Ranking Every HBO Miniseries From Worst To Best
17. Patria
The European arm of HBO knocked it out of the park with this 2020 adaptation of a novel of the same name by Fernando Aramburu. The eight part series deals with the aftermath of a terrorist attack and the ramifications on the lives of two women.
The series opens with the murder of a businessman by Basque separatist group ETA. Years later, Bittori, the victim’s widow, revisits the neighbourhood she fled from in search of answers, the truth, and some kind of resolution.
The crux of the series is the relationship between Bittori and her former best friend Miren, two women whose once tight connection has been ravaged by political divide and the tragedy in their past. The roles for actresses Elena Irureta and Ane Gabarain are fantastic, and Patria gives them the time and space to delve into the characters.
It’s patient and impressively mature television, dealing with incredibly tricky and evocative political issues but steering clear of didacticism for its entire run. A distinctly Spanish story but dealing with conflicts that take place worldwide on micro and macro levels.