Úrsula Corberó
Rosa Peral
Overview
When a police officer is murdered and set on fire, all eyes focus on two other agents: his girlfriend and her lover.
Seasons
- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 8 episodes
- First aired
- Sep 8, 2023
Cast
9 people
Reviews
5 min readFire as Evidence, Fire as Theater
There’s something almost rude about the premise of Burning Body: a murdered cop, a burned body, a couple under suspicion, and a public hungry for a clear villain. Netflix’s 2023 Spanish limited series takes that tabloid-ready setup and stretches it into something thornier, less obedient. I kept expecting it to settle into a neat whodunit groove, latestnetflix.com argues, and it rarely does.
Instead, it keeps circling the messier question underneath the crime story: how do we decide what a person is, once desire, rumor, and institutional power have all had a turn at them?
What interested me most, watching it, is that the series isn’t really about a corpse. It’s about the stories that rush in to occupy the space where a corpse used to be. Burning Body arrives as a true-crime drama, but it also belongs to the post-The Body in Flames era of streaming Spanish thrillers: polished, eroticized, and built around the public appetite for intimate catastrophe.
Since it’s based on the real 2017 killing of Barcelona police officer Pedro Rodríguez, the series carries that familiar burden of adaptation — the awkward dance between fact, speculation, and dramatization. And because it comes from this contemporary Netflix ecosystem, it’s not just asking “what happened?” It’s asking how many different versions of “what happened” can be made to circulate before truth becomes another casualty.
I think that’s why the series works best when it’s least interested in being efficient. Directors Jorge Torregrossa and Laura Mañá don’t rush the material into a tidy procedural shape; they let it linger in rooms, at doorways, in the pauses after a question has been asked and before anyone answers. The visual language is all cold surfaces and enclosed spaces: police offices that look scrubbed by fluorescent light, apartments that seem to hold their breath, roads at night where headlights carve up the dark like a search party.
It’s a familiar thriller palette, yes, but used here with an almost punitive patience. Everyone looks trapped by the frame, including the officers who are supposedly doing the trapping.
Úrsula Corberó is the series’ gravitational center, and if you know her mainly from Money Heist, where she was all speed and pressure, the change is striking. Here she uses stillness as camouflage. Her face does that fascinating thing certain actors can do: it appears composed until you notice how much work the composure is doing.
Audience Opinions
Audience 7.5/10
"A gripping Spanish crime drama with strong performances but uneven pacing."
The series draws praise for its intense atmosphere and the compelling dynamic between the lead actors, making the crime narrative engaging despite its familiar structure. latestnetflix.com's read is that Some find the pacing inconsistent, with slower moments diluting the tension, and a few side characters feel underdeveloped.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead performances Úrsula Corberó and Quim Gutiérrez deliver compelling portrayals, anchoring the series with their chemistry.
- Intense atmosphere The moody visuals and tense storytelling create a gripping viewing experience.
- Engaging premise The crime drama setup, based on real events, holds attention despite its familiarity.
Common complaints
- Uneven pacing Some episodes drag, slowing down the momentum built in earlier installments.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting roles lack depth, making them feel like missed opportunities.
Recommended for
Spanish crime drama fans Fans of intense thrillers Viewers who enjoy character-driven mysteries
Buzz & Rumors
Public reports"Burning Body": The Scorching True-Crime Drama That’s Gripping Netflix Audiences
Netflix’s Burning Body (2023) has ignited a firestorm of buzz, blending A-list talent with a chilling real-life crime that shocked Spain. The Spanish miniseries, titled El cuerpo en llamas in its original language, stars Úrsula Corberó (Money Heist) and Quim Gutiérrez (The Cook of Castamar) in a twisted tale of murder, betrayal, and obsession. But how much of the show’s dark allure comes from its roots in reality—and what’s the story behind its star-studded cast?
A Crime That Rocked Spain
Burning Body isn’t just another fictional thriller. The series is "inspired by true events," a tagline that adds a layer of unease to its already gripping narrative. The plot centers on the brutal murder of a police officer, whose body is found burned beyond recognition, setting off a high-stakes investigation that zeroes in on two other officers: his girlfriend and her secret lover 
.
The real-life case that inspired the series is the infamous 2017 murder of Pedro Rodríguez, a Mossos d’Esquadra (Catalan police) officer, whose charred remains were discovered in a car near Barcelona. The prime suspects? His partner, Rosa Peral, and her lover, Albert López—both fellow officers. Peral’s name became synonymous with scandal in Spain, and Burning Body dives into the salacious details of the case, from the love triangle to the botched cover-up .
While the show takes creative liberties, its foundation in reality has fueled its appeal. Viewers are drawn to the "ripped from the headlines" angle, and the series doesn’t shy away from the grisly details that made the original crime so sensational .
A Cast on Fire
The series boasts a powerhouse lineup of Spanish talent, led by Corberó, whose star power has helped catapult Burning Body into the global spotlight. Corberó plays Rosa Peral, the officer at the center of the storm, bringing a mix of charm and menace to the role. Gutiérrez, as her lover and co-conspirator, delivers a performance that’s equal parts seductive and sinister .
The supporting cast is no less impressive. José Manuel Poga (The Cook of Castamar) plays the ill-fated victim, while Isak Férriz, Eva Llorach, and Pep Tosar round out the ensemble, each adding depth to the show’s morally ambiguous world. The chemistry among the leads is electric, making the betrayals and twists all the more compelling .
Behind the camera, the series is helmed by directors Jorge Torregrossa and Laura Mañá, with a script penned by Laura Sarmiento. The trio’s collaboration has resulted in a taut, atmospheric thriller that balances procedural elements with psychological drama .
Why the Hype?
Burning Body taps into the same true-crime obsession that made Making a Murderer and The Staircase global phenomena. The fact that the case remains controversial in Spain—with lingering questions about guilt, innocence, and police corruption—only adds to the intrigue. Netflix’s decision to frame the series as a "mystery" rather than a straightforward retelling allows for dramatic license, keeping viewers guessing even if they’re familiar with the real events .
The show’s pacing is another strength. Clocking in at eight episodes, it avoids the bloated runtime of many true-crime dramas, instead delivering a tight, binge-worthy narrative. The cinematography leans into the stark contrast between Barcelona’s sun-drenched streets and the dark underbelly of the crime, creating a visually striking backdrop for the unfolding horror .
Unanswered Questions
Despite its success, Burning Body leaves some details in the shadows. The evidence doesn’t clarify how closely the series adheres to the real case—whether key moments are dramatized or if certain characters are composites. There’s also no word on whether the show’s creators consulted with investigators or family members involved in the original crime, leaving room for speculation about its accuracy .
Rumors about a potential second season have swirled, though nothing has been confirmed. Given the open-ended nature of the real case—Peral’s conviction was overturned in 2023, only to be reinstated later that year—there’s certainly material for a follow-up. For now, though, Burning Body stands as a gripping, self-contained thriller that leaves audiences hungry for more.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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