How many marriages can you have at the same time? With this provocative question, Netflix introduces its new Colombian production, Just Alice, a series that delves into morally complex territory from its very premise. The narrative centers on Alicia, played by renowned actress Verónica Orozco, a woman torn between two great loves who makes the radical decision to secretly marry both: a famous author and a former priest. This choice plunges her into a precarious double life, pushing the concepts of fidelity, desire, and personal freedom to their limits.
The series is defined as a dramatic comedy, a genre that allows it to explore a topic as dense as bigamy through a modern lens, blending romantic entanglements with situations that shift between drama and humor. The initial premise isn’t just a synopsis but a direct challenge to social conventions about love and commitment. By framing the story around this question, the production positions itself as a catalyst for debate, inviting the audience to reflect on the complexities of contemporary relationships, monogamy, and female desire in a world saturated with expectations.
Alicia’s Dilemma: A Plot of Balance and Deceit
The Two Husbands, The Two Lives
The core of Alicia’s conflict lies in the two men who occupy her life, each representing a different world. On one hand, there is Alejo, played by Michel Brown, her first husband. He is a successful author who considers her his muse and even wrote his latest bestseller in an effort to better understand her. Their relationship, described as a bond that began with intense passion, seems rooted in intellectual connection and romantic idealization.
On the other hand is Pablo, played by Sebastián Carvajal, her second and secret husband. He is a man of principle, a former priest now dedicated to community justice. In contrast, her connection with Pablo leans more toward a deep emotional yearning, suggesting a bond forged in sincerity and shared values. These two men are more than just love interests; they serve as external manifestations of Alicia’s own internal conflicts. Alejo represents a life of passion, creativity, and intellect, while Pablo symbolizes a life of purpose, morality, and service. Alicia’s refusal to choose between them is a reflection of her life philosophy, and her bigamy becomes a metaphor for her attempt to integrate these two often-contradictory ideals of love into a single existence.
The fundamental conflict is absolute: neither husband knows the other exists, and both expect and practice monogamy. The narrative tension is built on the question of how long she can maintain this impossible juggling act between love and lies, and what disasters will unfold when her two worlds inevitably collide.
The Mechanics of Deceit
The chaotic complexity of Alicia’s life is established from the very first scene. On her way to her secret wedding with Pablo, she faces a cascade of obstacles—traffic, a towed car, and a torn wedding dress—that force her to change in a restaurant bathroom and arrive at the church on the back of her best friend’s motorcycle. This opening, almost a screwball comedy, sets the precarious tone of her existence.
The series portrays Alicia’s double life with a style that borrows elements from spy and heist films. Her daily routine is a high-stakes operation requiring flawless logistics. Through visual montages, we see her meticulous method for keeping her two worlds separate: elaborate handwritten plans, carefully constructed alibis, separate calendars and messages, constant costume changes, and the symbolic act of swapping her two wedding rings depending on which husband she’s with. These details not only add an element of suspense but also underscore the immense psychological pressure and effort required to sustain her fragile happiness.
The Psychology of a “Morally Gray” Protagonist
To understand Alicia’s actions, the series delves into her psychology, revealing a life philosophy forged in her youth. A past declaration of hers, “I want to do it my way, not the easy way,” serves as a key to understanding her character. This mentality is also reflected in her professional career, having studied two different fields—political science and marketing—with the ambition of unifying them into a single consulting firm.
However, behind this facade of determination lies a deep vulnerability. The narrative suggests that her actions are driven by what she describes as “self-proclaimed abandonment issues,” stemming from a history of bad luck in both familial and romantic love. In a flashback scene, her tearful confession to her friend Susana, “I don’t understand why they all disappear,” reveals a deep-seated fear of loss that could explain her reluctance to let go of either man. Alicia is presented as “the hero and villain of her own story,” a woman who “lies, has fun, and loves with the same intensity,” aware that her risky bet to have it all could end up leaving her with nothing.
A Cast to Embody the Complexity
The weight of this complex narrative rests on the shoulders of Verónica Orozco, who, as Alicia, must navigate the turbulent waters of a character who is both deceptive and empathetic. At her side, the two pillars of her double life are played by Michel Brown and Sebastián Carvajal. Their roles are crucial, not only as romantic interests but as anchors for the two universes Alicia tries to keep separate. Michel Brown, in his role as Alejo, portrays a man confronting the limits of love and fidelity, a theme the actor himself has explored when discussing the series and its central question: can you love two people at once?
A key character in the plot is Susana, Alicia’s best friend, played by Constanza (Cony) Camelo. Susana acts as the voice of reason and an anchor to reality, being “adamantly against” Alicia’s second secret wedding. Her own fears of commitment offer a thematic counterpoint to her friend’s overabundance of it, enriching the series’ exploration of relationships. The cast is rounded out by a solid supporting ensemble that includes Julián Román, Biassini Segura, Luna Baxter, Silvia de Dios, and Andrés Toro, adding depth to the series’ universe.
Behind the Scenes: The Mark of a Colombian Production
Creative Leadership
The vision for Just Alice is helmed by directors Catalina Hernández, known for her work on Rigo, and Rafael Martínez Moreno, director of The Stone. The script, which seeks to balance “the lightness of humor with the complexity of emotions,” was written by Marta Betoldi and Esteban del Campo Bagu.
A Strategic Alliance
The series is the result of a major collaboration between the global streaming giant, Netflix, and the prominent Colombian production house, RCN Estudios (also cited as RCN Televisión). This alliance is a clear example of a “glocalization” strategy, where a global company adapts its products to resonate with local cultures. The production of Just Alice, filmed entirely in Colombia, is not an isolated event but part of a broader Netflix plan that includes ten original Colombian projects made by eight different local production companies.
This business model seeks to leverage local talent, settings, and cultural sensibilities to create authentic stories that, at the same time, address universal themes like love, morality, and identity, thus giving them global appeal. The series, which consists of 19 episodes, uses both urban settings in the capital and rural landscapes to visually amplify the atmosphere of its protagonist’s double life. This synergy not only strengthens the Colombian audiovisual industry but also enriches the platform’s international catalog with diverse, high-quality content.
Beyond the Entanglement: Exploring the Central Themes
The Morality of Wanting It All
Just Alice steers clear of a simplistic judgment on bigamy. The narrative presents its protagonist’s decisions “without moralizing,” focusing instead on the complex emotional implications of her actions. The series subtly explores profound themes such as responsibility, regret, unresolved pain from mistakes made in the heat of passion or fear, what we choose to commit ourselves to, and the sacrifices those commitments demand. The central question underlying the entire plot is: how much pain will Alicia’s desire to “have it all” cause those caught in the crossfire?
The use of the dramatic comedy genre is a sophisticated narrative tool for addressing these issues. The comedy allows the audience to empathize with Alicia and be amused by the absurdity of her entanglements, while the drama forces a confrontation with the gravity and consequences of her lies. This tonal mix creates a space for a nuanced discussion, allowing viewers to understand her motivations without necessarily condoning her actions, making the complex moral dilemma both accessible and thought-provoking.
A Modern Look at Female Agency
The series also contributes to the growing demand for complex and “morally gray” female characters in fiction. Alicia’s mistakes are presented as “refreshing to witness” from this perspective, as her gender makes the concept appealing but “doesn’t absolve her from her refusal to give up her dual desires.” The story becomes an exploration of the price of emotional and sexual freedom in a contemporary context, exposing the tension between social expectations and a woman’s decision to forge her own path, for better or for worse.
Broadcast Details
The series Just Alice is scheduled for its worldwide premiere on Netflix.
The release date is November 5.
