Netflix's Deadpan Veterinarian Comedy Triumphs Where It Matters Most

Netflix has a knack for producing plenty of interesting foreign TV shows across a wide array of genres. From the sci-fi horrors of Argentina’s The Eternaut to the dramatic tension in the Japanese musical Glass Heart, 2025 has seen a multitude of impressive series from around the world. Their comedic shows are also full of unique approaches that play to their strengths.

Such is the case with Old Dog, New Tricks (originally titled Animal), a deadpan comedy about Antón (Luis Zahera), a down-on-his-luck farm veterinarian who can’t seem to make any money doing what he does anymore. However, when his niece, Uxía (Lucía Caraballo), offers him a job as the vet for her pet store, Kawanda, he accepts. But because he’s rough around the edges, getting acclimated to his new environment isn’t an easy task.

What follows are nine episodes of misadventures and cases Antón has to deal with while adjusting to his new position, alongside several other problems that crop up for him. While some of these are presented with seriousness, there’s also a deadpan, snark-addled humor throughout that defines it as a comedy, and one with plenty of impressionable events and characters.

Old Dog, New Tricks Uses Character Quirks To Its Comedic Advantage

The strongest element is how Antón and Uxía’s personalities coincide with each other’s, alongside the assortment of characters — from the staff of Kawanda to others the pair crosses paths with. The friction of their relationship is at the story’s core, though, especially when Antón takes quite some time to adjust to the expectations of his newfound role.

This is aided by the series’ almost cynical humor. While Antón does deal with plenty of memorable animals at his job, his interactions with other people are what drive even the smallest narratives forward. For him, animals are like well-oiled machines that have right and wrong ways of approaching repair. Applying that same logic to people, though, can result in some troublesome yet funny scenarios.

Despite being the central character, he’s not the only one who gets to bask in the humor. The Netflix comedy series also shows Uxía in a humorous light, as she finds herself inextricably drawn to both people and animals she feels like she needs to save. It lands her in many a precarious situation, especially as more characters get introduced. This not only makes her comedic moments stand out in contrast to Antón’s, but also aids in her character development.

It showcases, through the interweaving of comedic moments, how dynamic its lead characters are. While some people they bounce off of are more one-note, the show’s focus on Antón and Uxía strengthens their centrality. It helps that, when they end up getting more difficult cases or have to handle more personal matters, the show allows them room to breathe. The approach strengthens the show, as it makes them all the easier to care about.

Old Dog, New Tricks’ Only Misstep Doesn’t Affect The Whole Show

Anton with a couple behind him in Old Dog New Tricks

The only flaw Old Dog, New Tricks falls into is several side plots that wind up feeling moot by the end of the story. While these often do a good job at centering Antón and Uxía in individual episodes, some of them bleed in and out in ways that aren’t entirely necessary to the larger plot. It’s an admirable attempt at giving the show larger plot threads, but where it truly shines is in the individual cases and stories.

Luckily, this doesn’t happen often enough to compromise the interesting characters and hilarious stories that do play out. By the final stretch, the series truly finds its tempo, getting a generally satisfying conclusion. Even with occasional unevenness due to some plot threads that overstay their welcome, the show’s core focus never falters.

It’s because of this mixture of compelling leads and deadpan comedy that Old Dog, New Tricks is such a strong entry in Netflix’s comedy category. The show has a unique quirkiness to it that lends itself to Antón and Uxía as leads, making the vet cases they tackle and their personal lives hilarious and interesting. It’s a testament to the type of unique, global TV series the platform helps bring to life, and the intriguing stories that can unfold because of them.