Netflix is one of the most popular television streaming services around the world. Since Netflix is so popular around the world, wouldn’t you think it would want to continue to have diverse and inclusive shows that are relatable to its audience?
In the past two years or so Netflix has raised its list of inclusive shows to include shows such as Queer Eye, On My Block, Dear White People, and One Day at a Time. Even with this list of great and diverse shows, they are still constantly at risk of being taken off the air because of ratings, even though they are received with high praise.
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One Day at a Time is an American comedy television web series that came to Netflix in 2017, and it has been a hit since day one. The show focuses on a Latino family living their everyday lives and the journeys and the struggles they face. Some of the topics discussed on the show include colorism, sexism, gender identity, alcoholism, mental health issues, drug addiction, and religion.
Even though One Day at a Time is going into its third season, and has received positive reviews, the show is threatened to be canceled. Co-creator and writer for the show Gloria Calderon Kellett revealed on Twitter that she met with Netflix to discuss the show and they said, “They made clear that they love the show, love how it serves underrepresented audiences, love its heart and humor, but we need more viewers. They’ll decide soon.”
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Netflix needs to focus less on fewer viewers and more about the message that their shows are conveying to their audience. One Day at a Time has a 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and still has a high amount of viewership, just not as much as Netflix wants.
One Day at a Time has been such a relatable show for me as a woman of color growing up in a Latino family. This show isn’t afraid to discuss controversial and important topics within society.
One Day at a Time has allowed me to feel like I can see myself within the media and popular culture television. If anyone needs a new show to binge watch on Netflix while procrastinating on assignments due these last few weeks of the quarter, I urge anyone reading this to watch One Day at a Time. The series is an honest, appropriate, and heartfelt display of an everyday Cuban-American family on screen. The show doesn’t rely on stereotypes but instead tries to break them down and analyze them within the context of their lives.