohmer or Richard Linklater's Before trilogy. Critics note its rewarding pace, building to a finale that poses profound questions about enduring love without resolving them predictably.
