Now is the perfect time to start binge-watching a new series. Disney+’s Diary of a Future President, written by Ilana Peña and directed by Gina Rodriguez, began streaming on Jan.17, 2020 and it’s everything you want in a show. The characters are funny, relatable and great role models for kids. The show will make you laugh and cry in one episode. It’s a binge-worthy series for the whole family. Here are five reasons why you need to start watching it.
- It takes place in Miami
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First and foremost, the show takes place in Miami! “Specifically, a suburb called Miami Glades,” says Elena Cañero-Reed, the show’s main character played by Tess Romero. It’s fun to see Miami being highlighted as a place where other kids grew up, and not just a beach city filled with clubs.
- A more realistic take on puberty
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The show progresses as Elena and her brother, Bobby (played by Charlie Bushnell), go through puberty and hurtle over the challenges it brings. Elena, a straight-A student, deals with losing friends, buying bras, and getting her first period; Bobby gets his first girlfriend and tries to understand his sexuality. The show handles difficult conversations in a way that’s easy for kids watching the show to understand without sugarcoating it.
- Highlights Hispanic culture
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Diary of a Future President doesn’t classify Elena as a Hispanic girl. She’s just a girl who just so happens to be Hispanic. Her family eats Cuban food for dinner and her mother speaks to her in Spanglish, but they don’t emphasize the fact that she’s Hispanic to the point where it encompasses her entire identity. The Cuban American family is just like every other family in America; it’s something a lot of shows haven’t done and it’s refreshing.
- Emphasizes strong female main characters
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Elena doesn’t solely focus on boys and she isn’t ashamed of being smart. She’s good at school and proud of it. Her mother, Gabi Cañero-Reed played by Selenis Leyva, is a badass lawyer who works at a law firm. She teaches her kids how to be strong and independent, just like her.
- It talks about how even grown-up are still growing up
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The show’s main theme is growing. Every character is growing up, including the grown-up. Gabi is in her first relationship since Elena’s dad died. She is coping with her different stages of grief while maneuvering through a new connection. Slowly, she begins to become the person she needs to be in order to move past her late husband’s death.
Diary of a Future President is sure to become a Disney classic and is on par, if not better, with “Lizzie McGuire” and “That’s So Raven.”. It presents complex issues in a way that young viewers can understand. It gives kids and parents a way to open up a conversation about all the awkward parts puberty brings as well as topics like death and loss. Elena Cañero-Reed is the role model every girl should look up to.