The 30s may be the stepping stone that reminds you of how empty your life is (or so movies have frequently told us) and pushes you to worry about the millions of what-if possibilities, and Netflix’s If Only (Si Lo Hubiera Sabido) is simply about that.
The 8-episode series, starring Megan Montaner, Miquel Fernandez, Michel Noher, Eduardo Lloveras, and others, premiered on October 28, 2022, with each episode lasting 31-37 minutes.
The Spanish Netflix series has a lot going on below its surface other than the concept of romantic comedies, which is at its heart. It’s an off-the-wall take on the same cliche presented in the compact packaging of the 2004 American picture 13 Going On 30. Emma (Montaner) is trapped in her failing marriage while grieving the death of her father. She watches as every part of her life unravels and wants a do-over. When the red moon fulfills her wild request, everything around her changes for the better or the worst.
Emma, engrossed in the hot images of broadcast material, compares her dreary married existence to being devoid of a spark and having denigrated her own reality. When she looks at her spouse, who was once her lover, all she sees is disappointment. Her two children, who don’t look at her with the same fondness, are the only thing keeping her going, and she can’t give up on them.
She does a double-take as she recalls the night Nando (Fernandez) proposed to her, thinking how different her life would’ve been if she hadn’t said yes, presenting her with endless options. Fast forward to the present, when she takes a trip to the same restaurant and wishes she could go back in time, thinking of everything she might’ve accomplished instead of being stuck as a young woman who had to give up all her aspirations and even her higher education mid-way.
Fortunately for her, it’s the night of the blood moon, and she has her fantasy given to her by transporting her back in time to the night she looks back on with the most profound guilt.
Reminder: Dreams that come with a silver spoon should be treated with a grain of salt. After some confusion, she considers it a win, but she soon discovers that traveling back in time has cost her dearly and resulted in the loss of the one thing that has anchored her all her life, her children, Mia and Mario.
What makes this series so commendable is that it takes one step at a time, which is only feasible since the 8-episode run lets the tale develop gradually while accounting for the consequences of this tremendous change in her life.
When we arrive at the center, we see that several genres are crammed in there, giving the tale a dramatic change of hue and contradicting the character of her lived present (which is now rather her past after the switching of timelines). In this magical translation and her new reality, she craves the same spice she desired when watching TV in the previous scene.
This spice for the series is clearly Megan Montaner herself, especially with the ease with which she hops from performing the emotion of each of these situations. To put it succinctly, the series is not what it appears to be. Nonetheless, Montaner’s Emma conveys the irritating amount of turmoil and disarray as though it were no great problem.
While certain sections of the plot may appear undeveloped, the final shocking revelation will explain why, but only after the audience has had time to process it all. Even if you accept the series as a one-time viewing, which most of us do, the comical twists scattered throughout the storyline are amusing enough to keep you watching until the finish. The primary topics highlighted throughout the course have a distinct uniqueness that may appeal to people who frequently engage in ‘guilty pleasure’ material consumption.
If Only: Is It Worth Watching?
The most crucial piece of advice is to avoid taking the show seriously. It’s one of those things that, after seeing it, you’ll be left wondering why you chose to watch it, but not because it’s all awful. The reason for this is that you’ll be as perplexed by your emotions as you are by the story’s plot.
Montaner’s longing to reunite with her children is one of the series’ most striking aspects, because, despite all of the time travel, other equivalents following the same drill frequently leave out such elements. Consider having something vital to your survival sitting next to you one minute and then not the next. It will undoubtedly leave a mark on your conscience. With Emma as the central character, this component is fully explored and not compromised in the least.
You do wish, though, that it had taken a different course in dealing with the serious situation in her life with more elegance. Despite focusing solely on one issue – her connection with her children – it lacks profundity when dealing with the existentialist of her predicament. 
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Furthermore, the series skips over additional details that emerge the last time following the main revelation. The discovery not only astounds the audience but also raises many concerns about some people and their ties with others who appear out of nowhere.
Some problematic obsessions emerge and become evident at the conclusion, revealing the intoxication that may be introduced if you’re driven too far down the path of just trying to spice up your life,’ finally bittering the flavor of a sensitive issue that was first offered to us.
If Only is now available on Netflix.
