The Gardener, Netflix’s Spanish romance thriller created by Miguel Sáez Carral and co-written with Isa Sánchez, blends murder, manipulation, and an unsettling love story. At its center is the toxic bond between China Jurado, a former actress, and her son Elmer, whom she has shaped into a professional killer. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when Elmer falls in love with his next target, Violeta, complicating both his deadly profession and his mother’s grip on his life.
Stellar Performances and a Deadly Plot That Pushes Mother and Son Apart
Directed by Mikel Rueda and Rafa Montesinos, the series stars Álvaro Rico as the conflicted hitman Elmer, Cecilia Suárez as the controlling China, and Catalina Sopelana as the troubled Violeta. The supporting cast, including Emma Suárez, María Vázquez, and Francis Lorenzo, adds emotional and investigative depth. Together, they help create a tense and moody thriller driven by psychological conflict.
The Gardener (DLO Producciones)China’s control begins to unravel when she realizes Elmer has killed Sabela, the woman who initially hired them, in order to protect Violeta. Convinced that love has weakened her son’s loyalty, China hires another assassin, Orson, to finish the job. Her plan fails when Violeta kills Orson in self-defense. With no one else to turn to, she calls Elmer, who helps her dispose of the body before they separate, believing it is for good.
Forced Surgery, Broken Bonds, and a Final Return That Seals Elmer’s Fate
Elmer’s deteriorating health brings his conflict with China to a head. Diagnosed with a tumor he refuses to remove, Elmer confronts his mother about her manipulation and offers her money to leave him alone. China responds by knocking him unconscious and forcing surgery on him against his will. The operation leaves Elmer emotionally numb and resigned to a quiet life as a gardener, though his anger toward his mother remains unresolved.
Elmer and Violeta do not reunite romantically. Overwhelmed by her connection to multiple deaths and her feelings for a serial killer, Violeta leaves the city. In the final moments, she returns to Mexico and finds Elmer tending his garden. Their brief exchange reveals a disturbing turn, as Violeta has come back to hire Elmer to kill someone. The series ends with Elmer calmly asking, “Who?” leaving the cycle of violence hauntingly intact.
