Created by Manolo Cohn and Gastón Duprat, the show revolves around a ‘macheza’ contest in a fictional town that represents the conservative values of Mexican society.
Along the way, the series deconstructs the masculinity rooted in Mexican culture, with Charly triumphing in each test, mirroring the contractions of a process of change and LGBTQIA+ visibility.
Charly is not presented as a mere queer young man, but as an individual full of complexities, layers and pending issues to be resolved. Amidst the trials of Mechanical Bull and Mariachi, he will let love blossom and show the true meaning of masculinity.
Christian Chávez, known for the soap opera “Rebelde”, plays Jerónimo, a corrupt mayor who sees the results of the contest as an opportunity to win votes. The character provides a good dose of humor to the series, which is balanced by more serious moments. The adult cast also includes Alejandro de la Madrid, from “Cuatro Lunas”, as Charly’s loving father.
Through a critical eye, the series does not limit itself to exploring only the trans masculine and LGBT+ experience, but also toxic masculinity, transphobia, gender roles and power structures.
Among some setbacks, the most beautiful thing about “El Rey de los Machos” is that the show brings the issue of transmasculinity to Latin American TV, offering a fresh perspective, without being didactic, so that the viewer can reflect on gender roles in contemporary society.
*Eduardo de Assumpção is a journalist and responsible for the blog cinematografiaqueer.blogspot.com
Source: Maxima
I am an experienced author and journalist with a passion for lifestyle journalism. I currently work for Buna Times, one of the leading news websites in the world. I specialize in writing stories about health, wellness, fashion, beauty, interior design, and more. My articles have been featured on major publications such as The Guardian and The Huffington Post.