Item: Burning Body
Rating: 5.8
Author: NextFlicks

In 2017 the remains of a Spanish police officer were found in a burnt out car. Burning Body is the dramatisation of the story that led to his murder and the conviction of his killers.

In a world where the dramatisation of true crime continues to chug along, Netflix brings us Burning Body.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Spain in 2017, Burning Body unveils the sinister events surrounding the brutal murder of a dedicated police officer, Pedro Rodríguez.

This is a tale of betrayal, spotlighting Pedro’s partner, Rosa Peral, and her enigmatic ex-lover, Albert López and the whole ‘did they or did they not' murder him.

As the show peels back layers of secrets and lies we witness the investigation and courtroom drama, unravelling a twisted narrative of love, jealousy, and a relentless quest for justice.

Released alongside a Netflix documentary called Rosa Peral's Tapes, Burning Body is another drama for true crime fans.

What Is Burning Body About?

In 2017 the body of Police Officer Pedro Rodríguez was found in a burnt out car. With little or no DNA left, investigating officers caught a break when they found a surgical implant that led them to identify him.

Clearly, he was murdered so as the investigation moves forward the lead detective sets her sights on Rosa Peral, Perdo's girlfriend.

And this is where it gets interesting. If Burning Body is to be believed, Rosa Peral was a woman who literally bounced from one man to another, cheating on all of them as she went.

Married to Javi with whom she had a daughter, she cheated on him with a fellow officer before he released explicit photographs of her. She moved precedents, Javi forgave her and then she started sleeping with Albert or Pedro (time jumps make it unclear as to which came first).

Javi left her and despite being with Albert, she starts an affair with Pedro, who left his wife and child for her. He moves in with her completely unaware that she's also with Albert.

With jealousy from Pedro and Albert ramping up, Rosa is convinced that she can't end it with Pedro, even though they've only been together three months.

Instead, he is found dead and all eyes focus on Rosa and Albert, though the murder is never explicitly shown in Burning Body.

As the trial begins and a bitter legal fight ensues, the district attorney decides to try both of them for the murder, while Rosa insists she is innocent.

So what really happened and what was the complex and obscure connection that formed the love triangle? Did Rosa Peral and Albert Lopez really murder Pedro? That's for you to decide.

Burning Body Official Trailer

Is Burning Body Worth Watching?

Honestly, I really struggled with Burning Body. Usually, I'm a sucker for a true crime show and the Spanish tend to turn out excellent productions.

Throw in Úrsula Corberó (Money Heist) as Rosa and I was in. But that's where my enthusiasm began and ended.

There are so many problems that I don't think I have enough time to unpack them all. But here are my top issues.

Firstly, the sheer number of time jumps is nothing but frustrating and confusing. Now I'm all for a well-placed jump if it adds to the narrative but all it does in Burning Body is muddy the waters to the point that you have no idea whether you are watching events from the present day or five years earlier or even five months earlier. None of it makes sense.

Secondly, Corberó is as wooden as a plank. She has one default face and it's the exact same whether she's deliriously happy or has just found out her husband has left her.

And that leads me nicely onto the character of Rosa Peral. Absolutely no thought whatsoever went into explaining any of her actions.

She bounces from one unhealthy relationship to another, is a serial cheater and yet, despite sleeping with two other men, is seemingly distraught when her former husband eventually leaves her.

Is she a complete narcissist or a sociopath? Because she's one or the other which is probably why she didn't blink when her boyfriend's remains turned up in a burnt out car. Actually, she did cry then but very unconvincingly.

Overall, by the time you're on episode four, you actually don't care who killed Pedro. Burning Body is nothing but fluff dragged out over eight dreary episodes with no resolution to reward your patience for sitting through it.

Is Burning Body Based On A True Story?

Sadly, yes Burning Body is inspired by true events referred to as “el Crimen de la Guardia Urbana,” or the crime of the Urban Guard.

The murder caused a media frenzy in Spain in 2017 with the story revolving around the death of Guardia officer Pedro Rodríguez and the 2020 trial involving Rodríguez’s partner, Rosa Peral, and her lover at the time, Albert López.

Both were Rodríguez’s fellow officers who were secretly dating or had previously dated and both blamed each other for the murder.