The Mess You Leave Behind: Review, Story, Cast, Episodes, Release Date, Budget & More

The Mess You Leave Behind, known in Spanish as El Desorden Que Dejas, is a gripping psychological thriller miniseries that premiered on Netflix in December 2020, delivering eight intense episodes of mystery and suspense. Based on Carlos Montero’s novel of the same name, this Spanish production stars Inma Cuesta in dual roles as two teachers whose lives become tragically intertwined. Created by Carlos Montero, who also wrote the acclaimed series Elite, the show explores themes of bullying, obsession, jealousy, and the secrets lurking beneath small-town civility. Set in rural Galicia, Spain, the series unfolds through parallel timelines, slowly revealing the connection between the two protagonists. The atmospheric cinematography captures the moody, rain-soaked landscapes of northwestern Spain, creating an oppressive mood that mirrors the psychological torment experienced by the characters. With its complex narrative structure, strong performances, and unflinching examination of toxic relationships and institutional failures, The Mess You Leave Behind offers dark, compelling television that keeps viewers guessing until its devastating conclusion.

The Mess You Leave Behind: Release Date, Story, Plot, Episodes, Cast, Actors Salary, Actors Net Worth, Budget, OTT Response, Trailer, Songs, Awards, Review, Ratings & More

The Mess You Leave Behind Storyline

The Mess You Leave Behind follows Raquel, a literature teacher struggling with depression and marital problems who accepts a position at a rural high school in Galicia. She’s replacing Viruca, a beloved teacher who died under mysterious circumstances that were officially ruled a suicide. As Raquel settles into her new role, she becomes increasingly disturbed by the strange behavior of students and staff, sensing hostility and secrets surrounding her predecessor’s death. The narrative alternates between Raquel’s present-day experiences and flashbacks revealing Viruca’s final months, gradually exposing the toxic dynamics that consumed the previous teacher.

Both women encounter similar challenges, manipulative students, suspicious colleagues, and dangerous romantic entanglements that blur professional boundaries. Raquel discovers disturbing similarities between her life and Viruca’s, including troubling connections to the same charismatic but unstable student. As she investigates deeper, uncovering notes, recordings, and testimonies that contradict the suicide narrative, Raquel realizes she may be repeating a deadly pattern. The parallel stories converge as secrets about abuse, obsession, and institutional complicity emerge, forcing Raquel to confront whether she can escape the fate that befell her predecessor.

The Mess You Leave Behind Cast, Crew, Role, Salary, Remuneration & Net Worth

Here are the complete details of actors and actresses names in the Web Series.

1.Inma Cuesta as Raquel Valero

2.Bárbara Lennie as Elvira Ferreiro Martínez “Viruca”

3.Tamar Novas as Germán Araujo

4.Arón Piper as Iago Nogueira

5.Roberto Enríquez as Mauro Muñiz

6.Roque Ruiz as Roi Fernández

7.Isabel Garrido as Nerea Casado

8.Fede Pérez as Demetrio Araujo

9.Alfonso Agra as Tomás Nogueira

10.Susana Dans as Marga

The Mess You Leave Behind Web Series Awards

The Mess You Leave Behind Review

The Mess You Leave Behind delivers a haunting psychological thriller elevated by Inma Cuesta’s remarkable dual performance as two women trapped in similar nightmares. Her ability to differentiate Raquel and Viruca while highlighting their shared vulnerability creates the emotional core that grounds increasingly dark revelations. The nonlinear narrative structure proves effective, parceling out information strategically to maintain suspense while building thematic connections between the parallel stories.

The series doesn’t flinch from examining uncomfortable subjects, teacher-student boundary violations, institutional protection of abusers, cyberbullying’s destructive power, and how depression makes people vulnerable to manipulation. The Galician setting adds atmospheric weight, with constant rain and isolated landscapes reinforcing the characters’ entrapment. However, the plotting occasionally prioritizes shocking twists over psychological realism, and some character motivations feel underexplored given their extreme actions. The show’s examination of toxic masculinity and how institutions fail victims feels urgent and necessary, though sometimes heavy-handed in execution. Supporting performances vary in quality, with the student actors delivering uneven work. Despite these flaws, The Mess You Leave Behind succeeds in creating genuinely unsettling television that lingers after viewing, raising important questions about power dynamics, complicity, and the cycles of abuse that institutions enable through silence and self-preservation.

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