Fans of Brazilian folklore will love this new Netflix series, “Invisible City” created by Carlos Saldanha. The story focus on Eric (played by Marco Pigossi), an environmental police officer, who discovers a pink dolphin that has washed ashore dead in Rio de Janeiro. Eric investigates the unusual case and becomes convinced that the mammal is a mythical creature from the local folklore, a type of mermaid. That leads him to uncover a hidden world of mythology creatures and supernatural happenings that seems to be connected with his late wife’s death.
The first episode of “Invisible City” opens with two men on a night’s journey through the forest. Suddenly, one of them gets fatally stabbed in the back by a mysterious creature known as Curupira, one of the mythological entities that protects the Brazilian forest. And with that event, we get an idea of the type of show we will be seeing.
Eric is struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of his wife. One month after her passing, he finds himself drawn back to his last case. Meanwhile, his daughter Luan (played by Jessica Cores) is still grieving over her mother’s death and having trouble functioning through her normal life. But when Eric finds the pink dolphin on the beach, his investigation into the bizarre case leads him down an unexpected path. He begins to suspect that there is a connection between the dolphin’s death and his wife’s. The more he delves into the mysterious world of supernatural entities and their secret society, the more he realizes that his wife’s death may not have been an accident.
The show takes place in the picturesque village of Tore, where Eric’s wife Gabriela (played by Julia Konrad) had grown up. Gabriela is a devoted environmental activist who wanted to protect the local fishermen from greedy businessmen who wanted to take their land. Gabriela’s passion and love for the village are so strong that she always spoke about how much she wanted to keep it the same as it was when she was a child. The villagers credit her for many victories in fighting against environmental destruction but resent Eric and the other officers for failing to protect her.
Eric’s investigation of the case leads him to Cico – a curious and wise old man who tells stories to the children in the village. Cico is versed in the local myths and legends. With his help and guidance, Eric attempts to piece together the mystery of what happened to his wife and what this other world of creatures might have to do with her death.
One of the interesting elements of the series is how it takes folklore from Brazil and reimagines them for a modern-day audience, infusing suspense, and supernatural moments. It gives a fresh and exciting look into a world of indigenous and mystical beings. The show’s production design is quite brilliant in how it pays homage to the roots of Brazilian culture while still bringing something new to the table.
“Invisible City” is an imaginative, suspenseful series that blends the supernatural with the modern-day world. This show is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys urban fantasy or mythology. The performances of the leads are superb, and the mythology is rich and engaging. It’s a series that will leave audiences wanting more.
