When I first heard about Fantasmas, the new super queer surrealist HBO comedy series from Julio Torres, I wasn’t quite sure what to think about it. I was someone who had missed the boat on Torres’ previous HBO series, Los Espookys, so I wasn’t sure if this series would be for me. But boy, was I wrong. Fantasmas is a true mind fuck of a series, taking audiences down some truly incredible paths each episode, all shepherded by Torres’ smart, hilarious, and very strange brand of comedy.
Ostensibly, the series is about Torres’ character, Julio, an out of work actor who is on a quest to find his lost golden oyster earring. But from that jumping off point, the series spirals outward, introducing us to a host of characters seemingly pulled from the surreal ether of Torres’ mind, crafting moving and compelling mini-arcs while continuing to bring the laughs. Rare is the series that will grip you with the plight of a DoorDash delivery man who doesn’t want to download a seemingly universal app that provides the necessary Proof of Life to access things like public transit while also having Torres spar with an increasingly salty tiny claymation alien-esque person who manages his social media presence (seriously). And when we get a look into how the little claymation person and his friends and family live? It only ups the surrealism.
So, you might be saying to yourself, sure, Fantasmas is weird and funny, but is it something I would enjoy? Well, that depends on how you like your comedy. If you’re someone who loved Nathan Fielder or Tim Robinson’s series, you might be the right audience for this one, as it’s similar in approach (spiraling sketches from a singular premise with weird characters) albeit with more sentimentality and out there set-ups than would be found in Fielder or Robinson’s work. There’s a heart to the storytelling here, and you do start to feel for these characters you encounter at various moments in their lives in a way you might not expect.
And that’s what makes Fantasmas such an intriguing series. Yes, Torres is front and center throughout much of the central narrative of the series (such as it is). But he’s more than willing to cede the stage to characters who slide into the story from its fringes, exposing us to some minor or major grievance in their life and allowing us to see how their brief foray into Torres’ day sparks something even more significant in their own. The inter-connectivity of individuals in a large city, how we relate to one another (and how we get caught up in our own issues and fail to see those of those around us), and the perils and pitfalls of wanting something and then having to actually work to obtain it all come into play throughout the first season of Fantasmas. If that sounds a bit heavy for a comedy, I promise it’s funny, silly, and ridiculous at times as well.
In a time where there are so many fine but not special shows out there to watch, it’s refreshing to see a series like this one with such a unique yet universal point of view and story to tell. Torres is an exceptional talent and I’m excited to see what else he comes up with in the future. And yes, I’ll be diving into Los Espookys right away. So, if you’re in the market for a series that is a bit strange but still relatable, might I recommend giving Fantasmas a look? At only six episodes long, it’s not a massive time commitment. But it is the best show you’re not watching.
