I just finished One Day at a Time tonight. There’s a fourth season which aired on PopTv but ended quickly due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The show was officially cancelled soon after.
I was inspired to check out this show after seeing two of its stars in recurring roles on Jane the Virgin. Justina Machado stars as Penelope Alvarez, a single mom and former U.S. Army Nurse Corps veteran who suffers from PTSD. She goes to therapy to deal with her anxiety and depression. Rita Moreno is Penelope’s old school mother, Lydia. She always talks about her days living in Cuba and being a dancer and performer. She fled the country after Fidel Castro seized power.
Here are five reasons why you’ll like the show.
It’s a progressive show that tackles major issues that Latin families deal with. I can relate to some of those issues (mental health, gender identity).
Norman Lear created it. He’s still got it even in his late 90s. I hope he lives to see his 100th this year since Betty White didn’t. Lear also brought us Sanford and Son, Maude, Good Times, the original One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, and of course All in the Family. They covered a lot of social issues on All in the Family and that’s what made it so popular in its heyday.
The cast is amazing and plays well off of each other. Rita Moreno looks very youthful for her age. The actor who plays Schneider (Todd Grinnell) is hilarious. Justina Machado does the starring role justice and brings a lot of emotion to it as well. Elena is probably my favorite though and the one I can relate to the most.
The guest stars on the show are easily recognizable. Dr. B’s female friend is Alba from Jane the Virgin. Lydia’s sisters are Gloria Estefan and Liz Torres. Estefan sings the theme song to the show. Two of the other family members are Stephanie Beatriz and Melissa Fumero from Brooklyn Nine Nine. Mackenzie Phillips has a recurring role as the PTSD counselor, Pam. She was in the original show. Glenn Scarpelli was the hotel receptionist in one of the episodes when Elena and Syd wanted to plan a getaway. He too was in the original series later in its run.
I loved how Penelope treated Schneider like a member of the family. He was a second father to the kids as Penelope’s ex was never in the picture, plus he accepted Elena for who she was. The episode where Lydia and Schneider become American citizens was one of my favorites, as was the funeral episode.
If you’re looking for a great Netflix show that will make you laugh but also feel emotional, check out this one.
Stylish 🍒 