The new Globo novel, Quem Ama Cuida, premiered on Monday (18) on TV, and it is the new TV station´s bet. The plot is written by the renowned author, Walcyr Carrasco, and Claudia Souto. With artistic direction by Amora Mautner, it promises to thrill the audience with a plot of overcoming adversity and revenge. Furthermore, the soap features renowned names from Brazilian television drama, such as Flávia Alessandra, Mariana Ximenes, and many others.
The story begins with Adriana (Letícia Colin) having her life devastated in just one day. After being fired from the clinic where she worked as a physiotherapist, she loses her family home with all her belongings inside. Although she also loses her husband, Carlos (Jesuíta Barbosa), after he tries to rescue a woman from the flood.
With nowhere else to go, Adriana and her family end up in an improvised shelter, where she meets Pedro (Chay Suede), a sensitive and idealistic lawyer, who is doing volunteer work there. After a while, the girl gets a job as a physiotherapist at Arthur Brandão’s (Antônio Fagundes) house, a powerful businessman in the jewelry industry.
The relationship between the boss and the employee begins with a fight, but over time, it transforms into a powerful friendship. Arthur considers Adriana his loyal companion, the only person he can trust.
Arthur is a lonely and bitter man. Since the disappearance of his son, Heitor (Renato Góes), and the loss of his wife, he has become hardened and solitary. Even surrounded by servants and luxuries, he feels isolated, believing that his siblings, Pilar (Isabel Teixeira) and Ulisses (Alexandre Borges), only see him as a source of easy money.
In an attempt to prevent his family from inheriting his fortune, Arthur asks Adriana to marry him as a gesture of protection and gratitude. The young woman accepts the proposal, even though her grandfather, Otoniel (Tony Ramos), opposes the idea. Things take a turn for the worse when, on the wedding night, the groom is mysteriously murdered. Adriana becomes the prime suspect in the crime and ends up being sentenced to 12 years for something she didn’t do. Six years later, she leaves prison on parole and still carries with her a desire for revenge.
The weight and responsibility left by Três Graças
Três Graças is a Brazilian novel created and written by Aguinaldo Silva, Virgílio Silva, and Zé Dassilva. Set in São Paulo, it became popular for transcending boundaries, reaching various platforms, and allowing the network to explore new formats. Although the production did not achieve high audience numbers, finishing with only 27.6 points in the São Paulo metropolitan area, it entered the hall of fame of TV Globo’s most beloved dramas.
Sophie Charlotte managed to portray a protagonist who was different from the norm. Throughout the story, Gerluce proved herself a true heroine; through her strong and determined personality, the character generated an immediate connection with the audience, who have long awaited more realistic characters.
Another highlight was Grazi Massafera‘s performance. In the role of the villain, the actress caught the attention and won over the audience, who praised her scenes extensively on social media. Another strong point was her partnership with Murilo Benício. The two showed great chemistry on screen, and their dynamic between the characters ended up becoming one of the most talked-about and praised parts of the telenovela.
It’s impossible to talk about Três Graças without mentioning the legion of fans that Lorena (Alanis Guillen) and Juquinha (Gabriela Medvedovsky) achieved during production, the Loquinha’s. Their success was so huge that they even got their own vertical novel, which could be considered a spin-off. The importance and attention were due to the lesbian representation during prime time on Brazilian TV.
Besides Lorena and Juquinha, Viviane (Gabriela Loran) achieved a role of trans representation that breaks away from the stereotypes that the public is used to seeing. By being paired romantically with the heartthrob Pedro Novaes, Loran managed to become a landmark in television drama by humanizing and normalizing LGBTQIAP+ community members in these roles.
The characters Consuelo and Misael were also responsible for the show’s enormous success. When the TV station announced that Viviane Araujo would join the cast and form a romantic pairing with Belo, the internet went crazy. This choice attracted a lot of attention because it placed the former couple together to star in romantic scenes set to the singer’s greatest hits.
The two formed one of the most famous couples in the country, staying together for nine years, between 1998 and 2007. Their relationship was marked by significant media exposure, especially during the singer’s imprisonment. Even after their separation, they remained very beloved by the public.
A clash of giants: Established veterans and young talents
The cast of Quem Ama Cuida is, without a doubt, one of the most inviting and powerful of all the network’s premieres. To begin, we must talk about Antonio Fagundes’s grand return to soap operas after a seven-year hiatus. His presence in the cast and scenes acts as a seal of quality that prime-time audiences highly value, thus generating great expectations regarding his character.
Alongside Fagundes, the casting of Tony Ramos reinforces the team of respected veterans. In the role of a humble and hardworking market vendor, the actor sets aside powerful and memorable roles from his previous work to portray an ordinary man who lives for the love of his family. This choice promises to bring an extra layer of emotion to the story, serving as an essential balance for the viewers.
Considering the protagonists, the initial chemistry between Colin and Suede has proven to be a great success. Their remarkable partnership as Leopoldina and Joaquim in Novo Mundo (2017) proved the dramatic strength they carry together. Furthermore, in Segundo Sol (2018), the iconic Rosa and Icaro served to prove that the duo can deliver passion and sensuality. The two have already proven that these past experiences have transformed into an intense, natural, and true friendship. This becomes evident right from the first few minutes they share a scene.
The big difference this time is Chay Suede: after the success surrounding his ambitious and manipulative role as Mavi in Mania de Você. The actor now takes on the role of the story’s hero, proving his versatility and charisma to those who still consider him immature and not a good actor for roles that require a greater emotional charge.
Furthermore, the audience is also eagerly awaiting to see Isabel Teixeira in the role of the bitter Pilar. After conquering the country as the unforgettable Maria Bruaca in Pantanal and standing out in Elas por Elas, the actress now takes on the responsibility of bringing to life the great villain of the plot, an ambitious figure who promises to drive the main storyline with great coldness and cruel strategies.
Finally, another big question mark that has been keeping the audience curious is Nathalia Dill’s character. Details about her role in the story are being kept under wraps by the writers, which opens the door to various theories. This web of secrets surrounding such a remarkable actress fuels the plot, leaving the viewer wondering if she will be just a friend of Otoniel or if she will become a threat to his family.
A strong start that balances drama and sensitivity
Based on what has been said, Quem Ama Cuida shows that it has the right ingredients to become the new daily addiction of Brazilians. The plot manages to combine the classic structure that the audience loves — plot twists, good pacing, and strong cliffhangers — with impeccable technical production and a cast that delivers performances right from the start.
One of the production’s great successes is closing each chapter with a real-life statement of love, affection, and care. These statements from ordinary people bring a dose of sensitivity, serving as a breath of fresh air and balancing the heavy drama of the fiction. This initiative humanizes the story, creating a genuine and welcoming connection with those watching at home.
If the plot manages to maintain the intensity of this beginning, combined with the touch of real emotion in the chapter endings, then it has everything to achieve great success with both audiences and critics.
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The article above was edited by Isabelle Bignardi.
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