Smiley is a Spanish romantic comedy that Netflix dropped in December 2022, and it plays like a warm hug wrapped in a missed call. The show follows two men in Barcelona as they try to find the love they’ve been missing. It’s based on a play by Guillem Clua, who also created the series alongside Marta Pahissa. The result is a show that knows exactly what it wants to be: a feel-good story about friendship, family, and the way people keep showing up for each other even when they’re too stubborn to admit it.
The show centers on Alex, a bartender played by Carlos Cuevas, and Bruno, an architect played by Miki Esparbé. They meet because of a misdirected voicemail. From there, the series expands outward to include their friends: Javier and Keena Mandrah, Veronica ‘Vero’ played by Meritxell Calvo, Ibra played by Cedrick Mugisha, Patricia ‘Patri’ played by Giannina Fruttero, Albert played by Eduardo Lloveras, Núria played by Ruth Llopis, Ramiro played by Carles Sanjaime, Ramon played by Ramon Pujol, Rosa played by Amparo Fernández, and Lis played by Ann M. Perelló. The ensemble is large, but the show never loses focus on its central couple.
The Barcelona Setting
The show is set in Barcelona, and the city itself becomes a character. The streets, the bars, the architecture — all of it feels lived-in and specific. The show doesn’t lean on tourist traps; it shows a city full of people who know each other’s routines. That grounding makes the emotional beats land harder.
Alex and Bruno’s Love Story
Alex and Bruno’s relationship is the engine of Smiley. They’re both searching for something they can’t quite name, and their paths cross because of a mistake. The show spends its eight episodes exploring what happens after that mistake is made. It’s a slow burn, and the pacing rewards patience. There are missed connections, hesitations, and hangups along the way, but the show trusts its audience to stick with it.
Carlos Cuevas brings a grounded warmth to Alex. He’s the kind of guy who’s always there for his friends, even when he’s not sure why he’s doing it. Miki Esparbé plays Bruno with a quiet intensity. He’s more guarded, more analytical, and the contrast between the two men drives the chemistry forward. Their scenes together are the show’s best, and they carry the narrative through its quieter stretches.
The Ensemble Cast
The supporting cast is where Smiley finds some of its best moments. The friends are all distinct, and the show takes time to let each of them breathe. The show jumps between multiple perspectives, but it never loses sight of the main thread. The humor comes from the small details: a joke about a friend’s job, a sideways glance during a conversation, a moment of hesitation that speaks louder than any speech.
Why It Works
Smiley works because it commits fully to its tone. It’s a romantic comedy, and it doesn’t try to be anything else. That means the jokes land, the romance feels earned, and the emotional payoff at the end holds weight. The show doesn’t over-explain its world; it lets the characters live in it. That restraint pays off.
The show also handles its themes with care. Friendship is treated as seriously as romance, and the distinction between the two is blurred. The characters are always looking for love, but they find it in each other, in their families, and in the people who show up for them week after week. It’s a message that feels genuine rather than preachy.
How It Compares
| Element | Smiley |
|---|---|
| Genre | Romantic comedy |
| Setting | Barcelona |
| Central Couple | Alex and Bruno |
| Creator | Guillem Clua, Marta Pahissa |
The show doesn’t reinvent the wheel. It doesn’t need to. What it does, it does exceptionally well.
The Verdict
Smiley isn’t trying to be a groundbreaking piece of television. It’s trying to be a good time, and it succeeds at that. The writing is sharp, the performances are strong, and the setting is vivid. It’s a show that understands the value of a well-timed laugh and a well-earned tear.
The show is available on Netflix, and it’s worth checking out if you’re in the mood for something light-hearted. It’s a show about finding love, but it’s really a show about finding connection. That’s a message that resonates beyond the final episode.
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