‘Real Men’ Season 2 Review: Four Men Face New Challenges in Comedy Return

Netflix has reintroduced its Italian comedy ‘Real Men’, known in Italy as ‘Maschi Veri’, with a second season that premiered on October 7. The first season debuted in May 2025 as a remake of the Spanish series ‘Alpha Males’, quickly earning a renewal. This season features eight episodes directed by Matteo Oleotto and Milena Cocozza, with the same writing trio of Furio Andreotti, Giulia Calenda, and Ugo Ripamonti.

The premise presents an interesting irony. Mattia, Massimo, Riccardo, and Luigi, portrayed once again by Maurizio Lastrico, Matteo Martari, Francesco Montanari, and Pietro Sermonti, now believe they have fully moved past toxic masculinity. However, the show flips every couple’s dynamic from where we left off, causing their confidence to wane.

Overall, my feelings about the season are mixed. The concept is sharper than the humor. The series often circles around a significant punchline about men who have learned the right vocabulary yet still stumble in real-life situations, but it rarely delivers the punch effectively. Many scenes tend to explain their own humor right after it has already worked, which detracts from the enjoyment of a joke that was perfectly fine on its own.

The female characters have significantly improved since the first season, which is more important than any single joke. The partners are not merely there to correct the men and exit; this season allows the actresses to showcase their humor, frustration, and flaws. None of the women serve as flawless representatives of enlightened modernity, preventing the power reversal from becoming a lecture.

Friendship serves as the true driving force of the show. When the four men gather and express their genuine thoughts, the writing becomes more relaxed, and the performances shine. Lastrico, Martari, Montanari, and Sermonti have developed a natural rhythm, making their most chaotic scenes together the standout moments.

The supporting characters vary in quality. Some are little more than one-dimensional sketches, and a few returning characters seem to have less to do than they deserve. New additions like Carolina Crescentini, Silvia D’Amico, Alessio Boni, Giancarlo Commare, and Ilenia Pastorelli expand the ensemble nicely, though not all receive the material to leave a lasting impression.

Despite these critiques, I found myself watching and smiling more often than rolling my eyes. The half-hour episodes are a significant advantage, as the story never overstays its welcome and each episode briskly navigates through its romantic misadventures. It’s light, easy to watch, and mostly self-aware.

In conclusion, this season is a pleasant, albeit uneven, follow-up that sacrifices some of its edge for warmth and camaraderie. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, and the satire could have been sharper, but the central quartet and better-rounded female characters make it worth recommending. I would rate ‘Real Men’ Season 2 7 out of 10.

Did the second season of ‘Real Men’ earn its score from you, or do these four still have more deconstructing to do? Share your thoughts in the comments.