‘Todo lo otro’ gives trans and queer characters the room to be imperfect

Todo lo otro (Dafne and the Rest) is a Spanish comedy from HBO Max written, directed by and starring Abril Zamora. The show follows a messy group of friends in in their 30s and mostly centers Dafne (Zamora), a woman dealing with a recent break-up, a job she hates and an uncomfortable relationship with her parents — all while realizing she’s falling in love with her roommate César (Juan Blanco) who himself is recently engaged. 

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The group of friends that round out this ensemble comedy (including a gay flight attentandent named Yerai [David Matarín] who lives down the hall, Dafne’s anxious co-worker Amaya [Nuria Herrero], and Raquel [Bea de la Cruz] who’s feeling weird after hooking up with Cesar’s fiancee) are imperfect. They’re sometimes fake, self-centered, dramatic and gossip behind each others’ backs – which is to say, they’re human. But at the end of the day, they form an imperfect chosen family that makes for an endearing dynamic among the cast. 

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Abril Zamora, the creator of the show, is a trans woman with acting and writing credits including Vis a vis (Locked Up), La vita davanti a sé (The Life Ahead), Élite – and after Todo lo otro, she’s also Spain’s first out trans showrunner. In a recent interview with GLAAD’s Alex Escaja, Zamora talked about the importance of trans representation behind the screen, as well as the need for exploring more nuanced and emotionally complex storylines for LGBTQ+ characters that move beyond common tropes.

“When I created this series [Todo lo otro] I realized that I had a lot of responsibility since there are few trans characters in fiction, and if I did negative things there could be negative consequences,” Zamora told GLAAD. “But I tried to forget about that and focus on representing a character with ‘lights and shadows’, who messes up, does things that are wrong, does things that are right, makes mistakes, and I think the humanity encourages empathy in others…I wanted to talk about my life, what I know, and I don’t identify as a perfect person.”

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When it comes to Dafne’s storyline, the show doesn’t shy away from acknowledging transphobic microaggressions and invasive questions from cis people — but with Zamora at the helm directorially, and penning the script, these moments manage to cleverly (and comedically) skewer the people who still clutch to trans stereotypes. But Todo lo otro ultimately focuses on aspects of Dafne’s failure, and growth, in a way that feels universal to anyone stumbling aimlessly into their thirties thinking they should’ve had it all figured out by now.

“Previous generations, when they were our age, had a house, a job, a mortgage, some kids, and that causes anxiety when we see that we’re adults that keep acting in childish ways,” Zamora told GLAAD. “I live intensely like an adolescent and I love to have the right to make mistakes. It seems like something we’re not allowed to have but it’s important, you know?”

HBO Max

While Todo lo otro’s format and tone feel familiar in terms of dealing with sex, friendship and self-absorbed singles living in a city, it’s a refreshingly new perspective on the coming-of-age ensemble comedy, starring a trans character with imperfections and depth, played by a bold and incisive comedic talent. For its groundbreaking work in front of, and behind, the camera, Todo lo otro is one of our five outstanding nominees in the GMA’s Spanish-Languages Scripted TV Series category.

Todo lo otro is created by Abril Zamora and distributed in the U.S. by HBO Max.

You can also read GLAAD’s one-on-one interview with Abril Zamora online in English or Spanish.