The Gardener

Elmer is shaped by a mother who used his emotional numbness to fashion him into a hired killer. Years on, he and his partner keep a quiet cover as gardeners in a sleepy town. The routine of pruning, planting, and tidy hedges masks a dangerous past and the line between daylight life and real danger begins to blur. When Elmer unexpectedly feels something for the person he is meant to harm, the careful calm of their double life starts to falter. The series makes ordinary backyards feel like pressure chambers as loyalty, manipulation, and personal longing collide in a world where nothing is as it seems.

Created by Miguel Sáez Carral, The Gardener debuted in 2025. Filmed with a sharp eye for texture, it stars Álvaro Rico as Elmer and Cecilia Suárez as La China Jurado, supported by Catalina Sopelana, María Vázquez and Emma Suárez.

Critics note a restrained, taut mood and solid performances that carry a compact, morally murky narrative. The show examines emotional deprivation, control, and the ethics of violence, while keeping tension rooted in character rather than action. The small town setting sharpens the sense that danger hides behind friendly smiles.