Abhiroop Das
Created by Dago García, Netflix’s ‘Eva Lasting,’ also known as ‘La Primera Vez,’ brings together a cocktail of youth and fervor through the lives of Camilo and Eva, who meet in school and fall hopelessly in love. Their story is incomplete, however, without the accompanying journeys of Salcedo, Pabon, Luisa, and Arbelaez, who join them as classmates and lifelong friends. Luisa is introduced as the second girl at Camilo’s former all-boys high school, and quickly becomes one of the show’s most beloved presences. As she gives birth to her baby, marries Arbelaez, and kickstarts her own career as a doctor, it appears that she has figured out life, perhaps more than anyone else in the tribe. However, the finale pits her against the tides of fate itself, bringing forth the biggest mystery of the show. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Luisa Might Just be Alive and Working as a Doctor For the M-19
While ‘Eva Lasting’ ends its run with the reconciliation of Eva and Camilo, it never solves the mystery of Luisa’s disappearance. After being separated from Arbelaez, she returns neither with the rest of the hostages nor much later, when the injured are released. Although this seemingly points towards her meeting her death, even that possibility is partially thwarted when Salcedo doesn’t find her body at the morgue. As it stands, the most likely explanation is that she has been abducted, most likely by the M-19 members who stormed the building in the first place. The fact that we don’t find her body is perhaps the strongest indicator of her being alive, and it is what keeps the entire tribe together in wait for her return.
Although there is no singular explanation for Luisa’s whereabouts, one theory is that she has been abducted because she is a doctor. Over the course of the fourth season, Luisa goes on to develop her own clinic, which must mean that she has a level of medical expertise across the board. In that case, she is a very valuable hostage for the terrorists, who are frequently under fire and sustain injuries. In episode 2 of the season, one of the M-19 rebels dies after being shot and not receiving adequate care, and it is possible that the group has learned its lesson since. With the terrorist attack in the finale drawing a lot of bloodshed on both sides, it is likely that they need someone with Luisa’s skills more than ever. Such a scenario furthers the chances of her being alive, but, conversely, hints at a grimmer future for her.
Luisa’s Disappearance Serves as a Grim Reality Check For the Tribe
There is a possibility that the remaining members of the M-19 escaped with Luisa and are currently somewhere in the Dominican Republic, far away from the Colombian government’s grasp. In this scenario, while she may be alive, her mental and physical condition cannot be gauged, and the chance of her returning to the tribe is slim to none. Another grim possibility is that Luisa is already dead, and that her body has been hidden, or for some reason cannot be found, but it doesn’t make sense for the M-19 to go the extra mile for a single person. As it stands, Luisa is trapped between a rock and a hard place, where the only certainty appears to be her not returning home any time soon.
While Camilo and the rest of the tribe can hope for a government intervention, or perhaps a miracle that brings Luisa back to Bogotá, the chances of that happening are exceedingly low. Thus, with a heavy heart, they are forced to rebuild their lives without Luisa in it, starting with Camilo and Eva becoming Tina’s primary guardians. Arbelaez, on the other hand, refuses to shift to a new house, as in his eyes doing so amounts to believing that Luisa is gone. Salcedo, Pabon, and others make progress in their respective lives, but the shadow of Luisa’s seemingly permanent departure is unlikely to ever go away. The fact that the creators never give an explanation or update about her can be interpreted as a radical way of communicating the show’s larger point. ‘Eva Lasting’ may be themed around youth, but the many uncertainties of life creep up on Camilo and team faster than they can react, and the tribe is left with no choice but to cope with it and stick together.
Read More: Eva Lasting Season 5: Why Was it Canceled?
