# The Mess You Leave Behind

The Mess You Leave Behind (Spanish: El desorden que dejas) is a Spanish thriller drama television limited series created by Carlos Montero for Netflix, based on his novel of the same name. The series, starring Inma Cuesta and Bárbara Lennie, tracks a literature teacher who takes a substitute teaching position in a small fictional town in rural Galicia (Novariz) and learns that her predecessor died mysteriously.
The series premiered on 11 December 2020 on Netflix.

## Main cast

* Inma Cuesta as Raquel Valero, a new literature teacher
* Bárbara Lennie as Elvira Ferreiro Martínez "Viruca", the old literature teacher who died under mysterious circumstances
* Tamar Novas as Germán Araujo, Raquel's drug-addicted husband
* Arón Piper as Iago Nogueira, a hotheaded student with a close relationship with Viruca
* Roberto Enríquez as Mauro Muñiz, Viruca's ex-husband
* Roque Ruiz as Roi Fernández, a friend of Iago's with a secret crush
* Isabel Garrido as Nerea Casado, another friend of Iago with a polarised relationship with Viruca
* Fede Pérez as Demetrio Araujo, Germán's brother
* Alfonso Agra as Tomás Nogueira, Iago's abusive father with criminal connections
* Susana Dans as Marga, the school principal
* Xavier Estévez as Ramón, another teacher at the school
* Eduardo Rosa as Simòn, a friend of Germán with whom Raquel had a three-month affair.
* Xosé Touriñán as Gabriel Acevedo, a friend of Germán
* Maria Tasende as Iria, the school's English teacher
* María Costas as Claudia, Germán's mother
* Abril Zamora as Tere, Raquel's old friend
* Ana Santos as Concha, a bartender

## Production

The Mess You Leave Behind was filmed in locations in Galicia including Celanova, Ourense, whose public high school (the one in which the creator studied) was used to recreate the high school where characters Raquel and Viruca teach.

## Episodes

| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | "Into the Lion's Den" (En la boca del lobo) | Carlos Montero | Carlos Montero | 11 December 2020 (2020-12-11) |
| 2 | "They Know" (Lo saben) | Carlos Montero | Carlos Montero | 11 December 2020 (2020-12-11) |
| 3 | "Count to Three" (Cuenta hasta tres) | Silvia Quer | Javier Holgado Vicente | 11 December 2020 (2020-12-11) |
| 4 | "Downward Spiral" (Caída en picado) | Silvia Quer | Carlos Montero | 11 December 2020 (2020-12-11) |
| 5 | "The Secret Place" (El lugar secreto) | Silvia Quer | Javier Holgado Vicente | 11 December 2020 (2020-12-11) |
| 6 | "Your Dark Side" (Lo que no quiso ver en ti) | Roger Gual | Andrés Seara and Carlos Montero | 11 December 2020 (2020-12-11) |
| 7 | "The Third Victim" (La tercera víctima) | Roger Gual | Javier Holgado Vicente | 11 December 2020 (2020-12-11) |
| 8 | "The Mess You Leave Behind" (El desorden que dejas) | Roger Gual | Carlos Montero | 11 December 2020 (2020-12-11) |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| 2021 | 19th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Television Series | Best Television Series | Nominated |
| 2021 | 19th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Screenplay | Carlos Montero, Javier Holgado, Andrés Seara | Nominated |
| 2021 | 19th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Editing | Juan Galiñanes, Lu Rodríguez, Mario Maroto | Nominated |
| 2021 | 19th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Sound | | Nominated |
| 2021 | 19th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Makeup and Hairstyling | Susana Veira, Beatriz Antelo | Nominated |
| 2021 | 19th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Lead Actress | Inma Cuesta | Nominated |
| 2021 | 19th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Tamar Novas | Nominated |
| 2021 | 19th Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Isabel Garrido | Nominated |