Introducing Burning Body (El Cuerpo en Llamas) (2023) – A Comprehensive Exploration

A Searing Spanish Thriller on Netflix

Burning Body (Spanish: El Cuerpo en Llamas), a 2023 Netflix miniseries, is a riveting Spanish true-crime drama that delves into the infamous 2017 murder of a Barcelona police officer. Directed by Jorge Torregrossa and Laura Mañá, and crafted by writer Laura Sarmiento, this eight-episode series stars Úrsula Corberó, Quim Gutiérrez, and José Manuel Poga in a gripping tale of passion, betrayal, and justice. Based on the real-life case involving Rosa Peral and the death of her partner Pedro Rodríguez, Burning Body combines intense performances, intricate storytelling, and a morally ambiguous lens to captivate global audiences. Released on September 8, 2023, the series has become a standout in the true-crime genre, sparking discussions about love, power, and accountability. This article offers a comprehensive exploration of the series’ narrative, cast, production, themes, reception, and cultural resonance, providing a complete introduction to its impact.

Synopsis: A Crime That Ignites a Firestorm

Burning Body opens in May 2017 with a chilling discovery: a burned-out car in Barcelona’s Foix reservoir containing the charred remains of Pedro (José Manuel Poga), a respected officer in the Guardia Urbana, Barcelona’s municipal police. The investigation, led by determined detectives, quickly zeroes in on Rosa (Úrsula Corberó), Pedro’s girlfriend and fellow officer, and Albert (Quim Gutiérrez), her colleague and secret lover. What begins as a murder inquiry unravels into a labyrinth of infidelity, jealousy, and hidden motives, exposing a volatile love triangle at the heart of the tragedy.

Through a blend of present-day interrogations, courtroom scenes, and vivid flashbacks, the series reconstructs the events leading to Pedro’s death. Rosa, a magnetic yet enigmatic figure, balances her relationship with Pedro while entangled with Albert, whose devotion to her masks darker ambitions. Pedro’s own complexities—professional pressures and personal insecurities—add layers to the mystery. As secrets spill—sexting scandals, workplace rivalries, and past grievances—the series keeps viewers guessing about who is truly responsible. The narrative builds to a dramatic trial, echoing the real-life conviction of Rosa Peral and Albert López, while leaving room for ambiguity about truth and culpability.

Spanning eight episodes, Burning Body is a slow-burn thriller that balances psychological depth with procedural intrigue, offering a haunting portrait of a crime that shocked Spain.

Cast and Performances: Powerhouse Talent in a Tense Drama

The cast of Burning Body delivers electrifying performances that elevate the series’ emotional and suspenseful stakes. Úrsula Corberó, globally recognized for Money Heist, is mesmerizing as Rosa, portraying her as a charismatic, manipulative officer whose charm conceals a calculating edge. Corberó’s ability to shift between vulnerability and defiance makes Rosa a compelling antihero, inviting both empathy and suspicion. Her commanding screen presence anchors the series, earning widespread acclaim.

Quim Gutiérrez, as Albert, brings quiet intensity to a character caught between love and complicity. His understated performance, marked by subtle glances and restrained emotion, contrasts with Rosa’s volatility, highlighting their toxic chemistry. José Manuel Poga, as Pedro, infuses the victim with humanity, portraying him as a devoted yet flawed man whose death reverberates through the narrative. Poga’s understated work ensures Pedro remains a poignant presence, even in flashbacks.

Supporting performances add richness to the story. Eva Llorach, as Rosa’s friend Ester, provides a moral compass, while Isak Férriz, as detective Javi, embodies relentless pursuit of truth. Pep Tosar, as Rosa’s protective father, and Guiomar Caiado, as Albert’s conflicted partner, deepen the series’ exploration of loyalty and betrayal. The ensemble’s synergy, particularly in high-stakes interrogation and courtroom scenes, creates a palpable sense of tension, making every revelation hit hard.

Production: Crafting a True-Crime Masterpiece

Produced by Arcadia Motion Pictures for Netflix, Burning Body was created by Laura Sarmiento, whose script draws heavily on court records, media reports, and the 2020 documentary Crims, which covered the real case. Directed by Jorge Torregrossa and Laura Mañá, the series was filmed in 2022 across Barcelona, leveraging authentic locations like the Foix reservoir and urban precincts to ground the story in reality. Cinematographer Álvaro Gutiérrez employs a stark, atmospheric visual style, with muted tones and stark lighting that evoke the case’s grim undercurrents, contrasted by fiery flashbacks that pulse with emotion.

The score, composed by Aitor Etxebarria, weaves eerie strings and pulsating rhythms, amplifying suspense without overwhelming dialogue. Production design meticulously recreates 2017 Barcelona, from police uniforms to smartphones, ensuring period accuracy. The series’ eight-episode structure, with episodes averaging 45 minutes, allows for a deliberate pace that builds tension while exploring character backstories.

Filming a high-profile case posed challenges, particularly given Rosa Peral’s ongoing imprisonment and public notoriety. The production team balanced fidelity to real events with fictionalized elements, such as composite characters and dramatized motives, to enhance narrative flow. Sensitivity to the victim’s family and legal constraints shaped the portrayal of Pedro, while the series avoided explicit vilification of Rosa and Albert, opting for nuance over sensationalism. Netflix’s global platform ensured wide accessibility, with dubbing and subtitles in multiple languages broadening its reach.

Themes and Symbolism: Passion, Power, and Truth

Burning Body grapples with themes of love, betrayal, and the elusive nature of truth, using the murder case to probe the complexities of human relationships. The love triangle at its core—Rosa, Pedro, and Albert—serves as a microcosm of desire and destruction, exploring how passion can curdle into violence. The series critiques power dynamics within relationships and institutions, particularly the police force, where camaraderie masks corruption and rivalry.

Symbolism is woven throughout. Fire, as the title suggests, represents both the literal act of murder and the metaphorical flames of jealousy and rage that consume the characters. The Foix reservoir, serene yet sinister, mirrors the hidden truths beneath polished facades. Courtroom scenes, with their stark lighting and formal rituals, symbolize society’s attempt to impose order on chaos, yet the series questions whether justice can untangle subjective narratives.

The portrayal of Rosa as a female perpetrator challenges gender stereotypes, inviting comparisons to real-life cases like Jodi Arias. By emphasizing her agency and flaws, Burning Body engages with contemporary debates about women in true-crime narratives, as seen in series like Dirty John. The series also reflects on media sensationalism, with courtroom crowds and news clips echoing the public’s fascination with the real case.

Reception and Impact: A Streaming Sensation

Burning Body garnered positive reviews for its gripping narrative and standout performances, though some critics noted its reliance on genre conventions. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 68% approval rating, with outlets like Ready Steady Cut praising its “engaging character study” and “tight pacing.” Spain’s El País lauded Corberó’s “career-defining” performance, while some reviews, like Espinof, felt later episodes leaned too heavily on melodrama. Heaven of Horror called it “essential for true-crime fans,” highlighting its balance of fact and fiction.

The series was a global hit, topping Netflix’s non-English charts in September 2023 with over 45 million hours viewed in its debut week. In Spain, it reignited interest in the Rosa Peral case, with X posts from 2023 debating her guilt and comparing the series to The Undoing or Your Honor. International audiences, particularly in Latin America and Europe, embraced its universal themes, though some Reddit threads criticized its pacing or fictionalized elements.

Controversy arose over the series’ portrayal of real figures. Rosa Peral, serving a 25-year sentence, reportedly denounced the series as biased, claiming it harmed her appeal efforts, as noted in El Mundo. The production team maintained they aimed for neutrality, but the case’s sensitivity fueled ethical debates about dramatizing recent tragedies. Despite this, Burning Body was praised for spotlighting issues like police misconduct and gender dynamics.

Cultural Significance: A True-Crime Milestone

Burning Body tapped into the global true-crime boom, alongside hits like Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022), reflecting audiences’ appetite for real-life dramas. Its Spanish perspective diversified the genre, offering a counterpoint to American-centric narratives. The series’ focus on a female antihero resonated with 2020s discussions about gender and power, as seen in podcasts like Crime Junkie or Morbid, which often explore women’s roles in crime.

Set against Spain’s cultural backdrop, the series reflects Barcelona’s dual identity—cosmopolitan yet insular—while addressing universal issues like institutional trust. The real case, dubbed the “Guardia Urbana murder,” remains a touchstone in Spanish media, akin to the O.J. Simpson trial in the U.S. By casting Corberó, a global star, Burning Body bridged local and international audiences, reinforcing Netflix’s role in globalizing Spanish content post-Money Heist.

Compared to The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), previously discussed, Burning Body trades satire for psychological depth, but both use real stories to probe moral ambiguity. While Scorsese’s film critiques systemic greed, Burning Body focuses on personal betrayal, making them complementary studies of human flaws.

Legacy and Availability

Burning Body has cemented its status as a Netflix standout, earning nominations at Spain’s Ondas Awards for Best Series and Best Actress. Its success spurred interest in related content, with Netflix’s companion documentary Rosa Peral’s Tapes (2023) offering further context. The series’ nuanced portrayal of Rosa has influenced true-crime discourse, with academic analyses exploring its feminist undertones.

As of May 14, 2025, Burning Body is available on Netflix worldwide, with all eight episodes streamable in Spanish, dubbed, or subtitled formats. Offline viewing is supported via Netflix’s app, though physical releases are unavailable. Fan discussions on Letterboxd, MUBI, and X continue to dissect its twists and moral questions, ensuring its lasting impact.

Conclusion: A Blazing True-Crime Triumph

Burning Body (2023) is a tour de force of true-crime storytelling, blending Úrsula Corberó’s magnetic performance with a taut, morally complex narrative. Jorge Torregrossa and Laura Mañá’s direction, paired with Laura Sarmiento’s incisive script, crafts a thriller that burns with intensity, probing the depths of love, betrayal, and justice. While its dramatization of a real tragedy sparks debate, its gripping execution and cultural resonance make it a must-watch.

For fans of true-crime, psychological dramas, or Spanish cinema, Burning Body delivers an unforgettable blaze of emotion and intrigue—one that illuminates the shadows of human nature and leaves a smoldering mark on the genre.