Netflix has never failed when it comes to providing us with astounding content. Their “Netflix Originals” have become fan favorites. Each shows contains a unique storyline. My personal favorite is One Day At a Time, a reboot of the sitcom that originally aired in 1975. One Day At a Time captures the daily life of a Cuban-American family. The sitcom highlights each character’s struggles throughout their daily lives. It addresses many important topics that are relevant in today’s world.
There are many reasons why you should watch this series:
It combats stigmas behind mental health.
Penelope Alvarez (Justina Machado) is a single mother and Army veteran who is battling depression and anxiety. At first, she hides that she is attending therapy and on antidepressants from her mother, Lydia (Rita Moreno), because her mother believes that they are only for the “locos”. After Penelope stops attending therapy and goes off her antidepressants, she begins to experience a mental breakdown. Lydia then goes to confession at church, which helps her realize her daughter’s pain and allow her to come to terms with supporting Penelope. She advises Penelope “to do what [she] needs to do in order to fix [herself]”, and that she’ll support her along the way.
Diversity!
The sitcom graciously represents the life of a Cuban-American family in Los Angeles. As a Latina, it’s not common that you see a TV show that highlights a Latinx family in a positive manner. It also tackles the issue of immigration by unraveling Lydia’s (Rita Moreno) journey of obtaining her U.S. citizenship after fleeing Cuba.
It contains strong female portrayals.
That’s right! All the women that are featured on One Day At a Time are bad asses. They aren’t afraid to speak up for what they believe in. For example, Penelope Alvarez (Justina Machado) addresses the issue of combating sexism in the military, fighting for equal pay, and man-splaining when she is forced to deal with a sexist and misogynistic co-worker.
It also highlights LGBTQ+ topics.
Elena Alvarez (Isabella Gomez) is the teenage daughter of Penelope. Throughout the show, Elena explores her sexuality and soon realizes that she is Lesbian. She struggles to come out to her family, especially because of her traditional, conservative grandmother. Despite her fears, she decides to come out to her family and is surprised by their reactions. They’re all accepting of her. The storyline also allows us to views her mother’s uncertainty and growth into fully accepting her. Yet, the sitcom also illustrates the sad reality of a disapproving parent. In One Day At a Time, Elena’s father, Victor (James Martinez), decides to walk out on the day of Elena’s quinceanera due to his disapproval. However, her family reassures her that they are all supportive of her by uniting together on the dance floor to share an emotional waltz with Elena.
There are infinite reasons as to why everyone should be watching this series! So, what are you waiting for? “Dale”! I promise you won’t regret it!