Cable Girls

Set in 1920s Madrid, Cable Girls follows four women who start work as switchboard operators at the National Telephone Company and whose lives quickly become entwined by love, rivalry, ambition and changing social norms. Alba, a young woman with a secret past, arrives eager for independence; Carlota copes with the expectations of her class; Marga brings political idealism; and their friendships are tested by workplace politics, romantic entanglements and the limits placed on women by family and society. The series tracks how their careers and private lives intersect as Madrid itself shifts toward modernity, without revealing the storylines that alter their fates.

Released in 2017 on Netflix, the show was created by Gema R. Neira, Ramón Campos and Teresa Fernández-Valdés. It’s a Spanish-language production starring Blanca Suárez, Ana Fernández, Nadia de Santiago and Yon González, filmed with attention to period detail.

Audience and critic response has been generally positive, reflected in a vote average of 7.781/10 from 488 votes. Viewers often praise the cast chemistry and the production’s recreation of the era, while reviews highlight ongoing themes like gender roles, class tensions, sexual freedom and labor rights that run through the plot.

Cable Girls reached an international audience through streaming, helping raise interest in Spanish period drama on global platforms. Its depiction of 1920s fashion and urban life prompted attention on social media and among fans of historical costume, and it sparked conversations about early feminist movements and workplace inequality in a historical context.

The series collected several nominations in Spanish television awards and festivals, with recognition aimed at its ensemble cast and costume design. While it didn’t dominate major international prize circuits, it earned a steady profile in regional awards and viewer-driven honors.