Insiders (Spanish TV series)

Insiders is a Spanish reality television series hosted by Najwa Nimri. It premiered on Netflix on October 21, 2021.[1]

Insiders
GenreReality television
Created byJose Velasco
Directed byMamen Fernández
Presented byNajwa Nimri
ComposerAlfonso G. Aguilar
Country of originSpain
Original languageSpanish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes14
Production
Executive producersJose Velasco
Sara Fernández-Velasco
Arantza Sánchez
Marco A. Castillo
ProducersHortensia López
Yaiza Sánchez
CinematographyJavier Ruiz
Running time43-60 minutes
Production companyiZen
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseOctober 21, 2021 (2021-10-21) –
present

Premise

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Thirteen contestants are gathered in a 1,600 square-meter studio under the guise of the final stage of the casting process for a reality show. What they do not know is that, in fact, they are already in the show: cameras are secretly filming them during all their stay in the area. The objective of this is to catch contestants off guard and make them confront the differences in their behavior between the times they know they are being filmed and the times they think they are not. The winner will earn a €100,000 prize.[2]

Season 1 (2021)

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Contestants

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Name[3] Age Hometown Occupation Entered Exited Result
Nicole 27 Canary Islands Social media personality 1 7 Winner
Laura 25 Madrid Graduate in Journalism 1 7 Runner-Up
Olaya 21 Barcelona Luxury store salesperson 1 7 Third Place[note 1]
Iván Molina 28 Valencia Professional poker player 1 7
Peter 26 Madrid Engineer and DJ 1 7 8th Eliminated
Estefanía 29 Valencia Student 1 6 7th Eliminated
Fama 26 Blanes Graduate in Physical Education 1 6 6th Eliminated
Hugo 33 Madrid Cook 1 5 5th Eliminated
Bárbara "Bibi" 25 Madrid Make-up artist 1 4 4th Eliminated / Fan Favourite
Cynthia 24 Barcelona Graduate in Tourism 2 3 3rd Eliminated
Query 35 Chipiona Hospital attendant and town councilman 1 3 2nd Eliminated
Iván Míguez 33 Ibiza Restaurant manager 1 2 1st Eliminated
Tatiana 28 Málaga Comedian 1 2 Fake contestant[note 2]

Results and elimination

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Casting Phase
12 Days
Streaming Phase
7 Days
Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7
Final
Nicole Exempt Pass Pass Pass Peter Exempt Not
Eligible
Not
Eligible
Finalist Winner
(Episode 7)
Laura Exempt Pass Pass Pass Hugo Not
Eligible
Not
Eligible
Not
Eligible
Finalist Runner-up
(Episode 7)
Iván Molina Exempt Pass Pass Pass Hugo Not
Eligible
Not
Eligible
Peter Finalist Third Place
(Episode 7)
Olaya Exempt Pass Pass Pass Nicole Not
Eligible
Not
Eligible
Not
Eligible
Finalist Third Place
(Episode 7)
Peter Exempt Pass Pass Pass Hugo Exempt Not
Eligible
Not
Eligible
Eliminated
(Episode 7)
Laura
Estefanía Exempt Pass Pass Pass Nicole Not
Eligible
Not
Eligible
Eliminated
(Episode 6)
Iván Molina
Fama Exempt Pass Pass Pass Hugo Not
Eligible
Estefanía Eliminated
(Episode 6)
Laura
Hugo Exempt Pass Pass Pass Peter Fama Eliminated
(Episode 5)
Nicole
Bárbara Exempt Pass Pass Failed Eliminated
(Episode 4)
Nicole
Cynthia Not in
House
Exempt Failed Eliminated
(Episode 3)
Nicole
Query Exempt Pass Failed Eliminated
(Episode 3)
Nicole
Iván Míguez Exempt Failed Eliminated
(Episode 2)
Olaya
Tatiana Exempt Left
(Episode 2)
Eliminated Tatiana
Fake contestant
Iván Míguez
Committee's choice
to eliminate
Query
Committee's choice
to eliminate
Bárbara
Committee's choice
to eliminate
Hugo
4 of 8 votes
to eliminate
Fama
Hugo's choice
to eliminate
Estefanía
Fama's choice
to eliminate
Peter
Iván Molina's choice
to eliminate
Winner Nicole
4 of 8 votes
to win
Finalist Laura
2 of 8 votes
to win
Cynthia
Committee's choice
to eliminate
Iván Molina
1 of 8 votes
to win
Olaya
1 of 8 votes
to win

Season 2 (2022)

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During a press conference for Netflix's Spanish originals at the 2021 Vitoria FesTVal, Álvaro Díaz, Netflix Spain's director of non-fiction content, confirmed that a second season had already been filmed.[4] Season 2 premiered on May 19, 2022.[5] Laura and Peter from Season 1 returned as 'mole' contestants, trained by the show's crew for a special assignment.

Contestants

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Name[5] Age Hometown Occupation Entered Exited Result
Raquel Arias 29 Madrid Model Episode 1 Episode 7 Winner
Lorenzo 34 Ciudad Real Graphic designer Episode 1 Episode 7 Runner-Up
Ainhoa "Nowa" 29 Mérida Social worker Episode 1 Episode 7 Third Place
Ramón 30 Ibiza Private chef Episode 1 Episode 7 Fourth Place
Marta 25 Madrid HR Episode 1 Episode 6 6th Eliminated
Adán 30 Seville Businessman Episode 1 Episode 6 5th Eliminated
Tania 35 La Rioja Store clerk Episode 1 Episode 5 4th Eliminated
Pablo 29 Huelva Engineer Episode 1 Episode 3 3rd Eliminated
Sofía 25 Santa Cruz Business Administration student Episode 1 Episode 3 2nd Eliminated
Álex 34 Madrid Commercial advisor Episode 1 Episode 2 1st Eliminated
Laura 25 Madrid Graduate in Journalism Episode 1 Episode 2 Fake contestants
Peter 24 Madrid Engineer and DJ Episode 1 Episode 4

Results and elimination

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Casting Phase
12 Days
Streaming Phase
7 Days
Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7
Final
Raquel Exempt Pass Pass Pass Lorenzo Not
Eligible
Not
Eligible
Not
Eligible
Finalist Winner
(Episode 7)
Lorenzo Exempt Pass Pass Pass Ramón Tania Not
Eligible
Not
Eligible
Finalist Runner-up
(Episode 7)
Nowa Exempt Pass Pass Pass Adán Not
Eligible
Not
Eligible
Not
Eligible
Finalist Third Place
(Episode 7)
Ramón Exempt Pass Pass Pass Lorenzo Not
Eligible
Not
Eligible
Not
Eligible
Finalist Fourth Place
(Episode 7)
Marta Exempt Pass Pass Pass Raquel Not
Eligible
Not
Eligible
Not
Eligible
Eliminated
(Episode 6)
Lorenzo
Adán Exempt Pass Pass Pass Tania Tania Not
Eligible
Marta Eliminated
(Episode 6)
Raquel
Tania Exempt Pass Pass Pass Adán Not
Eligible
Adán Eliminated
(Episode 5)
Nowa
Peter Exempt Pass Pass Pass Left
(Episode 4)
Pablo Exempt Pass Failed Eliminated
(Episode 3)
Raquel
Sofía Exempt Pass Failed Eliminated
(Episode 3)
Raquel
Álex Exempt Failed Eliminated
(Episode 2)
Lorenzo
Laura Exempt Left
(Episode 2)
Eliminated Laura
Fake contestant
Álex
Committee's choice
to eliminate
Sofía
Committee's choice
to eliminate
Peter
Fake contestant
Lorenzo
2 of 7 votes
to fake evict
Tania
Lorenzo &
Adán's choice
to eliminate
Adán
Tania's choice
to eliminate
Marta
Adán's choice
to eliminate
Winner Raquel
3 of 6 votes
to win
Finalist Lorenzo
2 of 6 votes
to win
Pablo
Committee's choice
to eliminate
Adán
2 of 7 votes
to fake evict
Nowa
1 of 6 votes
to win
Ramón
0 of 6 votes
to win

Episodes

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Series overview

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
17October 21, 2021 (2021-10-21)
27May 19, 2022 (2022-05-19)May 26, 2022 (2022-05-26)

Season 1 (2021)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal release date
11"Welcome to Insiders"
(Bienvenidos a Insiders)
October 21, 2021 (2021-10-21)
After host Najwa Nimri explains some basic aspects of the show to the viewers, the contestants arrive and meet the crew, including deciding committee members Marina and Rubén (who are actually two actors playing producers). They are allowed to keep their phones for fifteen more minutes to say goodbye to their friends and families before the final casting begins (unbeknownst to them, they are already in the show proper). Mamen, the show's director, tells the contestants that their phone interactions have resulted in a leak to the press, and the show could be shut down if the culprit doesn't come forward.
22"If You Tell Anyone, You're Out"
(Si lo cuentas, estás fuera)
October 21, 2021 (2021-10-21)
Tatiana comes forward as the person inadvertently responsible for filming the video that resulted in the alleged leak, and is removed from the show. As viewers learn through a flashforward that Tatiana is another actress, and never was an actual contestant, new player Cynthia arrives as Tatiana's replacement. The contestants' morals are put to the test by the committee with a challenge involving a gun loaded with blank bullets (although the players aren't told of that last detail) and four rabbits locked in glass capsules, players then being asked to shoot one of the rabbits. Hugo is up first, and refuses on principle to harm any of the animals, being then warned by Rubén that he will be cut from the casting if he discusses the test with the rest of contestants. The other players are put to the same test, and several of them do pull the trigger. Iván Míguez is eliminated.
33"No Such Thing as Perfection"
(La perfección no existe)
October 21, 2021 (2021-10-21)
44"Streaming Life"
(La vida en streaming)
October 21, 2021 (2021-10-21)
55"Double Feature"
(Sesión continua)
October 21, 2021 (2021-10-21)
Hugo is voted out of the competition by the other players, and learns that he can pick the next eliminated contestant out of the players who did not receive any votes; but he has to be careful, because that person will also get to choose the next eliminated player.
66"Taking You Down with Me"
(Te arrastro conmigo)
October 21, 2021 (2021-10-21)
After staying in the house for some more time to make his decision, Hugo, having promised Nicole that he would think of her, eliminates the one contestant he is sure will not remove Nicole from the game: Fama, who later chooses to eliminate Estefanía. Instead of picking the next elimination herself, Estefanía has the chance to pick which of the remaining players will choose the last eliminated contestant before the finale. She chooses Iván Molina, despite him having asked her not to. Peter goes into the white room and announces he has a plan.
77"The Last Shall Be First"
(Los últimos serán los primeros)
October 21, 2021 (2021-10-21)
Peter's strategy is to sacrifice himself so that Laura can have a chance of winning, asking Iván to eliminate him, claiming that he had a deal to split the prize with Laura and promising Iván to give him his half of the prize should Laura win. Iván reluctantly eliminates Peter. The eliminated contestants then learn that the alleged software that was assessing their qualities to determine who was closest to being the "perfect contestant" was a ruse; instead, they are the ones who will vote to determine the winner. After the vote, Nicole is announced as the winner. The season ends with Najwa announcing that Insiders is not over yet: the crew has a new plan for the next season, and Laura will be involved in it.

Season 2 (2022)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal release date [6]
81"Insiders's Main Game"
(El gran juego de Insiders)
May 19, 2022 (2022-05-19)
92"Nothing's What It Seems"
(Nada es lo que parece)
May 19, 2022 (2022-05-19)
103"Two Sides"
(Dos bandos)
May 19, 2022 (2022-05-19)
114"They're In"
(Están dentro)
May 26, 2022 (2022-05-26)
125"Join Forces or Die"
(Aliarse o morir)
May 26, 2022 (2022-05-26)
136"Insiders in Check"
(Jaque a Insiders)
May 26, 2022 (2022-05-26)
147"The Perfect Contestant"
(El concursante perfecto)
May 26, 2022 (2022-05-26)

Critical reception

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Insiders was met with positive to mixed reviews in Spain, being hailed as a return to the essence of reality television. FormulaTV's Sergio Navarro compared the show to American television series Unreal, noting that it showed the crew plotting where the show was heading. "And it is thrilling to witness those private meetings, unbeknownst to the contestants, where you can see how they weave the twists and turns and how they come together to create an exciting program."[7]

Bluper's Juan M. Fernández also picked up on the comparison to Unreal, while praising the decision to keep the runtime at an hour or less per episode: "It was about time that shows with episodes of no more than 50 minutes were done in this country. The show wins with it. More so with such outstanding music. Insiders cuts to the chase, gets right down to business."[8]

Espinof's Mikel Zorrilla was less impressed, noting that the format becomes overcomplicated in its attempt to keep contestants and viewers alike on their toes: "Insiders wants to outsmart everyone, at once trying to retrieve something unique and to constantly surprise. The mixture is striking at first, but there is a point where everything turns out kind of random, leaving the show at a strange middle ground between the search for something real and the completely manufactured."[9]

For similar reasons, Decider's Joel Keller advised readers to skip the show, concluding: "There’s a good reality competition somewhere within the convoluted format of Insiders. But the pains the producers take to keep their secret from the contestants makes it all about the conceit and not the contestants themselves."[10]

References

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  1. ^ Paredes, Mónica (16 September 2021). "'Insiders', el 'reality' presentado por Najwa Nimri, ya tiene fecha de estreno en Netflix". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  2. ^ Rodera, Alejandro (16 September 2021). "Netflix estrena 'Insiders', su primer reality español, el 21 de octubre". FormulaTV (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Netflix presenta a los concursantes de 'Insiders', su primer reality en España". Bluper (in Spanish). 5 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  4. ^ Fernández, Juan M. (3 September 2021). "Netflix impacta e ilusiona con los primeros avances de 'Insiders', 'Amor con fianza' y 'Yo soy Georgina'". Bluper (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b Cabanillas Tapia, Andrea (20 April 2022). "'Insiders 2' se estrena el 19 de mayo en Netflix y presenta a sus diez nuevos concursantes". FormulaTV (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Shows A-Z – Insiders on Netflix". The Futon Critic. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  7. ^ Navarro, Sergio (18 October 2021). "Crítica de 'Insiders': Una fantasía de metarreality para los amantes de la televisión". FormulaTV (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  8. ^ Fernández, Juan M. (20 October 2021). "'Insiders', el adictivo e inquietante reality de Netflix que necesitaba el amante del género en España". Bluper (in Spanish). El Español. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  9. ^ Zorrilla, Mikel (21 October 2021). "'Insiders' quiere ser una revolución, pero el primer reality español de Netflix se complica demasiado buscando la sorpresa". Espinof (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  10. ^ Keller, Joel (21 October 2021). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'Insiders' On Netflix, A Convoluted Spanish 'Big Brother' Copycat Where The Housemates Don't Think They're Being Filmed". Decider. Retrieved 23 October 2021.

Notes

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  1. ^ Iván and Olaya's eliminations in the finale were announced at the same time without disclosing the full results; therefore, they are considered to be tied for third.
  2. ^ Tatiana was later revealed to be an actress who was there to fool the contestants.