In my country subscription sites such as Netflix are not that popular due to the fact that you can find and download almost anything for free from the Internet. The reason I tuned in to the website was that I couldn’t find Cable Girls anywhere else dubbed in English. Which for me at the time was good enough reason to pay 7,99 Euros per month for Netflix. Two years in and with the first part of the Cable Girls final season out, I am questioning that decision.
I cannot necessarily say that Carlos was my favorite character from the beginning of the show. But he sneakily grew on me until I was convinced that he was the right fit for Lidia. Yes, there love for sure was not perfect, nor was Carlos, but it still seemed more realistic than her childhood infatuation with Francisco. We watched Carlos and Lidia’s relationship grow and develop for three seasons, it had layers and depth which were missing from the Francisco plot line.
The show returning to the banal and non-realistic idea that first love is the only true one and that soulmate scenario they pulled with Francisco in season 4, was, to be honest painful to watch. I was baffled how Lidia managed to fall in love with him again while he was in a coma for almost the whole season. And to top that, the idea that after waking up Francisco remembered only her was just absurd. Not to mention that she had been through so much with Carlos. Their actual relationship was build not just on “what ifs” and trips down memory lane.
I feel like the show is trying to return to the Mexican telenovelas where the heroine should always end up with the most predictable, non surprising character and diverted from the much more complicated idea that relationships should be developed. In telenovelas, however, everything is black and white. There is always a hero, there must be a villain as well. So the show’s writers totally tried to destroy Carlos’s character.
But isn’t the fact he was actually not perfect, like Francisco, the thing that made him much more relatable? Yes, he made huge mistakes, but that has only made me want even more for him and Lidia to find a way to work things out and for him to redeem himself.
It is true that he hid the truth from Lidia. But didn’t she do the same the entire first season? Lets give Carlos credit – he forgave her that. And, yes, he put their daughter in danger, but I doubt that he was thinking anything bad would befall the child. All of that was not good enough explanation for Lidia just to pack up her stuff and go away with Francisco. Truth be told it was a selfish decision covered up as protecting her daughter.
I did not enjoy the season 4 final at all, but was kind of hopeful that the writers will give Carlos a chance to have a relationship with his child or a new love interest at the least. A consolation prize and a happy ending of sorts.
Which brings me to season 5. To say that his character was totally dragged through the mud is a gross understatement. He was presented as a man without honor or scruples and once again “poor” Lidia – his perpetual victim. She never even thought to put herself in his shoes and realize what pain she caused him by taking away his child and escaping with Francisco. The scene in the hotel room for me was a perfect moment for the tension between the characters to build up to something productive and both to own up to their mistakes. But no! It was just a chance for the writers to throw even more mud on Carlos, who later ended up helping his beloved Lidia anyway.
I was outraged and truly disappointed that Francisco appeared once or twice during the first 5 episodes but in the end he was the one to literally save the day just to cowardly escape when Lidia and Carlos were caught. And, of course, he was excused – he had to protect Eva. But Carlos had never left Lidia in a situation like that. He was ready to protect her to the death. Not fare at all that her relationship with another man was shoved in his face.
And this feeble excuse of a redemption they have finally given him just upsets me even more than the fact he got shot in the head. His words to Lidia in the prison cell were not at all deserved by her and yet they proved his true value. To top it all, his death was later presented as a dishonorable suicide!
This character deserved so much more. He was not perfect but nobody is. At least he was not dull like Francisco. The writers should have left him have one final conversation with his daughter or, I don’t know, a soul in the world who cared about his death?!
Carlos had so much unexplored potential. He was the only character whose fate I was slightly curios about (because we all know how things will end up for Lidia and her friends – happily ever after for everybody). I literally feel robbed by the writers and that I have lost the time to watch four seasons and a half to be just grossly disappointed in the end.
That is why I am not going to watch part two of season 5 of Cable Girls. I advise you to do the same!
Photos: Internet
Confusion in Wonderland 
OMG I agree! I just finished watching it and I AM SO MAAAAD!!!! Carlos didn’t deserve that!!!!
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Could not agree with you more. Carlos dying has absolutely ruined the show. Their are numerous other things as well but the show went from a top pick to a never watch again list
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I agree as well. Killing Carlos was the worst thing the writers could have done to the series .
I also lost total interest about the series. A complete disappointment.
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I totally feel the same. Suddenly Lidia left with Fransisco to the US. Out of the blue…and the writers didn’t have to downgrade Carlos character so much.
I was so exciting during the first 3 seasons that Lidia actually fell in love with Carlos and not Fransisco. It was so unpredictable!!
I am so disappointed…. I am tired that Lidia plays with both of them and switches between the two.
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Absolutely agree with everything. Carlos character was degraded so much and his death was the absolute last straw. If this is what they planned to do then why spent so much time building on lidia and Carlos. Was highly disappointed with season 5 and don’t think the second part could redeem it in anyway!
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I absolutely agree with your observation and disappointment with the writer’s of Cable Girls on the death of Carlos… I too have lost interest to watch the second half of season 5 .. Carlos deserved a better end and one with Lidia , coz he always stood by her and helped her character grow as well .He treated her as his equal and stood by her every decision and forgave her lies too !! He didn’t deserve to b abandoned by her and such a disgraceful death in the series ,. Pathetic twist to a storyline that was going fabulously earlier ..all interest lost now of watching …
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I just started season 2, but I felt the need to do so more research before I went in to deep with the tv show, because of what Lidia did with the rotary plans. I tottally I agree with everything you said. I was rooting for him, but finding out that he kills himself is so disappointing. Carlos deserves so much more. He was defenitely was favorite character and the only one who made keep watching series because, as you said, all her friends will have a happy ending as predicted. I am so happy I found your article, because if I watched the whole thing to find out that my favorite character dies, my heart would be so broken.
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I’m glad i found your article.. because i couldn’t agree more. Just “watched” the second episod of the final part cause i wanted to see if they would give an explanation or at least something more about him, to “make things “”right””(if there would be something to do so..) Only a few tears at the new as if he wasnt nobody. Carlos definitely deserved better.
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I agree with you 100%! And I started to watch part two and I was so dissapointed!! They didn’t even mention his death once! I hate how he was portrayed as a villain.
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I’m so glad I found your article because I didn’t expect to be so horribly upset by Carlos’s death. I couldn’t have put it better. I don’t know if pure shock and outrage is what the writers were going for but I definitely will not be watching part 2 of season five. After season 4, Carlos was character who made it worth watching. What a stupid mistake by the writers.
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me 2!!!! Sooo maaad!!!! They ruined the show it’s like killing of the most important person in the most stupid way!!!!!
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I’ve found Lidia to be one of the most selfish characters I’ve ever seen in a show. She played on Carlos and Francisco’s feelings for her playing one off against the other.
I’m not going to watch anymore of this series. By killing off Carlos they have killed off my interest in this show.
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I completely agree with everyone.Carlos and Lidia were the couple that went together far more interesting than Lidia and Francisco. Lidia and Francisco were boring together. Carlos and Lidia together made the show exciting. Killing off Carlos makes for a much less interesting show. It makes for a very disappointing ending. No one seemed to be concerned about Carlos whereabouts once he and Lidia were forced to separated and she was taken off to prison. The writers really messed up. This ending could have been much much better.
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Such cute comments! 😂
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Season 4 was disappointing and Season 5 was downright awful. After Season 3 it felt like the writers didn’t really know where to take the various nuanced characters they created and chose to simply revert back to the old ‘first love is the best love’ cliche for Lidia and to make Carmen an unbelievable ‘arch nemesis’ super-villain to Lidia’s generic heroine role. They tacked on a feminist ending for the series as a whole in an attempt to win praise and deflect criticism from their obvious lack of creativity and direction. A shame because the characters on this show had much more potential for development, particularly Carlos.
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I disagree. I was a huge Carlos fan at the beginning, but his obsession with his mother made me sick. He was never on Lidia’s side when she needed him, always tricked her and disrespected her. On the other hand Francisco risked his own life to save his love’s child, supported Lidia no matter what and respected her. Imagine yourself: who’s support would you need? Carlos’ unreliable one or Francisco’s never-ending type? I vote for the latest.
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For me, the whole storyline with Francisco was too soapy. Carlos had much more interesting character from the begging and I believe they assassinated his good qualities only to be able to continue with this absurd love triangle. It was cliche and ruined the good show for me.
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Nope. Carlos was also tricked by his mother! When he found out, he cut her off. Lidia lied to Carlos OVER AND OVER AGAIN, not to defend his lies, but what ruined Carlos was when he started to fear losing her, basically that is all he did, she was very toxic to him in was he never was to her.
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I agree soo true i will certainly not going to watch the rest
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Just finished season 5 part 1 and was so devastated of the ending! At first, I thought there’s a plot twist between Carlos and Lidia’s relationship but then francisco came in. He deserves so much better!!!! The first 3 seasons were so good but the rest is literally out of the context! I don’t get how Carlos suddenly became a colonel from being a boss in a company, it doesn’t make sense!
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I don’t think anything in the last season makes sense 😕
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I had my doubts, but Carlos had connections and money, he could have bought his way up? I don’t doubt it! However, it should have been explained in the show, not left to our imagination!
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Completely agree. I’m so upset.
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I Totaly agree, i still cant get over Carlos dying.
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Carlos death ruined it . Their love was more realistic and was a better choice for Lidia! When alba (name ) died , Francisco’s love died with Alba! Lidia belonged to Carlos not Francisco
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I AGREE WITH YOU IN EVERY SINGLE WORD YOU SAID…. Exactly my opinion, I could not say it better.
Carlos deserved better than that joke of ending. He had a life and they slowly destroyed it since season 4, when Lidia ABSOLUTELY FELL IN LOVE WITH A COMA GUY…. Season 5 first part (the last one I will ever see, because im not gonna waist my time with the other part) honestly I was really compeled and intrigued at first.. I even thought wow what a twist, because I thought maybe Lidia and Carlos will finally get their fair chance (not that Lidia deserved it, but would be an interesting ending for Carlos, to get to know their daughter, I even consider that Francisco would die ( I was ok with it).
But of course NOT, I mean when I first saw how Carlos died I was in shock, I even thought “they are gonna twist this in some way and he’s gonna be alive… BUT THEN AGAIN NO NO FOR ME!…. Now Carmen (who should be like a 100 years old by now) is the one alive? What the….. I mean this was a good Story, had potential.. But I don’t know what happened with the writters (honestly they are a lot, what not even one of them said “we are ruining this”) but I googled their names because I’m never watching anything they do ever again.
Btw.. zero passion between Lidia and Francisco. She also didn’t even treat him with consideration in her decisions at the begging of the final season , especially when she told him to put Eva on the phone when she didn’t even know for sure that “evil” Carlos was gonna talk to her, I mean be consequent, If Francisco was Eva’s father for 7 years, because Carlos was such a “bad one” why Lidia never include him in that decision?….. oh Lidia, what a selfish character. Not a good example of a woman at all.
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I agree. Just finished the series. I literally felt sick to my stomach when they offed Carlos. Lidia and Carlos had better chemistry. There was something about Francisco’s face that seemed off to me. I can’t pinpoint it. There was something fake and arrogant about Francisco’s character but on the other hand Carlos was more vulnerable, more human and more relatable. Too bad that the writers messed it up horribly.
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Yes, in complete agreement with all said in article at top! Just watched Cable Girls on Netflix and got hooked but oh my, did the writers screw up in having Lidia pick Francisco over Carlos and killing Carlos was unforgivable! Lidia and Carlos, by the way were the best actors, showed the best chemistry and best layering of complex characters as both showed a full range of human emotions (with flaws) and made us care about them as a couple. Yes, Carlos was manipulated by his evil mother but he also tried to protect Lidia. Instead of destroying his character and turning into a bad guy spy he should have been a double agent, only pretending to be a spy to gain info. on the enemy. He certainly redeemed himself in being the sharpshooter rescuing Lidia in the woods when she was trying to find Sophia. Bottom line Carlos should not have ever been killed! Wrong, horrible, stupid decision, absolutely ruined the story for me. Instead the night he and Lidia spent in the jail cell together could have served as a reconciliation where both characters would have apologized for past mistakes. Carlos could have explained he was trying to get the negatives back to protect his cover as a double agent for his country; had broken ties with his mother, only cared about Lidia and his child; and was devastated when she left him. Lidia finally realizes after everything, it is Carlos (the father of her child) that she truly loves! Family reunited! BOOM! Happy Ending!
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I agree and I actually stopped watching after ep. 1 of season 5a because I didn’t like where it was going. glad I didn’t have to watch them kill him off like that.
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I was also disappointed when Carlos was killed in the movie.. I want him to have happy ending with Lidia…
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I completely agree.
I watched the whole season up to when Francisco leaves, and Lydia leaves with Carlos’s daughter to America, and now she’s returned to Spain during the War, but I’m reading Carlos dies. I’m not going to watch that now.
Carlos was the underdog, and for some reason, the writers kept putting Francisco when he got shot. I thought he died, and that was it. OK, and it was like a celebration.
Lydia toils with the men. They could have made it a twist to where Carlos finally comes back to America. It’s like when Francisco was in a coma. Lydia was too busy running around doing all these other things with her cable girls, trying to plot to rescue Oliver from a female prison, and Angele died in that prison breakout, So she had a lot on her plate already, and she didn’t want to even listen to Carlos. It was always just about her.
I was rooting for Carlos. I’d not have watched whatever the scene is or he dies. I don’t even want to see that. I don’t even put that in my mind, so I’ve stopped watching now. I stop where Lydia goes to find out that Carlos is in charge of the military, so that’s where I left off.
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