The police drama series of the year arrives on RTVE’s La 1: 'Asuntos Internos.' With its brilliant cast and international pre-release success, this gritty six-episode thriller blends intrigue, suspense and action. Set in a police station in a working-class Madrid neighborhood during the late 1970s, the series unfolds during a key period of deep social transformation in Spain’s history.

Co-produced by RTVE, Mediacrest and Mediacrest El Clásico AIE, the series is directed by María Togores and Samantha López Speranza. Its creators, Pedro García Ríos and Rodrigo Martín Antoranz, were awarded the RTVE Award at Conecta Fiction 2020. Laia Manzanares, who plays Clara Montesinos, one of Spain’s first female police officers, heads the cast of 'Internal Affairs' along with Silvia Abascal, Nacho Fresneda, Luis Callejo, Carla Campra, Marta Poveda, Nico Romero, César Vicente, Javier Collado, Jorge de Juan, Josema Pichardo and Josean Bengoetxea; with the special participation of Manuela Vellés and Miki Esparbé. 

Mediacrest’s Head of Fiction, Gustavo Ferrada, highlights how "in the midst of a hostile environment, women had to unite to establish their place in society." ‘Asuntos Internos’ takes place during a "very specific moment in history," an aspect the team "researched" and "put their heart and soul into," according to María Togores, one of the series’ directors. 

The cast also shares this sentiment. "We’re dealing with a little-known historical moment, and, what’s more, seen from a woman’s point of view," explains Laia Manzanares. For Silvia Abascal, "the series is an achievement on both technical and artistic fronts with exceptional writing." Nacho Fresneda stressed that 'Asuntos Internos’ portrays "the struggle between an era that is on its way out and one that’s just beginning." Marta Poveda underlines the themes explored in the series, such as "the feminist movement," "women coming to the fore" or "the heroin epidemic." Lastly, for Miki Esparbé, this project demands extra care, "because the generation that lived through it is still here."

Having earned RTVE’s Conecta Fiction Award in 2020, 'Asuntos Internos' has been selected to participate in the Berlinale Series Market Selects 2025 in February, after its warm reception at MIPCOM in Cannes, Iberseries & Platino Industria in Madrid and the South Festival in Cádiz. The series will join RTVE's roster, reinforcing the network’s commitment to delivering high-quality fiction content this season. The series that aired in 2024 were a success with critics and audiences alike.

Synopsis

1979. Fresh out of the police academy as one of Spain’s first female officers, Clara Montesinos (Laia Manzanares) is assigned to Madrid’s Southeast Police Precinct, a police station in the middle of a district ravaged by a massive heroin epidemic. There, the rookie detective will learn that being a cop is much harder than she thought, and even harder where she’s been posted. 

In her struggle to clean up the neighborhood, Clara will find unexpected allies: Ana (Silvia Abascal), a wealthy woman whose daughter has fallen into the clutches of drug-addiction, and Berta (Marta Poveda), the maid who works in her house. Spurred on by the courage of having to fend for themselves, all three women must confront an uphill reality. On their journey, they will encounter unexpected enemies, form surprising friendships, face double dealings, and be forced to make choices that put both their ideals and their lives on the line. 

The characters

Clara Montesinos (Laia Manzanares) is an enthusiastic and idealistic young woman that’s eager to chase her dream: become a law enforcement officer. She also wishes to clear her late father’s name, a cop that was fired from the force after being wrongfully accused of corruption. Clara's relentless dedication can tackle any challenge, even in a sexist and back-stabbing work environment. Despite her stubbornness and strict principles, she is careful to always stay within legal and ethical boundaries.

Ana Villacastín (Silvia Abascal) is An upper-class, religious and conservative woman and mother to a teenage daughter, Gema (Carla Campra). Her life takes a sudden turn after the death of her husband. With hardly any friends, she’s locked in a continuous cycle of friction with Gema who’s hip, hedonistic and uninhibited... Lost in her own pain, Ana fails to notice when her own daughter starts getting hooked on heroin. And when she finally discovers it, it's too late.

Berta (Marta Poveda) is a hard-working woman and a submissive, obedient wife who is used to keeping her head down. With Ana, she’s careful never to blur the social lines between a lady and a maid, even as she’s constantly covering for her daughter, Gema. This closeness will lead to Berta’s unfair dismissal after she’s accused of stealing.

Romero (Luis Callejo). Chief Inspector at the Vallecas Police Precinct, he’s looked up to by his peers. Running the police station under the maxim of 'the ends justifying the means,' he mentors Clara, taking her under his wing. And, despite questioning his methods, Clara's admiration for him will remain steadfast. 

Urbieta (Nacho Fresneda) is a veteran inspector at the police station. He’s no stranger to the streets and the streets know him. For months he’s been cashing in on a lucrative alliance with Rufo, a neighborhood businessman and local drug pusher. Urbieta’s dealings and the apparent free rein with which he operates will arouse Clara's suspicions. 

Velarde (Miki Esparbé) is an Inspector at Internal Affairs. Working in an office, he’s despised by cops who are out fighting crime on the front lines on the streets. But Velarde didn’t always have a desk job. He took his first steps with Romero. Now, he has his former friend's police station firmly in his sights. 

Along with other police officers, Chief commissioner Calderón (Jorge de Juan), a staunch supporter of the Franco regime, completes this ensemble cast of characters at Vallecas police station, a place where opposing sides of the law operate under the same roof. These cops interact with other characters such as Pepe (Javier Collado), Berta's husband, who’s involved in the underworld of drug dealing; or Rufo (Josean Bengoetxea), owner of Boston Pub, the nerve center of a narcotics trafficking ring.

A story inspired by real events

Currently there are over 11,000 women on Spain’s National Police force but in 1979 there were only 42. They were trailblazers, the ones who led the way. 'Asuntos Internos' takes our audience back to a time filled with both light and shadow, featuring three women led by the protagonist, Clara Montesinos, one of Spain’s pioneering female police officers.

The series unfolds at a time when traditional family structures were being questioned, with the right to divorce coming to the fore despite women continuing to bear the brunt of running a household and raising children. Changes were also affecting the workplace, a setting that continued to be challenging for women. The police station in "Asuntos Internos" sets the stage, highlighting the emerging role of women in a male-dominated environment.

Meanwhile, a previously overlooked issue comes to the fore: heroin -a drug destined to decimate an entire generation of young adults and their families. Madrid’s Vallecas neighborhood is the series’ main setting and the place where each of the protagonists’ stories intertwine. With interiors and exteriors filmed on location, the series is an accurate portrayal of the homes, vehicles, fashion, and backdrops of the late 70s and early 80s.