Super Mâles

Is this a joke? This show feels like a poorly executed, watered-down copy of Machos Alfa, the Spanish series. The scenarios and ideas seem blatantly stolen, yet they fail to capture the originality, humor, and charm of the original. Everything, from the character development to the storytelling, is significantly weaker, making it a pale imitation at best. It lacks the wit, depth, and engaging dynamics that made Machos Alfa enjoyable. Instead of bringing something fresh to the table, it merely recycles ideas in a way that feels uninspired and dull. A huge disappointment and a complete waste of time.

The French remake of Machos Alfa retains the original premise but fully adapts it to the style and humor of French comedy. While the core remains the same-four friends navigating the changing roles of masculinity in modern society-the tone, conflict resolution, and character development take a different path.

The humor here is more direct, more physical, and carries a heavier dose of sexual content, setting it apart from the Spanish version. While this gives the show its own identity, it also alters the dynamic between the characters and the rhythm of the dialogue, which in Machos Alfa felt more natural and fresh. Even so, the series manages to be funny and strikes a good balance between satire and social commentary.

The performances are solid, with a cast that fully embraces the show's tone. The protagonists have good chemistry, though at times the situations feel more exaggerated than in the original version, losing some of the spontaneity that made the Spanish series so effective. Still, there are well-executed moments that deliver genuine laughs and keep the episodes moving at a good pace.

Visually, the series maintains a polished aesthetic, using the Parisian setting to distinguish itself from the original. The scenarios often feel more theatrical, reinforcing the comedic style but sometimes making certain scenes seem more artificial.

Ultimately, Super Mâles is a different take, with more irreverence and a more explicit approach in certain aspects, while still preserving the essence of the original story. It's not a direct copy but a reinterpretation with its own personality, making it entertaining and worth watching, even if it lacks the unique charm of Machos Alfa.

Netflix, the money that was used to make Shafted would have been better spent on something else than this. The Spanish AlphaMales: 10 stars from 10. The French Shafted: not worth rating. It's not the actors' fault, sometimes Netflix's matrix slips into error. There's no chemistry between the characters, no magic that makes you wait for each new episode week after week while watching a good series, or if all the episodes are available, you binge watch them in one night and watch them again in a few months. There are good series remakes, but Shafted is not one of them. If it hadn't been for the original Spanish version, it wouldn't have been worse.

The first scene shows dummy guys who think are alpha males being forced to take a class in getting rid of their toxic masculinity.

And you might think: maybe it'll be interesting to see these men learn to be better people, and get confronted on their BS.

Too bad, because the therapy makes no sense (jump up and down and feel the weight of your balls), and it never shows up in any of the posterior episodes.

Instead, it's about these dummy men being dummies, loose in the world, aggravating others, and being aggravated in return.

Also, isn't it ridiculous how reviews have a minimum of required characters, desincentivising people to write reviews?

This is a carbon copy of another show on Netflix called Alpha Males. However Alpha Males is based in Madrid and the characters are more likeable, funnier and entertaining.

Maybe the backdrop of sunny Madrid versus the mirky Paris gloom lends more to the satirical premise which allows Alpha Males to shine (pun intended)

Both shows are about 4 middle aged male friends with differing relationship statuses with their women. They attend a class on toxic masculinity with the aim to make themselves better men.

Alpha Males strives to explore genuine gender topics of discussion in a comedic yet entertaining style. However Shafted doesn't seem to explore any gender bias with real conviction and your left with a not very funny comedy.

If you've already watched Alpha Males this will be a distinct disappointment.