Nacho

Nacho tells a fictionalised account of adult film star Nacho Vidal (played by Martiño Rivas), who rose to fame from humble origins by – well, rising to fame. Spurred on by his girlfriend Sara Bernat (María de Nati) to pursue a life in the lustful limelight, Nacho soon discovers that making it big in the porn industry is harder than it seems, and finds himself thrust into a world of sexual showbiz that tests his mental and physical fortitude.

As can be expected from a show about an adult film star, sex is a big part of Nacho’s storytelling, and the show spends a lot of time dissecting it as a concept along a number of social axes, exploring the different attitudes that people have towards sex and the way the adult industry responds to these attitudes. It’s fairly straightforward stuff, delivered with a cheeky, dynamic cinematographic style that embraces the salacious and revels in the rude.

The show’s writing is solid, and is helped greatly by strong performances from its cast. Rivas puts in a solid performance as the titular Nacho, painting a complex portrait of a playboy with something to prove – young, dumb and full of ego, but with a more vulnerable side that he hides behind layers of masculinity. de Nati provides an excellent foil to Nacho as Sara, more confident in her sexual expression in ways that both challenge and encourage the young Nacho as he develops in his career. Also of note is Andrés Velencoso, who provides some excellent heel heat as rival performer Toni Roca and brings out different sides to the fictionalised version of Vidal.

Overall, Nacho is a decent enough show that takes its risqué premise and completely runs with it stylistically and tonally. It’s not the most groundbreaking piece of television, but anyone with a taste for some more ribald television – and doesn’t have to worry about family members or roommates walking in on the watching experience – could certainly do worse than Nacho.

Umar Ali

Nacho is released on Lionsgate+ on 2^nd June 2023.

Watch the trailer for Nacho here: