We are all accustomed to 21st century channel-flipping (more commonly known as, scrolling on Netflix) and we end up losing out on potential cinematic gold.
You may have had One Day at a Time suggested to you on Netflix, but you’ve dismissed it due to it’s mid-2000s soap opera-y appearance. Fair, but you need to give it a chance.
Presenting an authentic Cuban family to convey the very real stories that American immigrants are living every day, One Day at a Time hilariously explores what happens when traditional Cuban culture is met with what you know and love about a good sitcom.
In stark contrast to cult classics like Friends, that have been critiqued for straight-up ignoring social issues and lack of representation under the 21st Century microscope, One Day at a Time is a beacon of hope for modern television.
There is a huge social push to embrace your authentic self and join the empowering movement pioneered by some of today’s most influential people online. This is seen in Taylor Swift owning her reputation, Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus going back to their musical roots and even Kylie Jenner dissolving her lip fillers. One Day at a Time contributes to this story by presenting a realistic ideal for family structure by championing a single mother, and independent characters who are living their own truth.
The LGBT+ community is well represented in One Day at a Time through teen social activist Elena, and her non-binary significant other, Syd. Story arcs surround the pair as young individuals in a scary world, where their lifestyle isn’t always so easily accepted.
Mental health is more widely-spoken about than ever before. One Day at a Time refuses to gloss over these issues and plants a diagnosis of PTSD and anxiety deeply into war-veteran mother, Penelope. It is a rare moment in a sitcom like this that we are allowed to see into the mind of an adult coming to terms with their own mental illnesses.
In addition to One Day at a Time tackling these deep and sometimes triggering issues, it still manages to be lighthearted and wildly funny, allowing you to laugh when they laugh and cry when they cry. We can all do better and by consuming entertainment like One Day at a Time, we can start to understand the world around us.
Please ignore the crap cover art on Netflix (curse them for that), it doesn’t do it justice.
AS SEEN ON GOAT.COM.AU
Emily Vescio 