Abhiroop Das
Co-created by Álex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato, Netflix’s ‘Billionaires’ Bunker‘ chronicles the inner workings of some of the wealthiest people on earth, and how that is impacted by an impending nuclear apocalypse. Originally titled ‘El Refugio Atómico,’ this Spanish thriller brings a number of billionaires into a luxury bunker hidden deep underground, creating a microcosm of society in the process. As the physical world turns to ruins right above them, the characters parse through a web of family politics to make the most out of their stay. However, with each passing day, the struggle grows exponentially, and before long, many characters turn into a version of themselves that is hardly recognizable. Such a transformation can either be for the better or the worse, but Frida and Guillermo take a more ambiguous route, filling each other’s missing pieces while also creating new holes in the process. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Frida and Guillermo Begin an Unusual Relationship in Billionaires’ Bunker
Although Frida and Guillermo begin the story as the respective parents of Max and Ane, the latter’s death creates a rift between the two families. Despite that, Frida dons the role of a mediating figure, constantly trying to strike a balance and rekindle old ties, especially in a tightened setting such as the bunker. However, as the story progresses, both characters begin to develop deeper shades of gray, and their parallel plotlines intersect when Frida catches him having an affair. Without a moment’s hesitation, she informs Mimi of the same, who, in turn, breaks things off with Guillermo for good, leaving him emotionally stranded. In a complete turn of events, we learn that this was Frida’s grand goal all along, allowing her to continue her longstanding affair with him, this time as a relationship. Given that she is already separated from her husband, there are essentially zero familial constraints at play, which lets her truest desires burst forth.
While breaking things off with Rafa, Frida explained that their dynamic had always been superficial, and that her real self only comes out when she is madly in love. We get a glimpse into that side as her relationship with Guillermo picks up steam. Instead of staying her usual quiet, fearful self, she blooms into a confident individual capable of asserting her dominance in every situation. She then goes on to have sex with Yako, much to Guillermo’s dismay. When he confronts her about it, however, their exchange turns playfully violent, with Frida claiming that their dynamic is that of domination and submission, and Guillermo is firmly nestled on the latter end. As such, this potent relationship brings out new strands in both characters’ personalities, resulting in a cocktail of emotions. While Guillermo spends the entire season grasping at control, he finds his true psychological release in the time he spends with Frida.
The Truth About Frida and Guillermo Leaves Max Devastated
Although Guillermo and Frida’s relationship has roots in their shared past, the couple largely does a good job of concealing it. However, when Yako taunts Max about his fling with Frida, the protagonist sees red. That anger soon converts into shock and sadness when his mother reveals that she has been Guillermo’s lover for the past 28 years. Things go up another notch when he learns that he was an unwanted child all along, and this revelation prompts Max to dial back on his life and look at things in a new light. From here, it comes to understand the cycle of lies and deceit that has been eating away at his family for generations. While that may be the case, the other side of the equation cannot be ignored, as Frida and Guillermo’s love story is itself limited by social restraints, which in turn create a negative feedback loop with no way out.
Max is not the only one affected by the reveal of Frida and Guillermo’s secret relationship, and while we get an extensive look at Rafa’s take on things, they are reigned by a wholly different set of emotions. Upon seeing the couple, he reveals that the real reason Guillermo’s former wife, Marta, took her own life was because she came to know of his affair with Mimi. Rafa goes a step further and dismantles Guillermo’s entire modus operandi, explaining that the latter’s interest in sexual or romantic partners is only sustained by his desire to control them. As such, his decision to cheat on both Marta and later Mimi can be interpreted as him having his fill and selfishly moving, which puts Frida in a difficult position. While she is threatened with a similar fate, her strong sense of self also brings a potentially different future into play.
Read More: Billionaires’ Bunker Ending Explained: Does Max Make it to the Surface?
