According to Smiley’s creator, the Spanish rom-com will not return for a second season.
Based on creator Guillem Clua’s play of the same name, the eight-episode series is set in Barcelona and follows the love story between Alex (Carlos Cuevas), a bartender, and Bruno (Miki Esparbê), an architect.
The official synopsis reads: “Two men and their friends in Barcelona navigate hesitations, hangups and missed connections as they search for the true love they’ve been missing.”
Additional cast members include Pepón Nieto as Javier/Keena, Meritxell Calvo as Vero, Giannina Fruttero as Patri, Eduardo Lloveras as Albert, Ruth Llopis as Núria, Cedrick Mugisha as Ibra,Carles Sanjaime as Ramiro and Ramon Pujol as Ramon.
Smiley received praise from fans and critics for Cuevas and Esparbé’s chemistry and the lack of queer trauma elements, receiving a nomination for Outstanding Spanish-Language Scripted Television Series at the 2023 GLAAD Media Awards.
In an interview on Aquí Catalunya on SER Catalunya, Clua revealed that Netflix will not be moving ahead with a second season.
Translated to English, he said: “I can already tell you that there won’t be a second season of Smiley, but there will be other things that I can’t say right now.”
Smiley is the latest addition to the small-screen’s current LGBTQ+ purge.
Other cancelled shows over the past year include Batwoman, Dead End: Paranormal Park, Fate: The Winx Saga, First Kill, Gentleman Jack, Gossip Girl, Half Bad: The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself, The L Word: Generation Q, Queer as Folk, Uncoupled, Warrior Nun and The Wilds.