6 September 2024
Fantasmas S1
In Fantasmas, writer, director, and comedian Julio Torres spins a fantastical six-part tale that begins with the loss of a gold oyster earring. In his search for the precious object, he meets a series of offbeat characters in introspective, often eerie, and always comedic vignettes set against the backdrop of a dreamy, alternate version of New York City. A kaleidoscope of colour and surrealism, Fantasmas weaves together stories of people looking for meaning, purpose, and connection in an increasingly isolating world.
Fantasmas is at #4 on Metacritic’s list of the Best TV Shows This Year and #9 on Rotten Tomatoes’ list of the Best TV Shows of 2024 (so far), with a 93% critics’ rating.
In a rare 5/5-star review, The Guardian called Fantasmas, “a fantastically creative and theatrical little diamond,“ and an “outstandingly whimsical new series [that] threatens to tear up television’s rules,” saying, “this wildly creative comedy is a beacon of hope for TV’s future.”
The cast is led by Torres (already a multiple-Emmy nominee for his work on Saturday Night Live, and creator of Problemista and the Peabody Award-winning Los Espookys), along with his Los Espookys collaborators Martine Gutierrez and Ana Fabrega, Emmy nominee Ikechukwu Ufomadu (Judas and the Black Messiah, Inspector Ike, Ziwe), and Jaboukie Young-White (Rap Sh!t, Only Murders in the Building). Fantasmas also boasts a jaw-dropping line-up of guest stars, including Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Dano, Rosie Perez, Steve Buscemi, Tilda Swinton, and Oscar winner Emma Stone, who also exec produced.
You can also binge both seasons of Los Espookys from Monday, 16 September.
More HBO and HBO Max hits to stream
The Stroll (2023)
When director Kristen Lovell began to transition in the 90s, she was fired from her job. Like many transgender women of colour during this era, she began sex work in an area known as The Stroll.
Embrace the cringe in The Rehearsal Season 2
Hateable or relatable? We’re here to look at our 10 favourite characters with awkward, offputting energy – starting with The Rehearsal’s Nathan Fielder.
The Rehearsal S1-2
In this bizarre HBO docuseries people get a chance to rehearse for their own lives in a world where nothing ever works out as expected.
Tokyo Vice S1-2
In this powerful HBO crime thriller based on true events, a Western journalist working in Tokyo takes on one of the city’s most powerful crime bosses.