A new Spanish thriller series has arrived on Netflix, throwing a desperate father into Madrid’s dark world of soccer violence and neo-Nazi gangs. Salvador, starring Luis Tosar, began its tense eight-episode run on February 6, 2026. The story follows an ambulance driver who must confront his past failures and a city’s deep-seated hatred after a violent night changes his life forever. The full season is available for streaming now.
Salvador Episode 1 Detailed Recap
The series opens on a high-tension night in Madrid. The city is on edge for a major European soccer match between Real Madrid and the French team Olympique de Marseille. Police and media warn of potential clashes, specifically mentioning a violent, far-right group of Madrid ultras called the White Souls.
We meet Salvador Aguirre (Luis Tosar), a man carrying heavy burdens. He is a former doctor who lost his career and family due to struggles with alcohol and gambling. Now clean and working as an ambulance driver, he attends support groups, openly stating, “I’m a former gambler, former alcoholic, former doctor, and former nice guy”. His biggest regret is his broken relationship with his now-adult daughter, Milena, whom he feels he failed as a father.
On his way to work, Salvador gets a firsthand look at the city’s rising tensions. A group of White Souls board his bus, verbally attacking and terrorizing non-white passengers before pouring beer on him. He arrives at work smelling of alcohol and meets his partner, Marjane (Fariba Sheikhan), and a new trainee nurse, Toni.
Their first major call sets the tone for the brutal night. They are dispatched to the soccer stadium, where the White Souls are throwing Molotov cocktails at police. Salvador’s team races a severely burned mounted police officer to the hospital in critical condition.
Later, they respond to a bar where a man of Arab descent has been brutally beaten in a back room. The bar is run by Carla (Leonor Watling), who collaborates with the White Souls by trapping victims for them. Here, Salvador receives the shock that drives the entire series: he sees his estranged daughter, Milena (Candela Arestegui), working at the bar and associating with the violent group.
“He tries to talk her out of being in such a dangerous situation, but Milena pays no heed to his words,” one recap notes, highlighting their strained relationship.
A heated confrontation ensues. Milena curses at her father, throwing his past absence in his face and making it clear she wants nothing to do with him. Devastated, Salvador returns to his ambulance duties.
The chaos peaks with a large street riot between the White Souls and Marseille fans. While responding to the carnage, Salvador spots Milena running into the violent crowd. He breaks from his team to chase after her. In the confusion, Milena is thrown from a bridge into a river below. She is pulled from the water by her close friend, Julia (Claudia Salas), and Salvador frantically rushes his critically injured daughter to the hospital.
The episode’s closing moments deliver a final, crushing blow. While Milena is hospitalized, a group of masked assailants breaks in and attacks her, leaving her dead. The first episode ends with a shattered Salvador walking in slow motion through the hospital halls, the soundtrack filled with the echoing commentary of the soccer match.
Meet the Cast and Characters of Salvador
The series features a powerful ensemble cast led by one of Spain’s most respected actors.
- Luis Tosar as Salvador Aguirre: Tosar plays the complex lead, a man haunted by regret and thrust into a vengeful mission. Critics praise his performance, with one noting he “is excellent as the regretful Salvador”.
- Candela Arestegui as Milena: Arestegui portrays Salvador’s daughter, whose involvement with the White Souls and tragic fate set the plot in motion.
- Claudia Salas as Julia: Salas plays a key and intriguing member of the White Souls. It is quickly revealed that Julia is secretly a police informant, cooperating with authorities to regain custody of her own daughter.
- Leonor Watling as Carla: Watling takes on the role of the ruthless leader of the White Souls, who uses her bar as the group’s headquarters.
- Patricia Vico as Inspector Sonia Martín: Vico plays the police detective investigating the night’s violence and the murder of the police officer.
- Fariba Sheikhan as Marjane: Sheikhan portrays Salvador’s pragmatic and empathetic ambulance partner.
Other significant characters include Richard Holmes as Mateo, Salvador’s neighbor with ties to the group, and César Mateo as Nacho, a prominent White Souls enforcer and Milena’s boyfriend. The series was created by Aitor Gabilondo and directed by Daniel Calparsoro.
Complete Episode Release Schedule and Streaming Info
Salvador is a complete limited series. All eight episodes were released at once on Thursday, February 6, 2026, on Netflix globally. This means viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and all other Netflix territories can stream the entire season now.
The official episode titles for Season 1 are:
- Night of Sirens
- Conflicting Feelings
- Quid Pro Quo
- Minute of Silence
- Siren Songs
- The Dinner
- Incel
- A Father
Each episode has a runtime of approximately 51 minutes. The series is rated TV-MA for its intense and graphic depictions of violence, hate speech, and mature themes.
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The Story Ahead After Episode 1
Following Milena’s murder, the series expands into a dual investigation. Salvador, consumed by grief and guilt, begins his own quest for answers and justice, which draws him dangerously closer to the White Souls. Simultaneously, Inspector Martín leads the official police investigation into who threw the Molotov cocktail that killed the police officer.
Salvador’s search for truth leads him down a dark path. He is manipulated by Carla and the group, who offer to help him find his daughter’s killer—a man they claim is an Arab Marseille ultra known as “Couscous”. Using his skills as a medic and driver, Salvador becomes useful to the White Souls, pulling him deeper into their world.
The narrative explores how extremist groups like the White Souls operate, revealing they are funded and controlled by a powerful businessman, Nicolás Dávila, who uses the group to further his own political and financial ambitions. As Salvador navigates this treacherous landscape, he must also confront the painful reasons his daughter was drawn to such a hateful ideology in the first place.
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