Netflix Trese: Every Supernatural Creature Explained

The Santelmo, a gigantic fireball that Trese summons to aid her throughout the series, is a variation of the mythical Saint Elmo's fire.

This particular phenomenon has scientific roots, with the Santelmo being identified as a ball of floating plasma or Ball Lightning, which appears for a few moments after a corona discharge in an atmospheric electric field. The phenomenon is so rare that it's difficult to catch it on footage, but so widespread that many stories all around the world have been told of its existence for centuries.

The true to life ball lightning is most often seen during thunderstorms - a common occurrence in the monsoon season of the Philippines.

This particular Santelmo comes when summoned through an old brick Nokia phone, and it's said to be the spirit of the Great Binondo Fire - an event within the Trese universe in which a heartbroken Santelmo set a fire for three days and three nights in Binondo.

Alexandra's grandfather, Alexander, resolved the incident, indebting the Santelmo to their family. In the series, Alex's mother Miranda summoned the Santelmo often enough for it to enjoy playing games with a younger Alex.