Fanatico revolves around Lazaro, a young man who gets a chance to emulate his idol but slowly realizes that the life that comes with it is not all that he aspired for. The series is streaming on Netflix.
Story
Salvador has made a name for himself as the artist, Quimera. He lives the rockstar life filled with alcohol and drugs and one day it gets too much for him as he dies of an overdose right in the middle of a concert.
Lazaro is a young man who doesn’t have a lot going on in his life. He has a supportive girlfriend and loving mother but he’s not satisfied and wants to make it big somehow. He also looks eerily similar to his idol, Quimera.
After Quimera’s death, Lazaro decides to capitalize on his resemblance to the star by impersonating him and riding on his fame. Quimera’s old manager tries to recruit Lazaro in a bid to continue his legacy, much to the annoyance of Quimera’s old girlfriend and grieving family.
Eventually, Lazaro gets a chance to live his dream but he soon realizes that it’s not always an easy life to live and as a consequence loses the support of his loved ones.
Lazaro has doubts but finally accepts that now that he’s gotten himself into this situation, it’s not going to be easy to get out and he faces the future head-on.
Performances
Lorenzo Ferro does a decent job playing Lazaro/Quimera. He showcases multiple emotions throughout his journey from an awestruck kid to woeful acceptance of the future.
There isn’t a really extensive cast and everyone else barely gets time on screen to truly give in an impactful performance.
Positives
The concept of Fanatico is an interesting take on the “prince and the pauper” theme with Lazaro not only experiencing the highs of the star life but also the lows in such a short span of time.
The music throughout the series is brilliant. The entire soundtrack is filled with catchy bangers that have enormous replay value.
There are some great locations and costumes on display during Fanatico and credit must go to the people responsible for them.
Negatives
The decision to make it a series is a slightly confusing one. The five episodes collectively run for short than the average film but with the episode format, there are gaps in the story that feel awkward.
There should have been a clearer focus on the supporting cast and their motivations. If their impact on the primary story was more defined, it would have made for a better story.
Verdict
Fanatico is a conceptually great series that briefly explores the story of chasing your dreams only to realise that they’re not exactly what you expected. It also portrays the intense lifestyle of an artist and what the pressure can do to any single person who is embroiled in it.
Rating: 2.5/5
Also Read: Fanatico ending explained: Does Lazaro achieve his dream?