24 January 2011 (2011-01-24) – 22 April 2013 (2013-04-22)
Polseres vermelles (Eastern Calatan:[pulˈseɾəzβəɾˈmɛʎəs], literally "Red bracelets", known in English as The Red Band Society)[1] is a Catalan television show, created by Albert Espinosa. He and director-producer Pau Freixas had previously worked together on the film Herois [ca].
The show draws on Espinosa's childhood experiences,[1] telling the story of a group of children and teenagers who meet as patients in the children's wing of a hospital.
The first season of the show, originally planned for four seasons, aired on TV3 in 2011, with a second one premiering in January 2013. The Spanish channel Antena 3 aired the first season, dubbed into Spanish as Pulseras rojas, in summer 2012[2] and the second one in late 2013.
In October 2011, it was announced that Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks and Marta Kauffman had reached an agreement with TV3 for an American remake of Polseres Vermelles.[3]
In November 2013, the Fox Network announced it would be adapting the series, with Margaret Nagle from Boardwalk Empire set to write the script.[4]
Besides the American version, the series has been adapted in other countries, as well, most notably in Italy and Germany.
Main characters
The Polseres vermelles group has six members. In the first episode, Benito (Andreu Benito), an older patient who acts as a mentor to Lleó, explains that every group of friends includes six types: the Leader, the Second Leader, the Indispensable, the Handsome One, the Clever One, and the Girl. The formation of the group follows this theory.[5]
He turns 15 during the first season and has been at the hospital for two years. He has cancer and has had his leg amputated. He shares a room with Jordi. He is in love with Cristina.
Jordi (Igor Szpakowski) – the Second Leader (who would be the Leader if the Leader weren't there) [el Segon Líder (que sería Líder si no hi hagués Líder)]
He arrives at the hospital in the first episode. He is 14 years old. He has cancer and has to have a leg amputated. In season one he has feelings for Cristina and they date for a while until she breaks up with him because she's in love with Lleó. In season two it shows that even after their breakup they continue to be good friends.
Cristina (Joana Vilapuig) – the Girl [la Noia]
She is the only girl in the Polseres. She lives on a different floor. She suffers from anorexia. During the first season, she debates whether she is in love with Jordi or Lleó. Towards the end of the first season she chooses Lleó, realizing that he's the one she's truly in love with.
He is admitted to the hospital after fainting on the playground. At first, he doesn't want to make friends, but as it becomes clear that he will be hospitalized for some time he joins the Polseres.
Toni (Marc Balaguer) – the Clever One [el Llest]
He is the oldest of the Polseres, but he seems like a young child. He has Asperger's syndrome, which makes him seem a bit odd. He arrives at the hospital because of a motorcycle accident.
Roc (Nil Cardoner) – the Indispensable One [l'Imprescindible]
The kid of the group. He is in a coma after jumping off a diving board. His mother visits him frequently and speaks to him. He has a special relationship with Toni because he can communicate with him despite being in a coma. Roc serves as the show's narrator.
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