Dejémonos de Vargas takes a simple idea and runs with it: a middle-class family trying to get through the day without losing its mind. The show follows Ramón Vargas, his wife Valentina, and their teenage son Agustín as they face daily problems that would crush anyone else. It is a comedy, but the problems are real.
The show is a spin-off of the sitcom Dejémonos de vainas, which ran between 1983 and 1998. That history shows in the writing, which knows exactly how to land a joke about money trouble or a bad decision. Ramón is the engine of the show. He is unlucky, broke, and desperate for a way out of his financial mess. Valentina, played by Margarita Muñoz, balances him out as a successful lawyer who still puts up with everything he brings home. Their son Agustín, played by Emmanuel Saldarriaga, rounds out the trio with teenage drama that feels earned rather than forced.
The Cast Carries the Chaos
Carlos Camacho plays Ramón with a weariness that lands every punchline. Margarita Muñoz matches him beat for beat as Valentina, and their scenes together are the show’s best. The supporting cast fills out the family with colorful characters like Mireya Salazar, played by Andrea Guzmán, and her daughter Camila, played by Melissa Cabrera. The show also includes Yenniffer Chivatá, played by Laura Flórez, and Josefa Chivatá, played by Maru Yamayusa, who add texture to the household.
“Surviving My Family” is a fair translation of the title, and it captures the show’s spirit: these people are just trying to make it through.
Why It Works
The show earns its comedy by grounding its jokes in actual problems. Ramón’s bad luck is not a running gag; it is a lived reality that affects every episode. The show does not shy away from the strain of living paycheck to paycheck, and it treats Valentina’s success as a genuine source of friction rather than a joke about women being bossy. That honesty is what separates Dejémonos de Vargas from a standard sitcom.
The show also benefits from its long history. References to the original series appear throughout, giving longtime fans a sense of continuity while newcomers can follow along easily. The show knows its world and its characters, and that confidence shows in every scene.
| Character | Role |
|---|---|
| Ramón Vargas | Unlucky father |
| Valentina Restrepo | Successful lawyer |
| Agustín Julio Vargas Restrepo | Teenage son |
| Mireya Salazar | Neighbor |
| Camila Salazar | Mireya’s daughter |
The show’s strength is its refusal to let its characters off easy. Ramón’s schemes often backfire, and Valentina’s patience wears thin. The show never lets the family win without earning it, which makes their small victories feel earned.
Verdict: Dejémonos de Vargas is a confident, grounded comedy that respects its audience. It is not a reinvention of the wheel, but it does not need to be. The show knows what it is and delivers on that promise.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
