The music cues in the latest trailer for Netflix’s upcoming series Siempre bruja (Always a Witch) are not subtle. It opens, after all, with Cielobrujo’s “Ven Pa’ca” and ends with La Perla’s “Bruja.” And in between we get to see the fleshed out story of Carmen (Afro-Colombian newcomer Angely Gaviria), a nineteen year-old enslaved woman who, before being burned at the stake in Cartagena back in the 17th century, finds herself time-traveling to modern-day Colombia. Popping with bright colors that match its idyllic Caribbean setting, the drama will continue the brujería trend that’s already spawned Sabrina and Charmed reboots. Only, this Colombian production will clearly be putting its own cultural imprint on the material.
And, this being 2019, you better believe that this trailer opens with one of the biggest concerns of a young 21st century bruja: which apps to download on one’s iPhone. “What are apps?” she asks, innocently, only to have her newfound social media-obsessed friend laugh it off as a silly comment from a simpleminded country girl. Indeed, the more we see Carmen interact with the young crowd she falls in with, it’s clear this’ll be a fish out of water story that mines the comedy at the heart of its premise: even her inadvertent levitation while sleeping and telekinetic powers while browsing the web are played for winking laughs.
Those looking for some action and intrigue (and romance!) will be happy to know that Carmen is intent on going back and saving her boyfriend, the white man she fell in love with and the root cause of her current time-traveling misfortunes. To do so, she’ll have to learn how to channel her powers and recruit her new friends along the way. Add in a mysterious character called Lucien who’s hunting witches (“He’ll turn you into ashes as he’s done with many of us,” she’s warned by a saintly-looking Verónica Orozco) and some fiery altercations and it looks like Siempre bruja will deliver on all accounts.
Thankfully, we won’t have to wait too long. In the meantime, watch the full trailer below.
Siembre bruja premieres February 1, 2019