Oasis: The Anatomy of an Almost-Hit
With a cast blending up-and-comers and familiar faces, all set in a dazzling world of affluence, Oasis—Netflix’s latest Spanish original—seemed poised to follow in the footsteps of Elite. The similarities were impossible to miss, and expectations ran high for Oasis to become Netflix’s next big Spanish-language hit.
Debuting on Netflix on June 19, 2026, the show was created by Ramón Campos (The Asunta Case, Cable Girls) with Jon de la Cuesta Olaizola, Javier Chacártegui Horrach, David Orea Arribas, and Ricardo Jornet Gallego. Still, unlike Carlos Montero’s influential teen show, whose popularity soared worldwide, Oasis found most of its support limited to Spain.
Numbers Don’t Lie: Underwhelming Viewership
Oasis did manage to top Netflix’s ranking for non-English-language series. Yet according to Netflix’s own data, it drew only 9 million views (and a combined 52 million hours watched) in its first ten days on the platform.
For perspective: in 2018, the first season of Elite drew 20 million household viewers worldwide at a time when Netflix had 139 million subscribers. Given that the service now counts 325 million subscribers, Oasis’s numbers look even more modest by comparison.
If It Ain’t Broke, Copy It?
Oasis closely followed the Elite template. It stars Ana Garcés—who gained fame in Spain through La venganza de Jana—alongside Tomy Aguilera and Victoria Kantch. The show quickly sets its core mystery in motion: a disappearance within the country’s most exclusive resort, frequented by powerful personalities.
The fictional hotel, called “Oasis,” is portrayed as the country’s top luxury destination. Isolated from the outside world, it caters to affluent families who enjoy private beaches, upscale amenities, and heightened security. It appears like the ultimate summer escape—until a mysterious disappearance shakes up everything.
The police lock down the entire complex and launch an investigation. The impeccable facade of the hotel soon begins to crack. No one is allowed to leave, suspicion spreads, and tension builds among guests. In this privileged, secret-laden setting, it quickly becomes clear: everyone is a suspect.
Casting, Intentions, and (Lack of) Impact
Alongside Garcés, Aguilera, and Kantch, the supporting cast features Manel Duarte, Berta Castañé, Ada Molina, Cande Méndez, Alex Mola, Laura Simón, Jan Buxaderas, Amanda Palomino, and Blas Polidori, some in their first roles. Seasoned actors Unax Ugalde, Alicia Borrachero, Mercedes Sampietro, Paco Tous, and Verónica Sánchez also make appearances.
“When we imagined Oasis, I told the Netflix team I wanted to create a series for my daughters, who are 14,” Ramón Campos said in a Netflix statement after filming finished in Tenerife. “A story that reflects what they’re going through: friendship, secrets, doubts, the first decisions that define them. The mystery is just a vehicle. Oasis is my way of telling them: I see you, I understand, and I want to share a story that truly resonates with you.”
This thoughtful intention, however, didn’t translate into broad appeal. Though the creator has expressed interest in a sequel, Netflix has not announced a second season. With lukewarm viewing figures and challenging reviews (the series holds a 29% average rating on Rotten Tomatoes), it seems unlikely the streaming giant will continue the adventure.
Oasis isn’t necessarily a poor show, but it reads like a formula repeated too many times, offering nothing new to set it apart from other dramas about the wealthy behaving badly.
