One Day at a Time: A Show You Need to See!

Today is going to be a change of pace for me. Now I know I normally talk about myself and what’s going with my books, but today I thought I would write about a show that I fell in love with last year that just released its second season on Netflix. That show is the reboot of One Day at a Time, and if you have been skeptical of reboots in the past, this show will blow those thoughts out of the water. Exceptional in almost every way, ODAAT is that rare show that can hit all your emotions at once.  I can honestly say that I have never laughed, cried, and cheered so much in my life.

ODAAT centers on a Cuban-American, led by Army veteran Penelope Alvarez (a wonderful Justina Machado, finally getting her due), a single mom who works hard to provide for her family while also struggling with PTSD. Her two kids couldn’t be any more different. Oldest daughter Elena (Isabella Gomez) is a social justice warrior, a fighter for the most vulnerable who also is recently came out to her family. Younger Alex (Marcel Ruiz) is a charmer in the making, and the apple of his abuela’s (the legendary Rita Moreno, whose star burns up the screen) eye.  Throw in an updated Schneider (a warm and funny Todd Grinnell) and you’ve got a top-notch set of characters.

I don’t want to give too much away, but make sure you have your tissues nearby because you’ll need them. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a show hit so many familiar notes so perfectly. As a LatinX male who also happens to be gay, so many of the situations and conversations had on the show could have easily happened at my childhood kitchen table. The strength is in the realness, and ODAAT is as real as they come.

But it’s also extremely funny, which is what we look for in a comedy. So if you haven’t streamed the show at all, I recommend starting from season 1 before heading to the stronger season 2. Trust me, it’s worth the binge.