# Smiley (2022)

> Two men and their friends in Barcelona stumble through hesitations, hangups and missed connections while searching for love.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/135366

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 8
- Episode runtime: 285 min
- Status: Canceled
- Genres: comedy, romance
- Created by: Guillem Clua, Marta Pahissa
- Network: Netflix
- Cast: Carlos Cuevas, Miki Esparbé, Pepón Nieto, Meritxell Calvo, Cedrick Mugisha, Giannina Fruttero, Eduardo Lloveras, Ruth Llopis
- TMDB rating: 8.0/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18072556/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: none
- Tone: playful, warm, frank, chaotic, tender, breezy

## What critics say

Audiences rated this Barcelona romantic comedy positively, though the limited run drew only a modest audience rating.

## Synopsis

Smiley (2022) is a Spanish romantic comedy miniseries created by Guillem Clua and Marta Pahissa for Netflix. Set in contemporary Barcelona, it follows Alex (Carlos Cuevas) and Bruno (Miki Esparbé) as they navigate hesitations, hangups and missed connections while searching for the true love they feel they have been missing. Their circle of friends, including Vero (Meritxell Calvo), Ibra (Cedrick Mugisha) and Patri (Giannina Fruttero), supplies a rotating set of crushes, misfires and awkward group dinners that keep each episode brisk and gently chaotic. The engine is simple: every character wants connection, and every attempt to get it runs into timing, pride and fear of commitment. The eight episodes play as one continuing story across a holiday season, with festive gatherings and New Year's Eve pressure giving the romance a ticking clock. Its tone is warm, frank and playful, mixing sexual candor with tender moments about queer identity and belonging in a city that looks like a backdrop for wishful romance. Fans of Looking, Sex and the City and Love Life will find resonance in its ensemble dating misadventures and sharp, affectionate humor about modern love.

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