Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Who Killed Sara?, which became one of Netflix’s most talked-about international series and had viewers obsessing over its twists and turns for three intense seasons.
¿Quién mató a Sara? (Who Killed Sara?) premiered on Netflix on March 24, 2021, with 10 episodes per season and an average runtime of 40 minutes each. This Mexican mystery thriller series created by José Ignacio Valenzuela quickly became a global phenomenon, combining the dramatic flair of telenovelas with the addictive nature of modern streaming thrillers.
The series ran for three seasons, concluding on May 18, 2022, and follows the dark journey of revenge, family secrets, and corruption that kept audiences guessing until the very end. With its blend of mystery, drama, and psychological thriller elements, Who Killed Sara? delivers the kind of binge-worthy content that Netflix viewers crave, packed with shocking revelations and complex family dynamics.
The Revenge Plot That Started It All
The story centers on Álex Guzmán, who is hell-bent on exacting revenge and proving he was framed for his sister Sara’s murder after spending 18 years in prison. When Álex is finally released, he sets his sights on the wealthy Lazcano family, whom he believes are responsible for both Sara’s death and his wrongful imprisonment.
What begins as a straightforward revenge story quickly spirals into something much more complex. Who Killed Sara? doesn’t just ask who committed the murder – it digs deep into the question of why Sara had to die and what dark secrets the Lazcano family has been hiding for nearly two decades. The series masterfully peels back layers of deception, revealing that everyone had motives and everyone has something to hide.
The show’s strength lies in how it constantly shifts the narrative, making viewers question everything they think they know about the night Sara died. Just when you think you’ve figured out the mystery, another revelation changes everything.
Álex Guzmán: The Relentless Avenger
Manolo Cardona brings intensity and raw emotion to the role of Álex Guzmán, a man whose life was stolen from him by a crime he didn’t commit. Fresh out of prison, Álex is driven by a single-minded pursuit of justice that often blurs the lines between right and wrong.
Throughout the series, we watch Álex evolve from a man seeking simple revenge to someone who must confront the possibility that the truth is far more complicated than he ever imagined. His journey forces him to question not only who killed Sara, but also who Sara really was. Cardona’s performance captures the desperation of a man who has lost everything and the dangerous lengths he’ll go to reclaim his life.
Álex’s character development is one of the series’ strongest elements, as we see him struggle with his own moral boundaries while uncovering secrets that challenge everything he believed about his sister and his family.
The Lazcano Family: Wealth Built on Lies
The Lazcano family serves as the perfect antagonist for Álex’s quest for justice. Led by the patriarch César and his wife Mariana, this wealthy Mexican family has built their empire on lies, manipulation, and cover-ups. Each family member harbors secrets that could destroy them, making them both suspects and victims in Sara’s death.
The series reveals that Sara was pregnant with César’s baby, adding another layer of motive for her murder. The chemistry between the characters is electric, but it’s the kind of tension that comes from years of buried secrets and mutual destruction. The Lazcano children – Rodolfo, José María, and Elisa – each carry their own guilt and secrets, creating a web of complicity that extends far beyond Sara’s death.
What makes the Lazcanos compelling antagonists is that they’re not cartoon villains. They’re a dysfunctional family whose wealth has allowed them to avoid consequences for their actions, but who are ultimately trapped by their own lies and the corrupt system they’ve helped create.
The Truth Behind Sara’s Death Finally Revealed
Without spoiling the final revelations, Who Killed Sara? builds to a climax that recontextualizes everything viewers thought they knew about the central mystery. The series doesn’t just reveal who killed Sara – it forces audiences to confront the complex web of circumstances that led to her death.
The third season finally provides the answers that fans had been seeking for two seasons, though not without pulling the rug out from under viewers multiple times. The resolution is both satisfying and tragic, revealing how Sara’s death was the result of multiple failures and the toxic environment created by the Lazcano family’s corruption.
The final episodes successfully tie together the various plot threads while providing emotional closure for Álex’s journey, even as they reveal the full scope of the conspiracy that destroyed both families.
Success on Netflix
Who Killed Sara? became one of Netflix’s most successful international series, with its soapy Mexican thriller format resonating with global audiences. The show’s success lies in its ability to combine the melodramatic elements of telenovelas with the psychological complexity that modern streaming audiences expect. Each episode ends with cliffhangers that make it impossible to stop watching, while the series maintains enough mystery and character development to sustain three full seasons. The show’s popularity helped establish Netflix’s commitment to international content and proved that non-English series could achieve massive global success.
Perfect Binge for Mystery Lovers
If you love family dramas with dark secrets and complex revenge plots, Who Killed Sara? is the perfect series to binge on Netflix. This Mexican thriller delivers everything you want from a mystery series: compelling characters, shocking twists, and enough red herrings to keep you guessing until the very end.
Why You Should Watch This Addictive Thriller
Positive Points:
- Expertly crafted mystery that keeps you guessing with genuine surprises
- Strong performances, especially Manolo Cardona as the tortured protagonist
- Excellent pacing that balances character development with plot revelations
- Beautiful cinematography that captures both luxury and corruption
- Satisfying conclusion that ties together all major plot threads
Negative Points:
- Some plot twists can feel overly dramatic or implausible
- Certain storylines in later seasons feel unnecessarily complicated
- Supporting character development sometimes gets lost in the main mystery
- The telenovela style may not appeal to all international viewers
- Some episodes rely too heavily on cliffhangers at the expense of substance
Who Killed Sara? proves that the best mysteries aren’t just about solving a crime – they’re about understanding how secrets and lies can destroy entire families across generations.
Series Details
- Number of Episodes: 28 episodes across 3 seasons (10 + 8 + 7 episodes)
- Platform: Netflix
- Release Years: 2021-2022
- IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
- Genre: Mystery Thriller, Crime Drama, Family Drama
- Type of Production: Mexican series (telenovela-style thriller)
- Status: Completed (3 seasons, concluded)
- Protagonists: Manolo Cardona (Álex Guzmán), Carolina Miranda (Elisa Lazcano)
- Antagonists: Ginés García Millán (César Lazcano), Claudia Ramírez (Mariana Lazcano)