Netflix’s Deadpan Veterinarian Comedy Triumphs Where It Matters Most

Netflix has a knack for producing loads of attention-grabbing international TV exhibits throughout a big selection of genres. From the sci-fi horrors of Argentina’s The Eternaut to the dramatic stress within the Japanese musical Glass Heart, 2025 has seen a mess of spectacular collection from all over the world. Their comedic exhibits are additionally stuffed with distinctive approaches that play to their strengths.

Such is the case with Old Dog, New Tricks (initially titled Animal), a deadpan comedy about Antón (Luis Zahera), a down-on-his-luck farm veterinarian who can not seem to make any cash doing what he does anymore. Nonetheless, when his niece, Uxía (Lucía Caraballo), presents him a job because the vet for her pet retailer, Kawanda, he accepts. However as a result of he is tough across the edges, getting acclimated to his new atmosphere is not a simple job.

What follows are 9 episodes of misadventures and instances Antón has to cope with whereas adjusting to his new place, alongside a number of different issues that crop up for him. Whereas a few of these are introduced with seriousness, there’s additionally a deadpan, snark-addled humor all through that defines it as a comedy, and one with loads of impressionable occasions and characters.

Previous Canine, New Tips Makes use of Character Quirks To Its Comedic Benefit

The strongest component is how Antón and Uxía’s personalities coincide with one another’s, alongside the assortment of characters — from the employees of Kawanda to others the pair crosses paths with. The friction of their relationship is on the story’s core, although, particularly when Antón takes fairly a while to regulate to the expectations of his newfound function.

That is aided by the collection’ nearly cynical humor. Whereas Antón does cope with loads of memorable animals at his job, his interactions with different individuals are what drive even the smallest narratives ahead. For him, animals are like well-oiled machines which have proper and mistaken methods of approaching restore. Making use of that very same logic to individuals, although, may end up in some troublesome but humorous situations.

Regardless of being the central character, he is not the one one who will get to bask within the humor. The Netflix comedy series additionally exhibits Uxía in a humorous gentle, as she finds herself inextricably drawn to each individuals and animals she appears like she wants to avoid wasting. It lands her in lots of a precarious state of affairs, particularly as extra characters get launched. This not solely makes her comedic moments stand out in distinction to Antón’s, but in addition aids in her character growth.

It showcases, via the interweaving of comedic moments, how dynamic its lead characters are. Whereas some individuals they bounce off of are extra one-note, the present’s concentrate on Antón and Uxía strengthens their centrality. It helps that, after they find yourself getting harder instances or should deal with extra private issues, the present permits them room to breathe. The method strengthens the present, because it makes all of them the better to care about.

Previous Canine, New Tips’ Solely Misstep Would not Have an effect on The Complete Present

Anton with a couple behind him in Old Dog New Tricks — Anton with a pair behind him in Previous Canine New Tips

The one flaw Previous Canine, New Tips falls into is a number of facet plots that wind up feeling moot by the top of the story. Whereas these typically do a very good job at centering Antón and Uxía in particular person episodes, a few of them bleed out and in in ways in which aren’t completely essential to the bigger plot. It is an admirable try at giving the present bigger plot threads, however the place it actually shines is within the particular person instances and tales.

Fortunately, this does not occur typically sufficient to compromise the attention-grabbing characters and hilarious tales that do play out. By the ultimate stretch, the collection actually finds its tempo, getting a usually satisfying conclusion. Even with occasional unevenness as a consequence of some plot threads that overstay their welcome, the present’s core focus by no means falters.

It is due to this combination of compelling leads and deadpan comedy that Previous Canine, New Tips is such a robust entry in Netflix’s comedy class. The present has a novel quirkiness to it that lends itself to Antón and Uxía as leads, making the vet instances they sort out and their private lives hilarious and attention-grabbing. It is a testomony to the kind of distinctive, international TV collection the platform helps deliver to life, and the intriguing tales that may unfold due to them.