The Secret of the River: A Tribute to Friendship, Identity, and Culture
Very few TV shows have the power to reach into our hearts and move us as deeply as Netflix’s The Secret of the River (Original title: El Secreto del Río) did over its eight-episode run. With each episode, this series took us on a beautiful, sometimes heartbreaking journey that we couldn’t tear ourselves away from. Produced by Perro Azul and brought to the screen by the visionary mind of Alberto Barrera, with direction from Ernesto Contreras, Alba Gil, and Alejandro Zuño, this Mexican production is not just a story; it’s an emotionally charged tribute to friendship, identity, and the rich cultural fabric of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca, Mexico.
It’s a series that portrays the complexities of friendship, cultural tradition, and the struggles around identity in a conservative rural setting, all while centering LGBTQ+ experiences in a deeply meaningful way. It’s a journey that spans innocence and self-discovery, loss and resilience, with Erik and Manuel (later Sicarú) at its heart.
Portrayed by two sets of actors to reflect different stages of their lives, the story of Erik (Mauro Guzmán/Diego Calva) and Manuel/Sicarú (Frida Sofía Cruz Salinas/Trinidad González) is one we can only describe as a tale of unconditional love. When they first meet as children, they’re like opposites—different in every way, brought together only by the friendship shared by their mothers. But as time passes, they grow inseparable, finding comfort and strength in each other.
As the show’s title suggests, a secret in the river binds them in ways they never could have foreseen. However, fate has its own plans, and they lose touch for a long time, with their lives taking drastically different paths. Twenty years later, Manuel—now Sicarú, having transitioned—returns to the Isthmus, and what was once a pure friendship becomes a complex yet beautiful exploration of reconnection and rediscovery.
Join us as we dive deeper into the layers of The Secret of the River and witness the unforgettable journey of these two beautiful souls.
The Secret of the River, Erik and Manuel
The Secret of the River begins with a key, somewhat unsettling scene that quickly pulls us into the lives of Erik (Mauro Guzmán) and Manuel (Frida Sofía Cruz Salinas). For reasons unknown this early in the story, Erik and Manuel are attacked by a man by the river. In their struggle to break free, they accidentally cause the man to fall into the water, where he hits his head and drowns. This accidental tragedy sets the stage for the rest of the story and becomes the heavy secret the two kids must bear, binding them together in an unbreakable bond as they grapple with what happened and how to keep it hidden.
After this shocking beginning, the story flashes back to when Manuel arrives in the Isthmus for the summer, sent by his mother, Carmen (Vicky Araico), to stay with his grandmother Rafaela (Mercedes Hernández). Manuel’s presence stirs curiosity in the town—a small, tight-knit community where new faces don’t go unnoticed. Luisa (Iazua Larios), Erik’s mother, pressures her son to befriend Manuel. Though Erik is reluctant at first, feeling that Manuel’s quirks and mannerisms don’t quite match his own, the moments they share together gradually bridge the gap between them.
During Manuel’s first days in town, he not only adapts to his grandmother’s routines, helping her deliver food around town but he’s also introduced to the local Muxe community—a third-gender group integral to the region’s culture. Manuel is fascinated by the Muxes, who, under the guidance of Solange (La Bruja de Texcoco), help him understand who he is and what he can aspire to be in life.
But sadly not everything goes smoothly for Manuel as he settles into town. His growing friendship with Erik represents a challenge, especially as Erik’s father, Jacinto (Jorge A. Jiménez), strongly disapproves of his son’s closeness to Manuel—whose presence in town seems to defy his strict beliefs about masculinity and tradition. Jacinto’s discomfort with the Muxes and anything that doesn’t align with his worldview is palpable, pushing Erik to distance himself. Yet, despite Jacinto’s prejudice, Erik ultimately embraces his friendship with Manuel, realizing that Manuel’s uniqueness is precisely what makes their bond what it is.
As the days and weeks pass by, Erik and Manuel’s friendship deepens, reaching a turning point at Erik’s uncle Sergio’s (Fernando Cuautle) wedding, where we finally see the complete moment of the accident that opened The Secret of the River. Through a very upsetting sequence, we learn that the mysterious man who attacked Manuel and tried to assault him is none other than Sergio. The reason he attacked even his own nephew was that Erik had threatened to expose what Sergio had tried to do to his friend.
The outcome of the incident, we already know: Sergio dies accidentally in the struggle. Traumatized, Manuel and Erik vow to keep what happened a secret. However, the incident soon catches the attention of Orlando (Humberto Busto), the local police chief and father of Erik’s friend, Paulina (Lisa Rivas Avalos). Orlando finds evidence suggesting that Sergio wasn’t alone when he died: a bracelet and faint fingerprints on the body that hint at more than just an accident. This bracelet, which belongs to Manuel, becomes damning proof of that day by the river.
As Orlando’s investigation intensifies, Manuel and Erik try to cover their tracks. The kids know that if they’re caught, the consequences could be disastrous, so they make several attempts to retrieve the evidence that ties them to the case. All while navigating the usual trials of childhood and a friendship tested by social pressures. Manuel, who is still adjusting to his new home after being told his mother went to work in the United States, finds himself both an outsider and a target for local bullies.
At first, Erik struggles between supporting his friend or avoiding the ridicule that could come from associating with him, but after witnessing the abuse Manuel goes through, he decides to stand up for him. This marks a shift in their bond from mere companionship to genuine friendship. Solange, a protective and wise figure in the Muxe community, also steps in to teach the boys self-defense and general life lessons, becoming a nurturing presence as they learn to face their fears together. The depiction of the bond between Erik and Manuel is deeply moving—a rare and beautiful portrayal of a love that isn’t romantic but rooted in pure, platonic affection.
As the investigation continues, Orlando suspects that Manuel and Erik may have crucial information about what happened. Concerned, he consults Solange, who hints that something more complex may have happened that day by the river and that perhaps Sergio deserved what happened to him. Aware of the potential harm to innocent people if the full truth comes out, Orlando decides to conceal the circumstances surrounding Sergio’s death, declaring it an accident. The official version: Sergio fell into the river while drunk, hit his head, and drowned.
Amid these events, the boys uncover a disturbing secret: Manuel’s grandmother, Rafaela, has been lying about the whereabouts of Manuel’s mother. Carmen isn’t in the United States working, as he was led to believe, but in Salina Cruz, where Manuel used to live with her before moving to their hometown. Driven by the desire to see his mother again and find out what’s happening, Manuel and Erik run away from town, only to discover that Manuel’s mother is gravely ill in the hospital.
Things don’t look good for her and in a very moving scene, while traveling back home, Manuel confides in Erik about his fear of being left alone if his mother dies. In a gesture of pure friendship, Erik tears his prized baseball card in half, giving a piece to Manuel as a symbol of their unbreakable bond. This connection, pure and filled with childhood innocence, shines as one of The Secret of the River’s most touching aspects.
In the end, tragedy strikes this pair again when Manuel’s mother passes away, and Rafaela is forced to hide her grandson to protect him from his estranged father, who abandoned him out of intolerance. When Jacinto learns that Manuel is still in town, he calls Manuel’s father to tell him where he is and finally gets what he always wanted—to separate the two kids.
In a climactic scene, Manuel’s father arrives to take him away, leading to a heartbreaking farewell between Manuel and Erik. The scene where they say goodbye, perhaps forever, is as beautiful as it is devastating—a tribute to their connection and the love that only friendship can hold.
The Secret of the River, Erik and Sicarú
The series then jumps forward 20 years, and we find Manuel, now living as Sicarú, in New York City. Sicarú’s world changes once again when she learns of Solange’s passing, prompting her to return to the Isthmus. However, things are not easy and although she hoped to have a beautiful reunion with her childhood friend, things do not turn out that way.
Erik, shocked by Sicarú’s transition, really struggles to reconcile the memory of his childhood friend with this new person before him. As Sicarú settles back into town, she faces rejection and hostility, even from those she once trusted. Solange’s funeral is a particularly harsh moment for her, highlighting the painful reality for muxes and other LGBTQ+ individuals in rural settings where tradition tends to overpower humanity. We won’t spoil what happens, but this scene is brutal and heartbreaking, an unshakable reminder of the prejudice many still face.
But Sicarú’s time in the Isthmus is only just beginning. When she discovers a kid hiding in her grandmother’s house, her attempts to help are thwarted by Braulio (Jero Medina), the town’s new police chief and one of her childhood bullies. Sicarú soon realizes that Braulio is involved in a human trafficking network and, along with his accomplice Felipe (David Montalvo), is keeping a kid named Emi (Kaarlo Isaac) captive.
Determined to protect him, Sicarú enlists the help of Erik and the muxes, and they confront Braulio’s sinister plans. This investigation even threatens to resurface the disturbing events that occurred at the river twenty years ago, with Braulio reopening Sergio’s case as leverage against Sicarú and Erik. But there’s nothing he can do to stop them.
As Sicarú and Erik rekindle their friendship, they navigate new layers of complexity when both find themselves attracted to each other. As we said at the beginning of this piece, their journey in the present is a complex yet beautiful exploration of reconnection and rediscovery. They’ve grown up, they see each other as what they are now—adults—and that brings all sorts of confusing feelings into the mix.
Erik really grapples with what he feels, his mind is in chaos and there is a clear internal conflict with himself since he is married to Paulina and is trying to start a family with her. What he feels for Sicarú scares him. This confusion and fear make Paulina realize what is happening with her husband, which generates conflict between her and Sicarú, of whom she is jealous.
Sicarú and Erik’s journey in this stage of their lives is one of acceptance and mutual respect, reaching an understanding of their changing relationship and reaffirming their deep friendship. Without spoiling the entire narrative arc, it is important to mention that, in the end, they acknowledge their affection and attraction, but recognize their relationship for what it is: a friendship and not a romance.
The Secret of the River culminates with a celebration of Solange’s life. Paulina and Sicarú reconcile after the misunderstanding regarding the nature of Erik and Sicarú’s relationship; and Erik and Sicarú share a final, heartfelt moment on the beach—their favorite spot as children. This beautiful moment captures the essence of the show, a testament to the enduring power of friendship and the ability to confront the past and present with courage. As they run along the shore, it’s as if time has stood still, and the purity of their friendship remains intact despite the challenges they’ve faced.
A Tribute to Friendship, Identity, and Culture
The Secret of the River does so much right, weaving a visually captivating tale set against the breathtaking landscapes of Oaxaca. The cinematography immerses us in the vibrant spirit of the Isthmus region, honoring its traditions and capturing the essence of its colorful community and deep-rooted history. Having such authentic representation at the center of a Netflix series—especially one developed in Mexico—feels groundbreaking, setting a new standard for Mexican television.
But it’s the performances that truly elevate the story. Both casts, young and old, especially those embodying Erik and Sicarú’s journey, are phenomenal. Mauro Guzmán and Frida Sofía Cruz Salinas, alongside Diego Calva and Trinidad González, share an on-screen chemistry that fuels the emotional heartbeat of the series, grounding the narrative in a raw, lived-in authenticity. Their performances make the love and loyalty between friends tangible and real, bringing out the series’ most moving moments.
While we find the first half of The Secret of the River narratively stronger, driven by the suspense of Sergio’s death and the tragedies that ripple through the characters’ lives, the second half doesn’t falter. Instead, it shifts the focus to Sicarú’s pursuit of justice and closure—a shift that, rather than detracting, enriches the story’s essence. Though the tone definitely changes, the narrative in these final episodes remains cohesive and deeply connected to the heart of the show, allowing it to grow while staying true to its roots.
The Secret of the River is a heartfelt drama that celebrates friendship, identity, and resilience. It shows the power of friendships forged by shared experiences and lasting love, and how beautiful those connections can be when told from the heart. As Solange puts it in the show’s closing words,
“Friendship is the best damn thing there is—the best invention in the world. I don’t know why we spend so much time talking about love and so little about friendship. Friendship is freer, it has fewer rules, and, many times, it’s the only thing that makes us feel that we’re not alone in this messed-up world. You may be far away from each other, you may see each other rarely. You may be very different, but friendship will always keep you together as if you were just one person. Different but exactly the same. A great friend is worth more than a thousand loves.”
In every frame, The Secret of the River reminds us that these bonds are not only what make life bearable—they’re what make it beautiful.
The Secret of the River is available to stream on Netflix. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!
Featured Image: Courtesy of Netflix
