For some time now, Netflix has discovered the most foolproof formula in the film and television industry: take a series that was wildly popular in Spain, copy the script exactly, change the characters’ names and backgrounds, and market it to the rest of Europe as, “Here is a brand-new original local content!” The Spanish production Alpha Males (Machos Alfa) was watched so much that after France, the Netherlands, and Italy, it was the Germans’ turn.
Before us stands a story directed by Tobi Baumann and Jan Martin Scharf, following four friends in their 40s who realize with horror that their male privileges are slipping away one by one. This time, however, the warmth of the Mediterranean has been replaced by that famous German mechanical coldness.
Four “Former” Alphas Falling into Their Own Trap
The series takes four men who cannot keep up with the pace of the modern world and new gender dynamics, throwing them into a masculinity-deconstruction course. In truth, it makes them dig their own graves. The characters are literal caricatures of midlife neurosis:
- Ulf (Tom Beck): An archaic chauvinist who gets fired from work in favor of a woman and cannot stomach his wife’s career rise.
- Andi (Moritz Führmann): A husband whose sex life has ended due to hormonal issues but who refuses to see a doctor because of his ego.
- Cem (Serkan Kaya): A therapist whose own relationships are a massive wreck while he dishes out advice to his patients.
- Erik (David Rott): A man who accepts an open relationship merely to appear innovative and modern, while losing his mind internally.
The true comedy of the narrative is hidden not within these men’s ability to solve problems, but within their capacity to create them. Things get even more tragicomic when they learn about feminism, open communication, and modern relationship dynamics in courses, only to attempt to integrate them into their own lives in completely erroneous ways.
“Former alphas who have lost their privileges only shoot themselves in the foot faster when they attempt to put modern theories into practice.”
Chinese Torture for Those Who Know the Spanish Original
If you have watched the Spanish production Alpha Males, Dudes will be a distasteful nightmare of déjà vu for you. The series is identical almost scene-for-scene, joke-for-joke. The problem is this: when the chaotic, loud, and organic Mediterranean comedic rhythm of the Spaniards merges with German discipline, it yields a comedy that feels awkward. This is the sole reason why fans of the original series have blasted Dudes: it leaves the audience with the feeling of, “I’ve heard this joke before from someone who told it much better.”
Is the Series a Complete Waste of Time, Then?
This is where the distinction begins. If you have never heard of the original series, there is a cleverly functioning system at play here. Changing gender roles, a male ego faltering in the face of feminism, and the pathetic struggles brought by middle age constitute a universal material that works anywhere in the world. When watched without any comparison, Dudes transforms into a fast-paced, fun, and internally consistent weekend binge.
Conclusion: Guaranteed but Soulless Entertainment
Dudes stands as one of the most concrete proofs of how terrified Netflix is of taking risks, and how it has surrendered creativity to algorithms. If you want to laugh at the blunders of the 40s and the crumbling of the masculine ego—and if you are unaware of the Spanish original—you can give this 8-episode series a chance.
However, if you have watched the original Mediterranean version, steer clear of this cold German copy; after all, you do not have to laugh at the same joke a second time, especially when delivered with a worse accent.
Series Details:
- Series Title: Dudes
- Platform: Netflix
- Directors: Tobi Baumann, Jan Martin Scharf
- Cast: Tom Beck, Moritz Führmann, Serkan Kaya, David Rott
- Based On: The Spanish Netflix hit Alpha Males (Machos Alfa)
- Vibe: Midlife crisis comedy, satirical deconstruction of modern masculinity.
