“Patria” is a slow-burning Spanish drama about the Basque conflict, told through the eyes of two women whose friendship is destroyed by terrorism. It is not a thriller. It is a tragedy, and it knows it.
The series follows Bittori (Elena Irureta) and Miren (Ane Gabarain), lifelong friends who become estranged when Bittori’s husband is killed by ETA, the Basque separatist group. The show is based on Fernando Aramburu’s novel of the same name, adapted for television by creator Aitor Gabilondo. It premiered on HBO España on September 27, 2020, with eight episodes spanning the fallout of the 2011 ceasefire.
Trailer, via HBO.
Bittori and Miren
Bittori is a widow who returns to her village after years away. She is grief-stricken and angry, and Irureta plays her with a brittle, watchful intensity that anchors the whole series. Miren, meanwhile, is the mother of a jailed ETA member. Her son’s actions have made her a pariah in her community, and Gabarain captures her desperation and pride in equal measure.
Their estrangement is the engine of the story. The show spends its runtime exploring why these women stopped talking, and what it takes to start again. It is less interested in the politics of ETA than in the personal cost of living in a country where terror is both a weapon and a fact of life.
The Cast and Its Range
The supporting cast is strong across the board. Iñigo Aranbarri plays Xabier, Bittori’s brother-in-law and a police officer hunting ETA members. Susana Abaitua plays Nerea, Bittori’s sister, whose loyalty to her family is tested by Miren’s presence. José Ramón Soroiz plays Txato, a local official caught between his duty and his conscience. The show also features Jon Olivares as Joxe Mari, a young ETA fighter, and Eneko Sagardoy as Gorka, Bittori’s son, who struggles to understand his father’s death.
| Character | Actor | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Bittori | Elena Irureta | Widow of a man killed by ETA |
| Miren | Ane Gabarain | Mother of a jailed terrorist |
| Xabier | Iñigo Aranbarri | Police officer hunting ETA |
| Nerea | Susana Abaitua | Bittori’s sister |
The ensemble gives the show a lived-in quality that feels rare in prestige TV. These are people, not symbols, and the show treats them that way.
Pace and Craft
“Patria” is not an easy watch. It moves slowly, spending entire episodes on conversations and silences that feel like they are happening in real time. This is deliberate. The show wants you to sit with the weight of its subject matter.
It also trusts its audience. There is no exposition dump, no narrator explaining the history of ETA or the Basque conflict. The show assumes you know enough to follow, and fills in the gaps through dialogue and action. This can frustrate viewers looking for a quick fix, but it rewards patience.
The final episode is a masterclass in closure. It brings the two women together, not to resolve their differences, but to acknowledge them. It is a quiet ending, and it is the right one.
Where It Falls Short
The show’s focus on Bittori and Miren means other characters get short shrift. The ETA fighters, in particular, feel like sketches rather than fully realized people. Their motivations are understandable, but the show never gives them the same depth as its civilian protagonists.
The pacing can also be a problem for viewers used to faster storytelling. Some episodes feel like they are repeating information you have already absorbed, which can test the patience of anyone expecting a propulsive narrative.
Verdict
“Patria” is a demanding but rewarding watch. It asks for your attention, and it delivers a story that stays with you long after the credits roll.
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