Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Valeria, which has been called Netflix’s Spanish answer to Sex and the City and has become a beloved series exploring modern female friendship and romance in Madrid.
Valeria premiered on May 8, 2020, delivering 8 episodes of approximately 40 minutes each per season on Netflix. The series concluded with its fourth and final season on February 14, 2025. This Spanish comedy-drama series, developed by María López Castaño, is based on the novel series “En los zapatos de Valeria” by Elísabet Benavent.
The series follows Valeria, a writer in creative and romantic crises, who finds support from three friends who are also discovering themselves. Set in the vibrant city of Madrid, the show captures the essence of modern Spanish life while exploring universal themes of friendship, love, and self-discovery.
Diana Gómez stars as the titular character alongside Silma López, Paula Malia, and Teresa Riott as her three best friends, creating a dynamic ensemble that drives the emotional core of the series throughout its four-season run.
A writer who has hit a creative and marital dead end
Valeria centers around a writer who has hit a creative and marital dead end. Struggling with both her writing career and her relationship with her husband Adrián, she turns to her three closest friends for support and guidance. Carmen, Lola, and Nerea each bring their own perspectives and experiences to help Valeria navigate her personal crisis.
Set against the backdrop of Madrid’s contemporary social scene, the series explores how the four women balance their professional ambitions, romantic relationships, and personal growth. Each character faces her own unique challenges, from career setbacks to complicated love lives, creating multiple interconnected storylines.
The show doesn’t shy away from addressing modern issues such as infidelity, career struggles, sexual liberation, and the complexity of maintaining friendships in adulthood, all while maintaining a light-hearted and engaging tone.
Main Character A: Valeria’s Journey of Self-Discovery
Diana Gómez delivers a nuanced performance as Valeria, portraying a woman caught between her creative aspirations and the reality of her stagnant marriage. Her character arc spans from a frustrated writer trapped in routine to someone who learns to prioritize her own happiness and artistic fulfillment.
Gómez brings authenticity to Valeria’s internal conflicts, showing both her vulnerabilities and her growing strength as she navigates difficult decisions about her marriage and career. The character’s evolution is particularly compelling as she discovers new aspects of herself through her relationships and experiences.
Valeria’s journey of self-discovery resonates with viewers who have faced similar crossroads in their own lives, making her a relatable and inspiring protagonist who grows significantly throughout the series’ four seasons.
Supporting Characters and Female Friendship
The ensemble cast of Silma López (Carmen), Paula Malia (Lola), and Teresa Riott (Nerea) creates a rich tapestry of female friendship that serves as the emotional anchor of the series. Each character brings distinct personality traits and life experiences that complement and challenge Valeria’s perspective.
The chemistry between the four actresses is undeniable, creating authentic friendships that feel genuine and lived-in. Their conversations about love, sex, career, and life are frank and honest, contributing to the show’s reputation as a modern take on female friendship.
The series excels at showing how these women support each other through various life challenges while also maintaining their individual identities and pursuing their own dreams and relationships.
Romantic Relationships and Love Stories
The romantic storylines in Valeria are complex and realistic, avoiding fairy-tale endings in favor of more authentic relationship dynamics. Maxi Iglesias and Ibrahim Al Shami provide compelling love interests that challenge Valeria’s perceptions about love and commitment.
The series explores various types of relationships, from long-term marriages to passionate affairs, casual dating to deep emotional connections. Each romantic storyline is handled with sensitivity and realism, showing both the joy and pain that comes with modern love.
The show’s approach to sexuality and romance is refreshingly honest, addressing topics that are often glossed over in other series while maintaining respect for its characters’ emotional journeys.
Success on Netflix
Valeria has achieved a 6.7/10 rating on IMDb and has been praised for its authentic portrayal of modern Spanish womanhood. The series has been compared to Sex and the City but has carved out its own unique identity in the Spanish-speaking market and beyond. The fourth and final season premiered on February 14, 2025, providing a Valentine’s Day conclusion to Valeria’s journey. The series has been described as a light-hearted, entertaining dramedy that, while not groundbreaking, offers appealing characters and sharp writing that makes it highly watchable.
If you love stories about female friendship, modern romance, and Spanish culture with a Sex and the City vibe, Valeria is the perfect series to binge on Netflix.
Valeria successfully captures the essence of modern female friendship while exploring universal themes of love, career, and self-discovery in a distinctly Spanish context that feels both authentic and entertaining.
Series Details:
Number of Episodes: 8 per season (4 seasons total, concluded)
Platform: Netflix
Rating: 6.7/10
Genre: Comedy-Drama / Romance
Main Characters: Diana Gómez (Valeria), Silma López (Carmen), Paula Malia (Lola), Teresa Riott (Nerea), Maxi Iglesias, Ibrahim Al Shami
Antagonist: Life circumstances and personal challenges rather than a single antagonist