If I Were Luísa Sonza – Episode 1 Recap & Review

Episode 1

For those who don’t know, Netflix’s latest offering, If I Were Luísa Sonza, chronicles the story of the Brazilian pop artist who was shot to fame after her cover songs on YouTube went viral, landing her a lucrative record deal with a record label giant.

The series traces Luísa’s life, spanning from her struggling years to the ups and downs of stardom, the release of her first album, and her controversial relationship with Whindersson Nunes. 

Luísa soared to fame at the age of 24, an age when most people were striving to make ends meet. While others were navigating the challenges of everyday life, Luísa found herself crisscrossing the country in a multi-million dollar jet, impressing millions with her music. However, this newfound fame came at a steep cost, as Luísa frequently became the target of others’ jealousy, with some hoping to witness her hard-earned recognition crumble.

In the first episode, Luísa reveals that she was receiving death threats, and bullies were menacingly threatening to burn down her house and harm her family. Faced with stubborn threats and concerned for her safety, Luísa had no choice but to leave the country.

The episode begins with Louisa recounting her formative years. According to Luísa, her mother, Eliane Sonza, was the first one to notice that Luísa had musical abilities when she saw her performing at her school festival. This became the foundation of Luísa’s musical career and established her as a local singer.

Luísa’s mother couldn’t be happier to see her daughter singing, as he herself wanted to become a singer, but due to family restrictions and the stance of women at that time, she couldn’t achieve her dream.

If we’re to put it in Luísa’s words, her life was marred with challenges, and she was always judged, like her mother and grandmother. Instead of receiving praise, Luísa faced people’s hatred for following her dreams and choosing not to conform to the traditional expectation of settling down and getting married.

Soon, Luísa launched a YouTube channel to post song covers, which played a key part in shaping her career. This was when Luísa met with Whindersson Nunes, another cover artist who would later become a famous pop star and comedian.

Their music video went viral, and with that, they started dating and collaborating further. In addition to covers, the pair also posted videos of them spending time with each other. This garnered them a huge following, and soon Nunes proposed to Luísa on one of her live videos, and she agreed to wed him. 

Luísa remarks that, since the beginning of their relationship, there has been constant criticism regarding her love life and life choices. One of her private pictures went up on the internet. Everyone thought Luísa’s career was done for when her comments section started filling with not-so-generous comments.

People bashed Luísa for using her body as an instrument to become famous. In addition, she was also belittled on social media as a gold digger who married Nunes for fame and money.

Nunes was also receiving emails and DMs asking him to sever ties with Luísa. Unfortunately, soon after, the couple separated and announced their divorce on social media. As per Luísa, if they hadn’t been harassed, they would’ve still been together. Nunes’ addition to drugs and alcohol was also blamed for their separation. To quote both Luísa and Nunes, they tried their best to stay afloat, but their relationship eventually sank. 

The Episode Review

If I Were Louisa Sonza is a rollercoaster ride through the life of Brazil’s pop sensation! We start from her small beginnings, where her mom cheers on her musical talent to Luísa’s YouTube cover, which skyrockets her to stardom, and also her relationship with fellow artist Whindersson Nunes.

But it’s not all glitz and glamour—this show spills the tea on the tough parts of fame, from harsh criticism to invasive paparazzi. Episode 1 also explores Luísa’s personal battles, face-offs with cyberbullies, and the daring decision to leave Brazil for safety.