In the US, Univision transforms the finale of 'Las Hijas de la Señora García' into an episode of 'Black Mirror' - El "Güero" Castro explains - INTERVIEW

Can a telenovela have an ending worthy of 'Black Mirror'? In the digital age, 'Las Hijas de la Señora García,' a production by José Alberto "El Güero" Castro for Televisa-Univision, closes tonight in the United States with a first for the genre: an interactive finale where viewers decide the protagonist's romantic destiny.

"We wanted to add a little freshness to audience participation," Castro explained in an exclusive interview with ENSTARZ ¡Latino !. "I wish we could please everyone, but since we can't, we presented them with three endings so they could choose which one to stick with."

A family melodrama with a Turkish heart and a Mexican soul

Based on the hit Turkish soap opera 'Mrs. Fazilet and Her Daughters', 'Mrs. García's Daughters' tells the story of Ofelia (María Sorté), a strong widowed mother who has dedicated her life to raising her daughters with overwhelming love and a very clear plan: to ensure them the best possible future, even if that means manipulating their romantic destinies.

The cast includes stars such as Oka Giner, Brandon Peniche, Emmanuel Palomares, Ela Velden, and Geraldine Bazán, among others. The story blends family drama, light humor, and emotional catharsis, all with a touch recognizable to fans of Turkish melodramas, from the incidental music to the narrative rhythm.

"I didn't try to transform it into something completely new," El Güero confessed. "I stayed true to the original structure, but then we started having wild fun looking for elements that could tropicalize it for our Latin American audience."

And that "tropicalization" included more than just locations. The producer worked closely with his writing team to create moments of intergenerational relatability: "What I was most interested in was a connection between mothers and children. Seeing her, those family jokes would emerge. See, Mom? You're just like Ofelia."

The scandal of the end in Mexico

In Mexico, the ending caused a storm on social media. Viewers accused the production of "playing with their feelings" by closing the love triangle with a resolution that, for many, didn't do justice to the characters' evolution. The criticism was so intense that, jokingly, Castro admits he's used to it. "It's happened to me before. I don't do it to be annoying, but because it's difficult to make a decision about who she should stay with. Love isn't black or white."

That's why, in its Univision version, the production held an open vote for the public to choose between three possible outcomes. "The story allowed for it," Castro said. "The character's dilemma lent itself to the audience's active participation, and that seemed like a perfect opportunity."

Music as a character

Another central element of the telenovela was the music. Gloria Trevi composed and performed the main theme, which went viral on social media. "When she sent me the demo, I got goosebumps," El Güero recalls. "There was magic in that song. I didn't know how far-reaching it would be, but I felt it was the song of the telenovela."

It's not the first time a song has made a difference in their projects. "It happened to me with 'La descarada,' which Reyli Barba composed for 'Rubí,' and with 'Corre corre corazón,' which Joy composed and I happened to hear while they were recording their album. I included it in La que no podría amar (The One Who Couldn't Love) and it became an anthem."

The return of 'coviewing'

Beyond technological innovations, what excites Castro most is having reconnected with a multigenerational audience. "We've already understood that the solid foundation of our audience is the audience that has grown up with this content," he said. "We want to encourage them to sit together in front of the television, to bring back that moment of being in the living room as a family."

This concept, known as coviewing, is reinforced by the way the novel has been shared and commented on on social media, especially on TikTok, where thousands of users discovered the plot in advance.

"We have to learn to use these tools. Digital is not the enemy of linear. It's an extension. It's a tool that will help us greatly generate conversation and connection."

A farewell with a future

While fans decide which ending to follow, "Las Hijas de la Señora García" leaves a lasting impression. Not only for its embrace of nostalgia and emotion, but also for its courage in challenging the unwritten rules of melodrama.

"It's not easy to make these decisions," admitted its creator. "But when you see the audience get excited, fight, and laugh, you know it was worth it."