Netflix’s Valeria is a four-season Spanish comedy-drama about a writer in Madrid trying to fix both her marriage and her career. It is a show about friendship, middle-age anxiety, and the small humiliations of adult life, dressed up as a glossy, colorful romp. The result lands somewhere between charming and repetitive, with a strong cast and a premise that grows thinner as the seasons pile up.
The show follows Valeria (Diana Gómez), a novelist whose marriage and writing career have stalled. She finds solace in her three best friends: Lola (Silma López), Carmen (Paula Malia), and Nerea (Teresa Riott). Maxi Iglesias plays Víctor, her husband, while Juanlu González plays Borja, Federico Aguado plays Bruno, and José Pastor plays Rai. The show was created by María López Castaño and is based on the novels by Elisabet Benavent.
Trailer, via Netflix.
Four Seasons, One Plot
The first season premiered on 8 May 2020, and the show was renewed for a second season on 12 June 2020. That season arrived on 13 August 2021. Netflix renewed the show again in October 2021 for a third season, which came out on 2 June 2023. In March 2024, the show was renewed for a fourth and final season, released on 14 February 2025.
Each season follows a similar arc: Valeria faces a crisis, the friends bond over it, and everything gets resolved by the finale. The show leans on broad comedy, warm callbacks, and predictable romantic arcs. It is at its best when it lets the actors breathe, particularly Gómez, López, Malia, and Riott, who carry the emotional weight.
What Works
- The chemistry between the four leads is genuine. Their scenes together feel lived-in and spontaneous, even when the script is pushing them toward a punchline.
- The show is visually bright and polished, with a color palette that matches its sunny, aspirational tone.
- The supporting cast, including Iglesias as Víctor, adds depth to the central relationships without overshadowing them.
What Doesn’t
The show’s formula grows tired over time. By the fourth season, the crises feel recycled rather than fresh, and the jokes land less often. The show also struggles with pacing: some episodes drag, while others rush through developments that could have used more room.
The show is at its weakest when it leans on sitcom-style gags at the expense of character development. The central relationship between Valeria and Víctor, while occasionally tender, rarely reaches the depth that the premise promises.
Final Word
Valeria is a solid, if uneven, entry in the genre of female-driven comedy-dramas. It is a show about midlife that never quite reaches the depths it hints at, but it is consistently pleasant company. The cast sells it, and the production values are high.
The show earns a score in the upper half of the 7 range.
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