Midnight Family

This serie follows the principal idea of the.2019 Documentary "Familia de Medianoche", but with some interesting but simple sub-plots that are not difficult to follow.

The cast does a great job, Joaquín Cosio is a very gifted actor, and the promising Golden Globe nominee Diego Calva lives up his reputation.

The leading role, portrayed by Renata Vaca, is sometimes outshined by her talented co-stars, but overall, all of them deliver.

There are, and will be some incredible guest appearences, including the acclaimed Dolores Heredia, Óscar Jaenada and Academy Award nominee Yalitza Aparicio, so I can't wait for the following episodes.

I'm a UK viewer who watched in original version soundtrack with English subtitles.

This felt a little weak to start with in Episode 1 and was quite gritty and gory and I was questioning whether to stick with it. However, it quickly developed into a really excellent show.

The characters and the individual challenges that each of the 4 family members quickly became the focus of the drama with the life as paramedics / ambulance crew providing the backdrop to their stories.

Episode 3 to the backdrop of real life earthquake events was a very strong episode as were the final 3 episodes where the stories of each of the main characters reached climaxes. The ending was perhaps a little weak leaving lots of openings for a further season although I felt satisfied if there are any more episodes.

The social backdrop of the ambulance and medical services in Mexico is another interesting aspect of the show.

This is a very moving show about a family that runs an "ambulancia pirata"-- an unofficial ambulance -- in Mexico City. There aren't nearly enough of the government-funded official ambulances to service this enormous city of 22 million people. The main characters are a father, daughter and two sons who together operate the ambulance as the family business night after night. They are strong, resourceful and indefatigable. The obstacles they are forced to overcome make me question my own mettle. The cast is great. Veteran actor Joaquín Cosio as the father. Diego Calva as the eldest son. Renata Vaca is the daughter -- who is trying to ride the ambulance at night and attend medical school during the day -- and despite two reviews, I think her performance stands up to those of her co-stars. Finally, Sergio Bautista deftly plays the youngest a boy of perhaps twelve years old. Together they make an authentic family. This show has tremendous heart. One reviewer, who I will comment upon below, trashes the show as soapy, and there is a grain of truth to that -- but just a grain. I suspect that the filmmakers have worked on telenovelas and there are traces of that style -- but just traces -- and they make the show more interesting not less, because while the show appears to emerge from that tradition, the repurpose it to make a very novel drama. It's also a vivid portrait of Mexico City. If you've ever been there, you will feel you are there again. If you haven't you'll know what it's like.

Watch it in its original Spanish with subtitles. A lot is lost in the dubbed version, which is Apple's default. Why Apple? You will have to change the language of both the audio and subtitles (lower right on Apple's player)

Now to review the other reviewers. One pans the show because the hour-long episodes are "too long." They are around an hour long (though some are shorter), but that's the industry standard. They are intense. Can the reviewer not stand the heat? If you don't have the depth to understand something, maybe you shouldn't write a review.

Another panned it as soapy and low-budget. I've already commented on "soapy." This reviewer claims that the injured people in the earthquake episode look as though they'd been slathered with ketchup. Well, not to me. He also complained that there were no "grievous amputation injuries." There was a very grisly compound fracture. But seriously, who watches a show and complains that there aren't enough amputations? I'm going to recommend that this reviewer see a therapist.

Bottom line give this show a chance. You'll be rewarded.

Responding the the review From below:

"It's too long."

It's a standard format.

"The first episode is over 50 minutes, and there are nine more of the same length, which feels excessive for such a simple story. "

You've only seen the first episode. What do you mean a simple story? You don't know what else it contains.

"The show revolves around a family of four who run a private ambulance service. They face challenges in their work, competition from other ambulances, going from the scene of emergencies to hospitals to save lives, while also dealing with personal issues."

What is this? A ChatGPT description of the trailer?

Anyway first episode was really well done and touches on important societal issues. Excited to keep watching.

Midnight Family is a fascinating, emotional, sometimes riveting series about a semi-dysfunctional family who always have each other's backs, despite enduring a boatload of trials and tribulations. I haven't watched the documentary, so I have nothing to compare with, but the series itself had me hooked after the first few episodes and I looked forward eagerly to watching the whole first season.

As other reviewers have noted, there is a definite "soap opera-ish" feel to the series but, for me, that helps keep up the energy and excitement. The show is very well shot and, even though I don't speak Spanish, the actors all seemed to do an excellent job in their roles.

There are multiple cliffhangers at the end of the first season, so I truly hope that Apple TV+ does the right thing and produces a second season. If not, I'll be disappointed about not being able to find out what happens to all these interesting characters.

I'd rate Midnight Family 8.3 and give it a very positive recommendation for anyone who enjoys a high-energy medical series with plenty of emotion.