A fun new show called ‘Fantasmas’ has recently dropped on MAX, and you should be watching it.
What is ‘Fantasmas’?
Torres is a director/writer/actor/comedian/producer currently in his prime. He wrote for SNL, voiced a character in Nimona, co-created and acted in ‘Los Espookys,’ and wrote and directed the film ‘Problemista.’ His Latinx culture, queer identity, story as an immigrant from El Salvador, and journey as an artist has influenced his work immensely.
‘Fantasmas’ is a look into the life of Julio (played by Julio Torres), an artist living in a futuristic version of New York from an alternate universe. Julio is on the search for a golden oyster earring he lost in a club but not for the reason you may think. He needs it to prove that a mole he thinks he has (it’s actually a birthmark) is growing. It’s all distraction from his real issue: his lack of “Proof of Existence.” This is a thinly veiled metaphor for a state ID, social security card, credit score, etc., depending on your interpretation.
It is nearly impossible to do the show justice by explaining the main plot. The series often seamlessly transitions into funny sketches that seemingly have nothing to do with the plot. One second you’re watching Julio in a Chester (think Uber), and the next you’re watching a show within a show about a man cheating on his wife with an alien named Melf. Going into this series blindly will leave you very confused.
Something else a little jarring about the show is the amount of cameos.
They got who?
Alexa Demie
Famous for her elusive aura and role in ‘Euphoria’ as Maddy, Demie plays the part of an infuriating insurance customer service representative. Anyone who has ever been on the phone with customer service for over an hour is sure to have a fight-or-flight response to her character. She is cold, ruthless, and a loyal soldier to her company until they overlook her for a promotion. The scene she is in is incredibly funny and dramatizes the experience of being on the phone with customer service perfectly.
Steve Buscemi
Buscemi is an incredibly famous and funny actor. He has had roles in ‘Monsters, Inc,’ ‘Desperado,’ ‘Big Fish,’ ‘The Big Lebowski,’ and many more. In this series, he plays Q, the letter. Q feels he should be put at the end of the alphabet with the other weird letters like X, Y, and Z. His place in the alphabet stifles his avant-garde artwork, and he feels unappreciated. Q is definitely an oddball, but Buscemi portrays him as sympathetic and dedicated to his art, refusing to sell out.
Princess Nokia
She was a surprising face to see. Princess Nokia is primarily a rapper and songwriter, but they have dabbled in acting, producing, and directing. You might know her songs “I Like Him” and “No Effort.” They were also featured on “Slumber Party” by Ashnikko which went viral. Princess Nokia appears as a mermaid in the series. She works in customer service as well. If you want to know why a mermaid under the sea needs to work, you have to watch ‘Fantasmas’.
And More…
This does not even scratch the surface of the list of famous cameos. Stars like Natasha Lyonne, Dominique Jackson, Jaboukie Young-White, Emma Stone, Ziwe, Dylan O’Brien, and more also make an appearance. Speaking of Dylan O’Brien…
Why Haven’t I Heard of ‘Fantasmas’?
You may think this is the first you’ve heard of this show, but there is a good chance you’ve seen at least one clip.
When the trailer for ‘Fantasmas’ dropped, a clip of Dylan O’Brien wearing red lingerie went viral earlier this year. Fans of the actor created many GIFs and screenshots of the few seconds he was in the trailer. Many who have seen the clip likely don’t know where it is from, and fans of O’Brien who did watch the show ended up a little confused. Especially considering he only shows up for a few scenes in the last episodes.
There has not been much promotion of the show from MAX. This could be due to the show’s unconventional nature. It is not for everyone, and the series does not have the same appeal as other mainstream comedy shows. At times it can feel like you are watching a whole different series when it moves away from the main plot. MAX possibly doesn’t want to put money into marketing this series due to its more niche target audience. Maybe they have faith that the right audience will stumble upon it eventually.
Why Should I Watch ‘Fantasmas’?
Julio Torres is an absolutely brilliant writer. ‘Fantasmas’ is likely one of his best works. Even with some of its more disjointed sketches, the series is tonally consistent. The scenes feel like they belong in the same universe.
‘Fantasmas’ is also geared towards the newer generations. With lots of concepts surrounding the internet, social media, creativity, corporations, and how they all interact with each other, Millennials and Gen-Z can relate to Julio or at least sympathize with him. It also brings up relevant topics such as cultural appropriation and gentrification in a lighthearted and funny manner. The show is unapologetically queer as well.
Many of the characters, despite only showing up for a short amount of time, are hilarious and leave a lasting impact. Vanesja, played by Martine Gutierrez, is an actress who got so lost in her role as Julio’s agent, she might actually be an agent now. She is a caricature of a cut-throat businesswoman and has to wrestle with the fact that this might just be who she is now. This is Martine’s biggest acting role so far. She is primarily a visual artist but has stated that she would like to “do more” acting. Martine was a treat to watch and was a highlight of the series. She was also the brilliant mind behind O’Brien’s moment in lingerie.
If you are looking for a quirky, yet relevant offbeat comedy with fun characters, you should give ‘Fantasmas’ a try.
