Raising Voices-A Messy Start That Becomes Something Powerful

 

Raising Voices (original title: Ni Una Más) is the kind of show that initially made me want to stop watching — and then made me glad I didn’t. 

Based on the novel by Miguel Sáez Carral, this Spanish Netflix series explores teen life, sexual violence, and the power of speaking out. It's not always subtle, but it's effective. 

At First, It Felt Like Too Much

The first couple of episodes? Honestly, I didn’t love them. It felt like the writers were trying to cram every possible issue related to sexual assault into one high school. Revenge porn, harassment, grooming, slut-shaming, rape culture — all at once.

It was overwhelming. I wasn’t sure where to focus. Instead of building empathy, it felt like the show was going for pure shock value. It was hard to care when everything was dialed up to 100.

But then something clicked.

Maybe That Chaos Was the Point

That disorientation — not knowing exactly what’s wrong, just feeling that something is — turns out to be intentional. 

It's the same confusion victims often face: a blur of wrongness with no clear answers. We know something bad is happening, but we don’t fully see it yet. And neither does Alma, the main character.

Alma: Quiet, Smart, and Easy to Miss — Until She Isn’t

Alma isn’t your typical protagonist. She’s awkward, quiet, and smart. That’s what makes her so vulnerable. But it’s also what makes her powerful. She’s the one who notices, who questions, and eventually who speaks.

The way the show builds her transformation is subtle but smart. She doesn’t have a big dramatic shift — it’s more like she slowly wakes up, and when she does, she pulls the whole story into focus.

Berta: The Side Character Who Becomes a Mirror

I loved how the show handled Berta. At first, she seems like a secondary character — the quieter friend in the background. But her story is the story. 

Instead of using her for plot or emotional backup, the show lets her grow in her own space. It shows how trauma spreads in circles, not straight lines.

Greta: The Most Mature... and Still at Risk

Greta, Clara Galle (Through My Window), might be the most interesting character in the early episodes. She’s confident, grounded, more emotionally mature than the rest. So when she starts getting close to a much older woman — a police officer, no less — something feels off.

And it’s supposed to feel off. Before we even know who this woman really is, the warning signs are there. Why is she so interested? Is this a setup? Is she grooming Greta?

It’s such a smart storyline, because it challenges the idea that only “naive” girls get manipulated. Greta’s strength doesn’t protect her — because predators don’t care how strong you are. She was simply lucky.

And Then… the Teacher

This is where the show truly hits. The teacher character is written exactly the way these people often are in real life — charming, kind, “safe.” He listens. He seems different. He’s the one adult who gets it.

Until he doesn’t.

Until you see him for who he really is.

That slow unraveling — for Alma, and for us — is devastating. Because it’s exactly how grooming works. It’s not loud. It’s subtle, careful, wrapped in kindness. And once the truth shows up, it’s horrifying.

There’s More to Say 

There’s so much more I could say. Each character arc demands special attention, and there is much more to say about each one. 

Raising Voices isn’t perfect. It starts off messy and almost too much. But it finds its rhythm, and when it does, it tells a story that feels painfully real. It’s about how abuse hides behind charm. How silence protects power. And how hard — and brave — it is to speak up.

It might take a few episodes to get into, but if you stick with it, you’ll see what it’s really trying to do. And it's worth it.

Another Spanish teen Drama you may like - Elite