Massa Fresca

Written by Sara Rodi, it was produced by Plural Entertainment [pt]. This was another TVI bet for the late afternoon slot, at 7:00 pm, as were previous projects of the same genre.^[2] Initially, the title of the series was Quatro Estações (English: Four Seasons).^[3]

Mafalda Marafusta [pt] plays the protagonist Maria, with Duarte Gomes [pt], Pedro Carvalho, Dina Félix da Costa [pt], Beatriz Barosa [pt], Artur Dinis, Beatriz Leonardo, Gonçalo Oliveira, Maria Eduarda Laranjeira, Catarina Avelar, Ruy de Carvalho, Rita Ribeiro [pt], Sara Barradas [pt] and Carlos Oliveira [pt] also in leading roles.

Maria Miguel (Mafalda Marafusta) is a 21-year-old who lost her mother to cancer three years ago and never knew her father (whom she meets in the final episodes), forcing her to fight daily for her livelihood. Before becoming an orphan, Maria was preparing to finish her 12th grade and study singing in London, but the money she saved ended up being used for her mother's treatments, accumulating a substantial debt. She works at Telepizza and remains an optimistic and cheerful young woman, but life has taught her to live one day at a time, without grand plans. Her life changes drastically when, on her way to deliver pizzas, she tries to avoid running over two children by throwing herself on her motorbike against a speeding car. The accident leaves her with some injuries, and the children's parents, grateful for Maria's heroic act, take her home to help her recover.

This is how Maria, a young woman accustomed to overcoming her difficulties alone, finds herself in the heart of a wealthy family with five children between the ages of 5 and 17, each with their own challenges, passions, and struggles typical of their age, which we will also see reflected in their daily lives at the school they attend. Everything becomes even more complicated when the couple decides to take a honeymoon trip and dies in a car accident. Maria is then left in charge of the couple's five children, a responsibility shared with the children's paternal uncle, Francisco (Duarte Gomes [pt]), who meanwhile falls in love with her, a maternal aunt, Branca (Dina Félix da Costa [pt]), interested in the family's money, and the two housemaids, who give her more headaches than solutions to the problems that arise.

Maria is a courageous and determined young woman who, despite all the mistakes she makes and obstacles she faces, doesn't give up trying to keep her family together and help each of the young Elias grow up healthy and happy. Helping Maria take care of the young Elias is Artur (Pedro Carvalho), a very handsome and proper man who is also the children's doctor. He becomes charmed by her and starts visiting the Elias's home more and more frequently. In trying to help the eldest Elias daughter advance her band, Maria also sees her own musical career catapulted.

On its premiere, 25 April 2016, Massa Fresca registered a 7.4% rating and a 20.2% share, leading the ratings. During its 99 episodes, the series maintained second place in the ratings. The last episode, on 10 September, scored a 5.2% rating and an 18.8% share. It had a final average of 5.5% rating and 17.5% share.^[4]

Note: Each rating point is equivalent to 95,000 viewers. This data includes same-day delayed viewing (VOSDAL).