La chica de ayer

La Chica de Ayer is a Spanish television series which first aired on the channel Antena 3 between 26 April and 14 June 2009. A detective show, it was based on the British series Life on Mars which featured a policeman suddenly transported back to 1973. The Spanish version of the show was set four years later, in 1977, and took its name from the Spanish song "La Chica de Ayer" by Nacha Pop in a similar manner to the British version which was named after the David Bowie song "Life on Mars". It featured Ernesto Alterio in the role of Samuel Santos, a modern-day police officer who finds himself in 1977 post-Franco Spain under the command of Quin Gallardo, a tough old-school policeman contemptuous of his modern methods.

Directed by Alvaro Ron, Alfonso Arandia, Iñaki Mercero, José Ramos Paíno, La chica de ayer leans on a strong ensemble — Ernesto Alterio, Manuela Velasco, Antonio Garrido — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about sci-fi & fantasy titles of 2009.