Best South American soap series

Senhora do Destino (2004)

A story about people who succeed in life thanks to nothing but their own efforts. Maria do Carmo is the main character of the telenovela; a mother of five who struggle to be successful in life, but whose most important will be recovering the love of her daughter who was kidnapped when she was just months old.

Pecados Capitales (2002)

She's the One (2024)

Beatriz Dourado, a young black woman marked by abandonment, searches for answers about her past and discovers that her mother, Clarice, left her to pursue her career in Rio de Janeiro. With devastating revelations and a new love, Beatriz faces adversity and transforms her pain into power, fighting to conquer her place in the world.

The Life We Lead (2011)

This moving telenovela tells the story of an unconditional love that overcomes life’s unexpected turnarounds. Ana is a promising tennis player who counts on best friend and sister Manuela for support. After a terrible car accident, Ana goes into a deep coma and only emerges from it five years later. Now, she must struggle to recover the life that went on without her and that she no longer recognizes as her own.

Vale Tudo (1988)

Fátima Accioly is a young, callous woman who wants to be rich and successful at any price. After selling her family's house in the country, she heads to Rio and gets to know dress man César who is unscrupulous himself. Meanwhile, her mother Raquel stays behind without home and money, but finally tries to find her daughter in the big city. Both women come in contact with the rich Roitman family which changes their lives forever.

Cobras & Lagartos (2006)

Is it possible that in a world ruled by appearance, there is room for loyalty, ethics, true love, honesty and solidarity? Is it possible, today, when unrelenting consumption is a way of life, to find someone who equates more value to being rather than having? Cobras & Lagartos is an urban tragic comedy, modern and humanist, that deals with two increasingly different worlds: one which values loyalty and solidarity and the other, where the seduction of superfluity and the power of money reign.

Mulheres de Areia (1993)

The story of the rivalry between the twin sisters Ruth and Raquel takes place in the fictional Pontal D'Areia, on the coast of Rio de Janeiro. They have very different personalities. Ruth is sweet, calm and has a good heart. Raquel, on the other hand, is selfish, aggressive and mean.

La Hija Del Mariachi (2006)

Escrava Isaura (1976)

The difficulties faced by a young, sweet-hearted white slave targeted by the obsession of her lord in the Brazilian colonial time period.

Genesis (2021)

The story of the first 2,300 years of humanity and recounts events exclusively from that period. The plot begins by giving us a greater understanding of why we exist and how we turned from perfection to imperfection. The origin of all social and racial problems is there at the beginning of everything, when via one decision a human being who only knew good and enjoyed it so much also chose to know evil.

Second Chance (2018)

Luzia is a hard working mother whose life is turned upside down when she falls in love with Beto Falcão, a declining singer who regains his fame after taken for dead. But this romance jeopardizes the ambitious plans of Beto's ex-girlfriend and a devious bawd who will do anything to put an end to the musician's infatuation. In order to save her life, Luiza leaves her little children behind, flees the country and becomes DJ Ariella. Years later she comes back to fight fiercely for a second chance at reuniting her family, unaware she will soon meet again the love of her past and her tormentors.

The Other Side of Paradise (2017)

After her marriage becomes a nightmare, the humble small town girl Clara is committed to a psychiatric hospital and prevented from seeing her son growing up. It was all a scheme by her manipulative mother-in-law, who wants to seize her lands and explore their emerald mines. Betrayed and humiliated, Clara bounces back and returns ten years later as a powerful and wealthy woman. Even thirsty for revenge and justice, she never loses her softness to win back her son's trust and maybe find a new love.

Rebirth (2024)

After making a pact with Jequitibá, José Inocêncio becomes a mythical figure, known as the most successful cocoa farmer in the region. While still young, he wins the heart of Maria Santa. Their intense passion results in four children: José Augusto, José Bento, José Venâncio, and the youngest, João Pedro, who never had the opportunity to know his mother, as she dies while giving birth to him. This tragedy fuels José Inocêncio’s anger, blaming João Pedro for the loss of his great love. Throughout their lives, indifference and resentment mark the relationship between the father and his youngest son. As if the past weren’t enough, years later, the arrival of the mysterious Mariana puts all these emotions to the test when both father and son fall in love with the same woman. This situation reawakens feelings that were either dormant or previously unknown to them.

Side by Side (2012)

Winner of the International Emmy Award for Best Telenovela, "Side by Side" focuses on two women of different origins and social classes. The brave Isabel, daughter of a former slave and in love with the capoeira player Zé Maria; and Laura, descendant from a wealthy family and destined to an undesired marriage to Edgar. In addition to an unshakable friendship, the two share the same purpose in life: the conquest of freedom in the conservative society of Rio de Janeiro of the early 20th century.

Pride and Passion (2018)

At the beginning of the 20th century, a mother dreams of marrying her five daughters to eligible bachelors but marriage is not a priority in Elisabeta Benedito's life. More than finding true love, the strong-willed dreamer and her sisters want to live according to their own choices and to do so they must go against traditional rules and customs. Inspired by Jane Austen's works, this romantic comedy retells classic novels from the point of view of modern and empowered women.

A Trick of Fate (2022)

After spending ten years wrongfully imprisoned for the death of his girlfriend Elisa, the illusionist Davi returns to the farm that belongs to his girlfriend’s family under another identity and discovers that her younger sister, Isadora, has become exactly like Elisa. The two fall madly in love, but they will have to fight against nasty Joaquim and other external factors that threaten this great passion.

Quatro por Quatro (1994)

A traffic accident causes four women's destinies to intertwine. In the series, the four enter a pact of revenge against the men who hit them and caused them to suffer. Auxiliadora struggled to help her husband Alcebíades prosper, but when he leaves her for a younger woman, is thrown out of the house. The shy Tatiana was engaged to Fortunato, who failed to show up at their wedding. The Babalu hurricane caught mechanic Raí in bed with another woman. Abigail, a preppy psychologist who is struggling in a failing marriage, decides superficially to continue it but revolts against her husband, Gustavo, who humiliates her in public at a congress. Gustavo has custody of Ângela, a girl who longs to know her true father, Bruno. Her mother died in the childbirth, traumatizing him.

Looks and Essence (2011)

Looks and essence is a telenovela that explores the issue of modern-day values. Griselda is a tough, hard-working handywoman who managed to raise her three children on her own. She struggles to make ends meet but after winning the lottery tensions rise as people inevitably show their true value. With plenty of romance and intrigue this incredibly rich and fun telenovela brings together the true values of friendship, love, and family.

The Adventures of Poliana (2018)

Poliana is a kind girl of 11 years old who has seen his world collapse after his mother's death. She's going to live with her aunt Luisa, a rich and severe woman. Having to face all the dilemmas of a new life in the big city, which she never imagined existed, Poliana decides to apply the "glad game", taught by her parents, which consists of having a positive view of everything, even in times of difficulty.

Dancin' Days (1978)

A down-on-her-luck former inmate tries to reconnect with her daughter--to the objections of her sister who raised the girl, meets a millionaire, and transforms into a strong woman, returning to society at Dancin' Days nightclub's opening.

Força de um Desejo (1999)

Força de um Desejo is a Brazilian telenovela produced by Globo TV and was shown in the schedule of 18 hours between May 10, 1999 and January 29, 2000, in 226 chapters. It was written by Gilberto Braga and as collaborators with Alcides Nogueira Marques, Lilian Garcia, Eliane Garcia, Philip Miguez and Mark Silver and directed by Mauro Mendonça Filho, Carlos Araújo, Fabricio Mamberti and João Camargo, with production of the core Marcos Paulo.Featured Malu Mader, Fábio Assunção, Cláudia Abreu, Marcelo Serrado, Selton Mello, Nathália Timberg, Lavínia Vlasak, Isabel Fillardis and Denise Del Vecchio in leading roles.

Jezabel (2019)

The story of Phoenician princess Jezebel, an idol worshipper who marries King Ahab and uses her beauty and wickedness to try to impose on the Israelite people the worship of her pagan gods.

Vale Tudo (2025)

The story of a mother and daughter with opposing views on the path to success in life takes the audience on a contemporary journey about character, ethics and honesty.

Ti Ti Ti (2010)

Brazilian telenovela based on the 1985 telenovela of the same name.

O Dono do Mundo (1991)

Watercolors of Love (2009)

This is the story of a young couple, Dafne and Gabriel, who are separated by her grandfather Jaques, a millionaire who couldn’t handle that his granddaughter was in love with a poor guy. After an accident, Jacques is presumed dead and leaves his business to Dafne, but on the sole condition that she marries. Judith, her grandfather‘s stepdaughter, takes over the business temporarily and schemes to pair Dafne with her brother Nicholas in order to consolidate her claim. Dafne and Gabriel meet again when his unkown daughter decides to find her father, but discover that a passion is only completed when one fulfills the other‘s dream.

The Slave Isaura (2004)

Isaura was born in 1835, in the farm of Commender Almeida. She is the daughter of the slave Juliana and the tenant of the farm, Miguel. Juliana dies right after the birth, because she denied going to bed with the Commender. He whips her to death in revenge. So, Isaura is raised and educated by Gertrudes, wife of the Commender, who always wanted to have a daughter. In spite of her excellent education and the white skin, Isaura, as a daughter of a slave,will always be treated as a slave.

Meu Bem, Meu Mal (1990)

Meu Bem, Meu Mal is a Brazilian telenovela produced and displayed at the time of 18 hours by Rede Globo, October 29, 1990 to May 18, 1991, in 173 chapters.

Once We Were Six (2019)

The plot tells the history and daily life of the Lemos Family between the 1920s and 1940s. Júlio works in a fabric store and has the ambition of getting rich to offer his family a good life. His wife, Lola, does everything she can to keep her family together, because she believes that this way they can move on.

Pátria Minha (1994)