Poquita Fe reimagines the ordinary as a small, savagely funny portrait of modern life
A TV series begins with a seemingly simple idea: nothing dramatic, nothing flashy. The premise nudges viewers toward a familiar question already posed by Seinfeld decades ago: how much humor hides in the everyday? Today the spotlight shifts to a newer show that, while aiming for quiet realism rather than flashy gimmicks, earns attention for its own understated brilliance. Poquita Fe offers a Spanish interpretation of the nothingness concept, focusing on the tiny, human moments that populate daily life and the way people present themselves on social media.
Like Seinfeld, Poquita Fe mines humor from the mundane and follows a couple through the predictable rhythms of routine. A neighbor arrives with a spark reminiscent of Kramer and George Costanza, injecting a familiar energy and a stream of memorable scenes that anchor the comedy. This character acts as a catalyst, occasionally taking over scenes and steering the laugh lines with spontaneity that keeps the series lively.
The creators behind the show are Pepón Montero and Juan Maidagán, known for another widely recognized Spanish comedy. The series unfolds in twelve short episodes, each running about fifteen minutes, tracking the changing months of the year. Viewers meet Berta and José Ramón as they move through a calendar of ordinary events, from Christmas hangovers to Easter, summer vacation, and the smooth return to everyday life. The format invites audiences to observe how small happenings accumulate into the texture of a year in the couple’s life.
Poquita Fe uses a faux documentary frame. The plot interweaves interview segments where the characters reflect on what just happened, offering multiple viewpoints and inviting the audience to weigh different interpretations. This storytelling device, familiar from successful family comedies, brings immediacy and intimacy. It also nods to work-based comedies like The Office and Parks and Recreation, while a distinctly Spanish flavor adds texture. The series even hints at vampire humor through a playful comparison, though Poquita Fe remains firmly rooted in the everyday lives of its protagonists. The interviews create a chorus voicing each character’s take on events, prompting reflection on how truth can be shaped by perspective.
The setting is Madrid, chosen to emphasize place without relying on iconic neighborhoods. The city’s quieter corners provide the backdrop for a couple who seem to have reached a moment where excitement has faded and the plan is simply to settle into a routine on the couch each Friday night. Berta and José Ramón share space with family members who drift through their days, including a mother-in-law who occupies the home and a sister who threads through emotional landscapes shaped by love and disappointment. The environment centers on the small, real pressures of everyday life rather than dramatic crises, making the comedy feel relatable and authentic.
José Ramón works as a government building attendant, a role that offers glimpses into ordinary work life rather than action-packed moments. The small daily challenges—dodging pigeons, guiding visitors, and locating the right office—play out with humor and a touch of stubborn resilience. Berta, employed at a nursery, faces the familiar struggle of balancing work with family life. Her greatest tension often comes from her child who tests patience with cries that erupt at the door. The contrast between work and home life, along with the minor misadventures at every turn, forms the backbone of the comedy’s charm.
Poquita Fe crafts humor from absurd situations that mirror the characters themselves. Those who can laugh at their own foibles will recognize a piece of their own lives on screen. The show invites audiences to join in the laughter and to observe how a year can be filled with small, comic crises that still feel real. The idea that tragedy and joy coexist threads throughout, echoing the notion that love can endure even in the midst of monotony. The bond between José Ramón and Berta is portrayed as enduring because they continue to inhabit life together, even when happiness seems elusive. The series suggests that the couple’s shared routine might obscure a deeper connection, while also hinting at the subtle joy found in companionship.
Across its run, Poquita Fe explores topics big and small with a light touch that allows space for genuine emotion without slipping into heavy melodrama. The show invites audiences to see themselves in the characters, to notice the humor in daily friction, and to revel in moments of honest, unglamorous life. The year they spend together becomes a canvas for quiet adventures, not grand quests, and the humor arises from the way ordinary people navigate ordinary moments with a modest grace and a good measure of stubborn humor. The result is a comedy that feels true to life, funny when least expected, and hopeful in its quiet belief that ordinary days can hold meaning even when everything seems routine.
Poquita Fe offers a fresh take on the genre by staying close to the realities of urban family life. It proves that laughter can bloom from the most mundane corners of the home and the city, and that the right mix of character, setting, and timing can turn everyday moments into something memorable. The show invites viewers to keep company with Berta and José Ramón as they navigate another year together, hopeful that the humor found along the way might turn a simple life into a story worth revisiting.