Metástasis (meaning "metastasis" in Spanish) is a Colombian telenovela series, a Spanish language remake of the American crime dramaBreaking Bad that transposes the events of the original from the United States to Colombia.[2] It follows the storyline for all five seasons of Breaking Bad, with alterations to its pacing, visual style, and subplot elements.
Walter Blanco is a frustrated high school chemistry teacher, married to his unexpectedly-pregnant wife Cielo Blanco, and father of his disabled son Walter Blanco Jr. Walter also works in a car wash in the afternoons. When he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, he wonders what will happen to his family when he dies.
Witnessing a raid by the Anti-Narcotics Police organized by his brother-in-law Henry Navarro, Walter recognizes a former student of his: José Miguel Rosas, whom he contacts to manufacture and sell methamphetamine and thus ensure the economic well-being of his family. But the approach to the world of drugs and dealing with traffickers and mobsters contaminates Walter's mind, making him gradually abandon his straight and predictable personality to become someone without too many scruples when it comes to getting what he wants.
Production
The idea for a Spanish remake of Breaking Bad was originally conceived due to how cable television is not common in Latin America.[6] The episodes were individually shot in an average of two and a half days, compared to eight for its American counterpart.
Some changes were made to adapt aspects of Breaking Bad's American elements to Metástasis' Colombian setting. The outdoor scenes of Metástasis were shot in Bogotá, which has a colder and more mountainous environment compared to the deserts surrounding Albuquerque, New Mexico. Pest exterminators are uncommon in the region, so the main characters pose as demolition experts in the latter half of the fifth season. Saúl Bueno (the show's equivalent of Saul Goodman) demonstrates his legal services on a television talk show rather than through commercials, as legal services cannot be advertised in Colombia.[3] The iconic recreational vehicle which Jesse and Walter use to cook meth is replaced by a school bus, as RVs are rare in Latin America.[6]
In Mexico, Televisa's Channel 5 broadcast the series Monday through Friday at midnight;[9] in the United States, the series aired on UniMás, with a debut simulcast on UniMás, Univision, and Galavisión on Sunday, June 8, 2014.[10]
Series overview
Overview of seasons of Metástasis
Season
Episodes
Originally aired
First aired
Last aired
1
7
June 8, 2014 (2014-06-08)
June 18, 2014 (2014-06-18)
2
13
June 23, 2014 (2014-06-23)
July 9, 2014 (2014-07-09)
3
13
July 10, 2014 (2014-07-10)
July 27, 2014 (2014-07-27)
4
13
July 28, 2014 (2014-07-28)
August 19, 2014 (2014-08-19)
5
16
August 20, 2014 (2014-08-20)
September 18, 2014 (2014-09-18)
Reception
Vince Gilligan, the original creator of Breaking Bad, praised Metástasis' creators for being able to create the original series' entire runtime much faster and on a smaller budget.[3]
