Crims

Crims is a Catalan-language true crime documentary television series that investigates and recounts infamous criminal cases from modern Catalonia, emphasizing the facts, motives, and investigative processes behind each incident through a blend of real testimonies, archival evidence, and dramatic reenactments.^[1][2] Originating as a popular radio program on Catalunya Ràdio in 2018, the series transitioned to television in 2020, airing on the public broadcaster TV3 (part of the CCMA).^[1] Hosted and narrated by investigative journalist Carles Porta, Crims maintains a respectful and serene tone, avoiding graphic violence while focusing on the human elements of the crimes, including perspectives from victims' families, police, forensics experts, and perpetrators.^[2][3] Each hour-long episode delves into a single case, such as the murder of a 15-year-old girl or a notorious Barcelona parking garage killing, using immersive sound design, intertitles, and adapted police documents to build suspense without sensationalism.^[2] By 2023, Crims had amassed over 46 million downloads and views across radio and TV platforms, with its fourth season drawing 1 million viewers per episode and earning acclaim as a "megahit" in Catalan media.^[1] The series won the "Best Radio Program" award at the 2021 Ondas Awards for its original audio format and has influenced international productions, including Netflix's Burning Body.^[1] As of November 2025, five full seasons have aired since its TV debut, with the sixth season premiering in November 2025, solidifying its status as one of Catalonia's most-watched documentary series.^[3][4]

Synopsis

Premise

Crims is a Catalan-language true crime documentary series that investigates and recounts infamous criminal cases from modern Catalonia. Hosted and narrated by investigative journalist Carles Porta, each hour-long episode focuses on a single case, exploring the facts, motives, and investigative processes through real testimonies from victims' families, police, forensics experts, and sometimes perpetrators, alongside archival evidence such as photos, videos, and police documents.^[1][2] The series originated as a radio program on Catalunya Ràdio in 2018 before transitioning to television on public broadcaster TV3 in 2020. Cases covered include murders like that of a 15-year-old girl, a Barcelona parking garage killing, and a prison escape, presented in a step-by-step analysis that immerses viewers in the events without sensationalism.^[2][5]

Themes and style

Crims emphasizes the human elements of crimes, highlighting perspectives from those affected and involved while maintaining a respectful focus on victims and their surroundings rather than graphic details. Core themes include the investigative journey, the psychological motives behind offenses, and the impact on communities in Catalonia, often shedding light on unresolved aspects or lesser-known facts.^[1][2] The style is serene and haunting, with Porta's charismatic narration guiding the narrative using immersive sound design, intertitles, and minimalistic visuals like fingerprints or evidence photos to build suspense. Dramatic reenactments are employed sparingly and tastefully, blending journalistic rigor with subtle fiction to recreate events, while avoiding excessive violence or gore to ensure an empathetic tone. This approach positions viewers as co-investigators, drawing on authentic materials for a factual yet engaging portrayal.^[1][2]

Cast and characters

Main cast

Crims is a documentary series and features no fictional main cast or characters. The program is hosted and narrated by investigative journalist Carles Porta, who guides viewers through each case using a combination of narration, interviews, and reenactments.^[1][2]

Recurring and guest characters

The series relies on real individuals rather than scripted characters, including recurring contributors such as forensics experts, police investigators, and journalists who provide insights across episodes. Guest appearances feature case-specific witnesses, victims' families, and perpetrators, often appearing as themselves to share testimonies. Dramatic reenactments are performed by various actors, though none are credited as recurring leads; notable performers in such roles include Enric Álvarez and Laia Foguet in select episodes.^[3][6]

Production

Development

Crims originated as a radio program on Catalunya Ràdio in 2018, created and hosted by investigative journalist Carles Porta, who drew on his extensive experience in true crime reporting, including previous works like the podcast Tor, tretze cases i tres morts.^[1] The radio format focused on audio narratives of infamous Catalan crimes, gaining popularity through detailed investigations and respectful storytelling, amassing millions of downloads.^[1] The series transitioned to television in 2020, airing on public broadcaster TV3 (Televisió de Catalunya, part of CCMA), with the TV adaptation expanding the format to include visual elements like reenactments and archival footage while maintaining the radio's serene, non-sensationalist tone.^[2][7] Co-produced by Televisió de Catalunya, Goroka TV, and True Crime Factory, the development emphasized journalistic rigor, collaboration with experts, and a focus on human stories behind the crimes.^[8][9] The first TV season premiered on February 2, 2020, with subsequent seasons building on the success, including adaptations for international platforms like Netflix.^[5] As of November 2025, the series has completed five seasons on TV3, with the sixth season premiering that month.^[3]

Filming and crew

The TV production of Crims involves a team of directors including Carles Porta, Santi Baró, Enric Àlvarez, Laia Foguet, Pol Izquierdo, Neus Sala, and Carlos Torres, who oversee episodes featuring a mix of real interviews, expert testimonies, archival materials, and dramatic reenactments.^[10][11] Writers such as Marc Cases and José Ramón Fernández contribute scripts that adapt police documents and case files into narrative structures, while cinematographers like Francesc Roig and Tomás Ybarra handle visuals to evoke suspense through lighting, sound design, and immersive staging without graphic content.^[10] Executive producers include Guille Cascante (Goroka TV), Òscar Rodríguez (True Crime Factory), and Mario Daza (TVC), with producers like Gemma Felius and Xesc Estapé ensuring coordination across the collaborative effort.^[10] Filming primarily occurs in Catalonia, capturing reenactments at relevant locations such as urban Barcelona sites (e.g., parking garages) and rural areas tied to specific cases, supplemented by studio interviews and post-production for intertitles and audio enhancements.^[2][7] The process prioritizes victim respect and factual accuracy, with each hour-long episode requiring extensive research and on-location shoots to reconstruct events.^[9]

Broadcast and episodes

Airing details

Crims premiered on the Catalan public broadcaster TV3 (part of CCMA, also known as 3Cat) on 3 February 2020, following its origin as a radio program on Catalunya Ràdio in 2018. The series airs weekly on Monday evenings at 22:05 CET, with each episode approximately 55 minutes long.^[12] Episodes are available on-demand shortly after broadcast via the 3Cat streaming platform, enhancing accessibility for viewers in Catalonia and beyond.^[13] As of November 2025, Crims has aired six seasons, totaling over 50 episodes, with no plans for cancellation announced. The series remains exclusive to Catalan media platforms, though select episodes have been adapted or referenced internationally. Season 6 premiered on 10 November 2025, focusing on new cases such as the double murder in Bellvitge.^[14][13] A 4-episode special, "El Crimen de la Guardia Urbana," aired from 13 September to 11 October 2021.

Episode summaries

Episodes of Crims each investigate a specific infamous criminal case from modern Catalonia, often spanning multiple installments for in-depth analysis. The format uses testimonies, archival footage, and reenactments to explore motives, investigations, and human impacts, without graphic content. Below are summaries of select notable episodes from early seasons; full lists are available on official platforms.^[17] Season 1 Examples:

• Episode 1-2: "Brito i Picatoste" (3 February 2020): Examines the 2001 escape and manhunt for prisoners Brito and Picatoste after they shot police officers in Lleida, detailing the investigation and capture.^[15]
• Episode 3: "El zelador d'Olot" (10 February 2020): Investigates suspicious deaths at a geriatric home in Olot, uncovering a pattern of murders by the caretaker.^[15]

Season 2 Example:

• Episode 1: "Piris" (22 February 2021): Covers the 2000 disappearance of a bar regular in Lloret de Mar, linked to evidence like a knife and condom, revealing a tragic outcome.

Season 6 Premiere Example (as of November 2025):

• Episodes 1-3: "El doble crim de Bellvitge" (10-24 November 2025): Explores a double murder case in Bellvitge, Barcelona, delving into the motives and police work over three parts.^[13]

The series arc across seasons builds on escalating complexity of cases, from isolated murders to interconnected crimes, emphasizing journalistic rigor and victim perspectives.^[1]

Reception

Critical reviews

Crims has received widespread critical acclaim for its respectful and engaging approach to true crime storytelling, emphasizing journalistic rigor, human elements, and immersive narration without sensationalism. On IMDb, the series holds an 8.5/10 rating from over 575 users, with reviewers praising it as "the best series that you can find in TV3" due to its basis in real facts and host Carles Porta's compelling delivery.^[5] Critics have highlighted Porta's charisma and narrative style, with producer Anna Punsí noting, "He has a lot of charisma, he speaks and narrates really well, and he has a very special voice. It gets you hooked."^[1] A review on FilmAffinity commended the show's "meticulous attention to detail and passion for the truth," offering an intimate view of infamous crimes.^[18] In an El País interview, Porta emphasized the team's commitments to "rigor, respect, and narrative rhythm," which have been key to its success in avoiding graphic violence while building suspense.^[19] The series is often described as a "megahit" in Catalan media for its serene tone and focus on motives and investigations, influencing international true crime formats.^[1]

Viewership and cancellation

Since its television premiere on TV3 in 2020, Crims has consistently achieved high viewership, leading prime time in Catalonia and amassing over 46 million downloads and views across radio and TV platforms as of 2023.^[1] The third season averaged a 25.8% audience share and 581,000 viewers per episode, marking it as TV3's most successful season to date.^[20] The fourth season premiere drew 1 million cumulative viewers, while the fifth season's January 2025 debut reached 481,000 live viewers (21.9% share) and 699,000 total connected.^[21][22] As of November 2025, the sixth season's premiere episode on the Bellvitge double crime garnered 388,000 viewers (20.4% share), outperforming national shows like La revuelta (17.7%) and El hormiguero.^[23] The series has no history of cancellation and remains one of Catalonia's top-rated programs, with five full seasons aired by November 2025 and the sixth ongoing.^[1]

Legacy

Cultural impact

Crims has significantly popularized the true crime genre in Catalan media, becoming a cultural phenomenon with over 46 million downloads and views across radio and television platforms as of 2023.^[1] Its respectful approach to storytelling, emphasizing facts, victim perspectives, and investigative processes without sensationalism, has resonated widely, earning it the "Best Radio Program" award at the 2021 Ondas Awards, Spain's oldest and most prestigious audiovisual honors.^[1] The series' success has extended beyond broadcasting, inspiring host Carles Porta to author several books on Catalan criminal cases and leading to a 2022 exhibition showcasing its production and impact.^[1][24] By November 2025, with five seasons aired and the sixth premiering that month, Crims solidified its status as one of Catalonia's most-viewed documentary series, averaging 1 million viewers per episode in its fourth season and contributing to discussions on criminal justice and media ethics in the region.^[1][2]

References in media

Crims has influenced international true crime productions, most notably Netflix's 2023 miniseries Burning Body, which dramatizes the "Guardia Urbana crime" case covered in a 2021 episode of Crims.^[1] The Netflix adaptation drew from the real-life murder of Barcelona police officer Pedro Rodríguez, highlighting the series' role in bringing Catalan cases to global attention. The series itself became available on Netflix in 2023, expanding its reach beyond Catalonia and introducing its investigative style to international audiences interested in European true crime narratives.^[25] This streaming presence has further amplified references to Crims in media discussions on the genre's evolution, often cited alongside other regional successes like Spain's Money Heist for blending factual storytelling with suspense.^[1]