‘Yiya Murano: Death at Tea Time’ (2026) Netflix Review - Uncovering the Crimes of a Housewife

As the name suggests, Yiya Murano: Death at Tea Time revisits one of Argentina’s most infamous crime lords, Yiya Murano, in detail. Set in the 1970s backdrop of Argentina, we get to see what made Yiya Murano so notorious in his country. Also called the Poisoner of Monserrat, Yiya Murano committed three murders with the aid of cyanide-laced treats in order to escape from the debts that were a result of her fraudulent schemes. Through the documentary, the makers have gone on to establish how Yiya Murano gained the trust of her victims by inviting them to tea and eventually killing them. Post serving years in prison, she re-emerged, but this time as a media personality. She gave frequent television appearances, thereby creating a persona that was in sharp contrast to what she did in her personal life, which landed her in prison.

We get to see her crimes in detail with the help of testimonies that are closely tied to those of her family. By doing so, the makers have ensured that the documentary does not go on to become a merely sensational plot of a murder. When Yiya Murano became a celebrity, she soon became a case study for people who were trying to understand what exactly made her a celebrity. Was it the media who turned her into a sensation, or was it the way she projected herself? Her post-prison life soon became the talk of the town, more than the time when she was in prison for the crimes she had committed.

What I loved the most about Yiya Murano: Death at Tea Time was how the makers presented us with her story. It was in two segments: one dealing with her life before prison, and the other when she got out of prison and became a celebrity. That contrast is well shown as if the makers themselves conducted a case study.

The pacing of the show is even. That is a big plus point because everything moves easily one after the other. A case dealing with a personality like Yiya Murano needs an even pace for us to understand and learn what exactly her modus operandi was. There were a few areas where it became clear that the makers had made this documentary in a good-natured manner.

If you are someone who is highly interested in watching the psychological aspects of crime, Yiya Murano: Death at Tea Time is a great watch. From a storytelling point of view, you will get to watch something really great as well. Another thing is that it will force you to put on your thinking caps and think about everything Yiya Murano has done so far. That is the kind of impact the plot manages to leave on you. By the time the credits roll, you will find yourself thinking: was she a celeb because of her crimes or was it because the media made her sensational?

Final Score- [8/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times