‘Selena: The Series’ Reviews: Why Netflix Show Feels Like ‘A Missed Opportunity’

Netflix will release “Selena: The Series” on Friday, with the nine-episode biographical drama touching on the rise and fame of the Latin artist who dominated the music charts in the 1990s.

The series follows the life of Selena Quintanilla (Christian Serratos), a singer considered “the Queen of Tejano Music.” Most of the main characters are her family members, including her older brother A.B. Quintanilla.

Since her death in 1995, Selena has been the subject of numerous documentaries and films, including a 1997 biopic starring Jennifer Lopez.

The upcoming series has received mixed reviews. One critic said it failed to give Selena a voice despite being the titular character.

Here are some of the reviews of the series.

Variety - Kiko Martinez

“The care and compassion that has been injected into the first half of this biographical, two-part TV series is evident from the very start and never lets up during the initial nine episodes.

“It’s a celebration of family history and Tex Mex culture. It’s a recognition of the struggle Latinos face to flourish in the entertainment industry — a struggle that is a bit more manageable because of the efforts of a talented young woman from Corpus Christi who used her powerful voice and radiant spirit to reach stardom.”

Decider - Meghan O’Keefe

“All in all, Selena: The Series is pleasantly diverting, but it feels like a missed opportunity. The facts of Selena’s life have already been poured over in film, documentary, and specials. The show goes deeper on every member of the Quintanilla family except the woman who gives the series its name. As it is, Selena: The Series is a show literally haunted by the singer’s absence.”

EskimoTV -Jason Escamilla

“Beautiful portrait of an ambitious and unified family.”