I didn’t expect to fall this hard for a spin-off. Coming from Merlí—a show that already changed the way I thought about philosophy and growing up—I was skeptical when Sapere Aude was first announced. But what I got wasn’t just a continuation of Pol Rubio’s story.
It was a deeper, darker, more vulnerable journey into love, loss, and the unbearable uncertainty of desire. Where the original series sometimes felt like a classroom, this one felt like real life. And honestly? It broke me in all the best ways.
Netflix gave the series more room to breathe—visually, emotionally, structurally—but it’s not the polish that stayed with me. It was Bruno’s quiet sadness, Pol’s restless soul, and the painful way they kept missing each other, again and again. If Merlí was about learning how to think, Sapere Aude is about learning how to feel—and sometimes failing.
Merlí: Sapere Aude Official Trailer
Merlí: Sapere Aude Summary | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Merlí: Sapere Aude |
| Series Info: | Spain (2019/2021) |
| Length: | 60 minutes |
| Total Episodes: | 16 Episodes |
| Genre: | Romance, Boy's love |
Plot
Set after the events of Merlí, this spin-off centers on Pol Rubio as he enters university and continues his philosophical education. While dealing with the academic and existential challenges of adulthood, Pol also explores new relationships, unresolved feelings for Bruno, and a deeper understanding of himself.
Only a few characters from the original series return—Bruno, Pol’s on-and-off love interest, and Pol’s emotionally distant father. The show introduces new friends, lovers, and mentors in Pol’s new world, making the spin-off feel both fresh and emotionally intense.
Merlí: Sapere Aude Cast
Charactor
A charming yet emotionally volatile philosophy student, Pol is Merlí’s former pupil and the heart of the spin-off. His journey explores sexuality, power, grief, and the pursuit of meaning—all wrapped in impulsive decisions and sharp intellect.
Carlos Cuevas
Carlos Cuevas (b. 1995, Montcada i Reixac, Spain) rose to fame with Ventdelplà, but it was his role in Merlí and Merlí: Sapere Aude that earned him a cult following across Europe and Latin America. Cuevas brings Pol to life with razor-sharp precision—his performance swings from tenderness to arrogance, always anchored by emotional complexity. He later starred in Smiley (2022), further cementing his status as a queer screen icon.
Bruno is Pol’s former classmate and eventual roommate, representing restrained desire, quiet longing, and the vulnerability of unrequited love. As a literature major, he brings introspection to the philosophical chaos around him.
David Solans
David Solans (b. 1996, Vilassar de Mar, Spain) is best known for his debut in Son of Cain, and for portraying Bruno throughout the Merlí universe. His performance is understated but piercing. With just a glance or an exhale, he communicates heartbreak in its purest form. Solans hasn’t appeared in many projects post-Merlí, but his portrayal of Bruno remains a highlight of Spanish queer drama.
Supporting Cast
María Bolaño
María Pujalte
Axel
Jordi Coll
Director
Eduard Cortés
Eduard Cortés, the creative force behind both Merlí and Sapere Aude, brings his signature blend of emotional nuance and philosophical weight to this spin-off. Known for his grounded character work and moral ambiguity, Cortés frames queer desire and existential struggle not as subplots, but as the heart of growing up—and loving fully.
Merlí: Sapere Aude Review
Review
To be honest, I liked Merlí: Sapere Aude even more than the original Merlí. The philosophical discussions felt sharper and more organically embedded into the story. And maybe I was just exhausted from all the overly chaotic pairings in the later seasons of Merlí. This time, the pacing, the visuals, and the emotional depth felt more grounded—even poetic.
Bruno and Pol’s chemistry was absolutely magnetic. It’s not just what they say to each other, but the subtle looks, the silences, the way they orbit one another—it’s the kind of tension you can’t fake. As a viewer, I found myself aching for Bruno. His love for Pol was almost painful to watch. When Pol says “I’ve never loved you,” and still gets jealous when Bruno flirts with someone else? That’s emotional torture. And yet Bruno stays, hoping, waiting. It’s brutal.
But maybe that’s what makes this show so good—it doesn’t pretend that love is fair. It doesn’t offer easy answers. It shows us desire that’s uneven, relationships that are undefined, and the gray zones that most BL dramas avoid.
Of course, Netflix’s production budget elevated everything—the cinematography, the pacing, the symbolic choices (yes, even that rainbow cake scene). But beneath the gloss is a raw emotional undercurrent.
As much as I adored the Bruno/Pol arc, I had issues too. Season 2 took risks, especially with Axel’s sudden rise and Bruno’s sidelining. I get that we were watching Pol’s evolution, but did it have to come at the cost of Bruno’s presence? After all the tension and buildup, it felt almost cruel. Like the writers knew exactly what we wanted—and gave us the opposite.
Still, I couldn’t look away. And maybe that’s the point. This show isn’t here to comfort—it’s here to reflect. Just like philosophy.
💬 My Take
Merlí: Sapere Aude isn’t just about philosophy—it’s about love, identity, loss, and contradiction. It dares to ask: can we ever truly understand the people we desire? And what happens when the one you love keeps pushing you away?
Bruno represents the kind of selfless love that is rare, and maybe even unsustainable. Pol, on the other hand, is complex, chaotic, infuriating—and that’s exactly why we can’t stop watching him. He’s philosophy in motion: beautiful, messy, and impossible to define.
This show broke me a little. And I loved it for that.
Best Scenes of Merlí: Sapere Aude
Season 1, Episode 8 – The Bar Confession
After a series of ambiguous push-pull moments, Bruno confronts Pol at the bar in a heated argument that ends with a slap—not just for what Pol said, but for everything Bruno had to swallow in silence. Pol apologizes, and for once, it feels sincere.
The cinematography here is breathtaking. The low lighting, the close camera framing, the trembling voice of Bruno, and the stunned, apologetic stillness of Pol—all fuse into one unforgettable emotional climax. It’s not a kiss scene. It’s not a hookup. It’s two souls colliding with brutal honesty. And for me, that’s what makes it the most romantic moment in the show.
Merlí: Sapere Aude Information
Where to Watch
Related Links
Explore More BL Content
Also explore: Home | Gay Movies | BL Series