Now with his second series, Fantasmas, I’m not even going to try and pretend I understand how Julio Torres’ mind works.
Clearly, his comedy connects with people because unlike Los Espookys, this six episode series is filled with guest stars acting out some of the most bizarre things. The show itself seems to be placed a semi-futuristic New York City where you need “proof of existence” to be able to do almost anything. I mean, that’s kind of how the world works now, but they’re even talking about using the subway and other menial stuff like that. Julio, playing a version of himself, does not want to get this proof and instead of dealing with that anxiety, he instead fixates on a birthmark that he thinks is a cancerous mole.
He’s convinced he needs a biopsy, but no dermatologist is concerned about it. Julio believes he can change their minds if he can find a tiny gold oyster he lost at a club a few nights prior. The rest of the season is Julio trying to find this oyster with odd little sub stories working their way into the main narrative. Somehow they do all manage to come together at the end in a way I would have personally never thought possible. Just goes to show I don’t know much about unconventional storytelling and that Julio Torres is a pretty darn creative mind.
Some of the side stories were truly wild. In the very first episode we’re treated to a knock off version of Alf, called Melf, who strikes up a relationship with a character played by Paul Dano. Admittedly, this bit had me cackling. Tilda Swinton voiced some water, and then we had Emma Stone and Rachel Dratch play some versions of Real Housewives who’s lives were split in two and being controlled by some guy with serious mommy issues. Kim Petras and Princess Nokia as mermaids also had me laughing quite a bit.
Aside from the myriad of new guest stars, I was also so happy to see all of Torres’ Los Espookys cast pop up in little roles. I hope they all get to collaborate again in the future. Though there were a ton of actors filtering through so few episodes, the standout mainstays belonged to Julio’s assistant of sorts, a robot named Bibo who just wants to be an actor. Then there is also Julio’s friend, Vanesja, an actor who was method acting as an agent for so long that she became an actual agent. I loved her delivery and looks, and though it seems like she would be a terrible agent was in fact actually a pretty good one.
All in all, it took me three episodes to get into the groove of this show, but it took me twice as long to get into Los Espookys. Perhaps by the time Torres’ next project comes out I’ll be prepared for his signature quirks. For as short as this is, it’s worth a watch.