3Cat addresses the dilemmas of assisted reproduction in the series 'In vitro'

BarcelonaAssisted reproduction, the limits of science, and social expectations surrounding motherhood are some of the topics addressed by In vitro, the new series from 3Cat and HBO Max. The production, created by Alejandra Guimerà and Marc Crehuet, premieres this Monday, October 19, on TV3, on the 3Cat platform, and on HBO Max, coinciding with the opening of the Serielizados Fest. Starring Bruna Cusí and David Verdaguer, the fiction explores the experiences of people who turn to fertility treatments and the professionals who accompany them.

The story takes place in an assisted reproduction clinic in Barcelona, where Blanca, a thirty-seven-year-old biologist seeking a new personal and professional direction, starts working as an embryologist. There, she meets Héctor, brilliant but distant, who represents a more rational way of approaching the job. The contrast between the two brings to the table the tensions between efficiency and empathy, in an environment where scientific decisions have consequences that go far beyond the laboratory.

Over the course of six episodes, In vitro intertwines Blanca's personal journey with different cases that arrive at the clinic. Each chapter focuses on a particular situation, from couples seeking pregnancy at an advanced age to women who decide to be single mothers or LGBTIQ+ families. The series also addresses issues such as reproductive tourism, genetic selection, and embryo freezing, which raise questions about the possibilities and limits of artificial fertilization.

Through this mosaic of stories, the fiction approaches different ways of experiencing the desire to have children and the decisions it entails. Beyond the medical dimension, the cases allow for the exploration of personal and social expectations surrounding motherhood, as well as the dilemmas faced by both families and healthcare professionals.

The proposal stems, in part, from the personal experience of its creators with assisted reproduction treatments. Guimerà and Crehuet have transferred some of their own experiences and those of people in their circle to the fiction, and have spoken with patients and professionals in the sector to research the diversity of situations surrounding these processes.

Regarding the tone, the creators define the proposal as a dramedy, a combination of drama and comedy. The goal is to delve into a reality that can lead to significant emotional exhaustion without trivializing the suffering associated with the treatments or turning the story into a constant drama. Humor thus coexists with the personal and professional conflicts of the characters, and allows for showing the different ways of dealing with this type of treatment.

Produced by Moiré Films, Rodar y Rodar, Bullfrog Pictures, and 3Cat, In vitro features a cast led by Bruna Cusí and David Verdaguer, with María Pujalte, Diana Gómez, Alain Hernández, Francesc Ferrer, Peter Vives, and Anna Bertran, among other performers. The first season consists of six episodes. The first two premiere this Monday, while the rest will arrive weekly, two by two, on TV3 and the 3Cat and HBO Max platforms.