It’s not every day that Netflix breaks boundaries and creates something that reaches beyond its typical audience and really affects people of all types, but with its revamp of the American sitcom from the ‘70s, One Day at a Time, they did exactly that.
Just last week Netflix announced that it is canceling its original series, One Day at a Time, sparking conversation across the world. Public outcry has been getting louder and louder, with no response from Netflix.
Netflix justified the cancellation by tweeting “simply not enough people watched to justify another season.” However, for the past couple of weeks, the media has been filled with conversation and hashtags rallying to save the show, like #SAVEODAAT. It has even gotten the attention of celebrities like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Melissa Fumero, and Freaks and Geeks’ Busy Phillips.
One Day at a Time focuses on the Alvarez family and the kooky everyday happenings in their apartment building. Single mother and United States Army Nurse Corps veteran, Penelope Francisca del Carmen Riera Inclán Ruiz Maribona de Alvarez, played by Justina Machado, is faced with the difficulties of returning to her civilian life all while dealing with the lasting effects from her time in the army.
She has two children, Elena and Alex, and they all live together in an apartment with her mother in downtown Los Angeles. Penelope struggles with PTSD not just from being in the army, but from the abusive relationship she had with her alcoholic ex-husband and father to her children.
Rita Moreno, a Puerto Rican actress mostly known for her portrayal of Anita in the original West Side Story film, plays the eccentric grandmother, Lydia Margarita del Carmen Inclan Maribona Leyte-Vidal de Riera. She is a devout Catholic and faithful Cuban, who escaped Cuba after the rise of Castro.
Elena Maria Alvarez Riera Calderón Leyte-Vidal Inclán, played by Isabella Gomez, the 16-year-old daughter, identifies as lesbian and is the feminist and political activist in the family. She is also in a relationship with one of television’s first non-binary teenage characters, Syd. Often times referred to as her “Syd-nificant Other,” Elena and Syd have a healthy relationship that has been supported and cherished by their friends and family.
Elena struggles with being Latina, Catholic, and gay, which is something I personally relate to and found solace in the show. It’s very hard to try and be who you are, knowing there are generations and generations of your family’s disapproval based on the religion you’ve centered your life around.
Watching One Day at a Time helped me see that my struggle, while internal, wasn’t something I’m alone in. It was very inspiring to see someone else dealing with the same conflict, especially as it was on television and helped give widespread awareness to such an affliction.
Another relatable aspect I found in Elena’s character was her lack of ability to speak Spanish. Lots of people assume that just because you’re of Latino descent, you’re able to speak Spanish. For lots of Chicanos, Mexican-American people, like myself, this isn’t the case. While my grandparents speak fluent Spanish, there was a disconnect between my mother and them as the need for my mother to know and speak Spanish here in California wasn’t necessary. Because of this disconnect, my mother, despite being of full Mexican descent, didn’t learn Spanish and in turn, didn’t teach me.
Because of this, I have always felt out of place being with my mother’s side of the family and never felt really Mexican, despite being half. While Elena and the rest of the Alvarez family are Cuban, the disconnection between being American and still wanting to be a part of one’s Latin culture is apparent and true.
Elena’s younger brother Alejandro “Alex” Alberto Alvarez Riera Calderon Leyte-Vidal Inclan, played by Marcel Ruiz, is more focused on popularity and baseball, but shares Elena’s interest in girls and that serves as a mean of bonding between the two very different siblings.
The family is frequently visited by the rich landlord of the building, Todd Grinnell as Pat Schneider. Over time he becomes Penelope’s best friend and has his own problems, from having a rough childhood with a dysfunctional family, and frequent experiences with addiction. Schneider even faces a short relapse within the show.
One Day at a Time deals with current topics of controversy as well, such as immigration. Both Lydia and Schneider, originally from Cuba and Canada respectively, dealt with being illegal citizens and the long process of legal immigration in the United States.
Above all else, One Day at a Time deals with family. It’s a show about a family, for families. One Day at a Time transcends genres; not only is it a comedy, but there’s drama, romance, and educational aspects too. The show constantly teaches its audience about racism, sexism, the LGBTQ+ community, and even addiction. It helps to teach kids, my little sister included, about life, equality, and even diversity.
One Day at a Time does not deserve to be canceled. It means so much to people, myself included, and if it is picked up for another season, it would continue to inspire and educate all sorts of people about important topics of discussion. It’s something that I love, and personally believe that we need to continue raising our voices, posting, and speaking out to #SaveODAAT.