Germán Andrés (James Camargo De Alba) is on the verge of 30, lives with his mother and is painfully aware that he’s never had a meaningful relationship. Aside from a fling with a closeted friend, who is engaged to a woman, Germán has never experienced a stable relationship. After coming out to his mother, Germán embarks on a mission to find someone to settle down with, which leads him to a number of encounters with a series of very different men.
‘Playing Around: Season 1’ is created by its star James Camargo De Alba and it’s an exploration of just how difficult dating is in the modern world, especially for a gay man. Germán is very keen to settle down, and his mother piles on the pressure after he comes out, but finding the perfect partner is anything but easy. Across the first season we see Germán tempted to reignite his fling, before deciding that actually he wants a relationship that doesn’t require him to be kept as a secret.
De Alba paints a very realistic and relatable picture of life for a single gay man who is about to enter his 30s. By that point dating apps consider you a has been and the opportunities beyond hook-ups are limited. Germán’s eyes are opened when he thinks he’s found a hook-up, only to discover that he’s walking into an interview to be their third. Does he really want a life of polyamory? Not really. As he works his way through encounters with different men, Germán starts to get a handle on what he’s after but when he finds the person that he thinks could be the one, he’s dealt a surprising blow that could change everything.
James Camargo De Alba really does hold everything together. He’s adorable as Germán, playing the characters as a mix of hapless and idealistic. You can’t help but root for him, despite the situations he gets himself into, and his chemistry with his overbearing mother is a lot of fun to watch. Narratively, the tone of the show is a little uneven as it tries to do a multitude of things but overall it’s an entertaining watch.
‘Playing Around: Season 1’ is fun and frothy, and never takes itself too seriously. The first half is stronger than the second, and the show does lose its way a little in the second half. The humour that punctuates the first part soon begins to fade as more serious issues come in, and it’s a shame because the zippy feel of the first 45 minutes is really enjoyable. Still, there’s a lot to enjoy here and the show is sweet enough so it’ll be interesting to see where it goes in a potential season 2.
Cast: James Camargo De Alba, Julio Pachón, Obeida Benavides, Nicolás Guardiola, Camila Guzmán Creator: James Camargo De Alba Certificate: Unrated Duration: 100 mins Released by: Cinephobia Releasing Release date: VOD/streaming (now), DVD (25th June 2026)
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