Always a Witch

This Colombian series opens in seventeenth century Cartagena where slave Carmen Eguiluz is about to be burnt at the stake for witchcraft. This is largely inspired by the fact that she is in a forbidden relationship with the son of wealthy Spanish family. The execution appears to take place but then she walks out of the sea... in the twenty-first century. We later learn she has made a deal with immortal wizard Aldemar... if she can save somebody for Aldemar she will be able to return to her own time and have her relationship. He warned her that there is a dangerous wizard who will try to stop her and somebody is murdering women accused of witchcraft. Once in the present she quickly makes friends and learns about freedoms she couldn't dream of before. Most of her problems seem to be sorted as the first season ends but more appear in the second season... Carman's friend Johnny Ki manages to use a time portal and returns with a seventeenth century pirate and a would-be witch is threatening Carmen's safety through her actions.

It must be said that while this series is quite fun it is also rather lightweight. Its cast are mostly good looking young people and even when major characters appear to be in dangerous situations nobody is likely to think they won't get out of it; the only question is how. The acting might not be the greatest but it is decent enough. The stories, which are season long rather than episodic, are fun. I think I preferred the second series slightly more; it is just as light weight but Kobo the pirate is a fun addition to the cast of characters. The city of Cartagena is a fine setting; modern but with a real sense of history. Overall a fun watch; it might not be a must see show but it passes the time nicely. The conclusion of the second season leaves an opening for further stories; if we get another season I'll watch it.

These comments are based on watching the series in Spanish with English subtitles so I can't comment on the quality of the English dubbing.