There has always been something peculiar about the concept of a multi-camera Netflix-exclusive sitcom. In the days of Norman Lear, episodes were intended to be viewed casually, even out of order, each week.
However, Gloria Calderon Kellett and Mike Royce’s adaptation of Lear’s “One Day at a Time” has always been aware of this, and with each passing season, they have become much more adept at creating a flow that maintains the concept of episodic storytelling while also building momentum and creating a compelling story.
The fact that the multigenerational sitcom about a Latina single mother and her family attempting to live their best life manages to be both innovative and truly hilarious is a testament to both the writing and the acting. Despite occasionally succumbing to the broad temptations of a tale such as “Abuelita accidentally consumes a pot lozenge,” the ensemble, led by Justina Machado, is more than capable of delivering both witty banter and severe realism.
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Rita Moreno may always be the show’s lively beating heart, but young cast members Isabella Gomez and Marcel Ruiz have gotten an opportunity to demonstrate their intrinsic abilities. Gomez, in particular, has come to own the role of Elena, developing her beyond her many specified characteristics and eccentricities.
Elena’s sexuality, in the context of her blossoming relationship with non-binary Syd Sheridan Pierce, is handled in a manner that is both mature and family-friendly, demonstrating how telling stories about LGBTQI people enriches, makes more inclusive, and more accurately reflects the world we live in.
The season premiere, “The Funeral,” has some of the most intriguing guest stars of the year, including theme song performer/legend Gloria Estefan facing off with Rita Moreno (you’ll never hear “Ave Maria” the same way again) and “Brooklyn Nine- Nine’s” Stephanie Beatriz and Melissa Fumero.
Calderon Kellett also appears as Penelope’s double, Nicole, in a brilliant touch (whose connection to the Alvarez family is a game-changer for the season). In the end, though, the story focuses on the family and people in its close vicinity. Additionally, there is both light and darkness.
The series has already explored adding filmic flourishes to the multi-cam style, such as fantasy sequences, and Episode 9 of Season 3 continues to push the limits of what is possible with the multi-cam format. “Anxiety” employs black-and-white cinematography and fast editing to depict Penelope’s anxiety attacks (which turn out to be contagious).
Tony Plana portrays Penelope’s charming (and deceased) father in a fantasy sequence in the series conclusion. The season’s most daring moments, however, are presented without fanfare and place a heavy burden on Schneider (Todd Grinnell), whose former position as a supposedly stable recovering addict devolves as these tales, in fiction, and in reality, frequently do.
Schneider’s relapse — how it’s put up, how it’s exposed, and how it impacts others around him — is bold material because of its depth, seriousness, and the show’s narrative layering.
The fact that Victor (James Martnez) tells Penelope that Schneider has relapsed is followed by an episode named “Drinking and Driving” may provoke your own anxiety attack, as the drama has raised the stakes to the point where true disaster is a distinct possibility at that time.
The fact that the “driving” and “drinking” plotlines are distinct may be a comfort, but it’s still a gloomy half-hour for the program due to a scene in which Alex catches Schneider intoxicated in the living room – Victor’s concerns about Schneider’s presence around the children are confirmed. It may appear to be a simple shove, but it’s not, and the moment’s silent intensity is the performance at its darkest and greatest.
When considering “One Day at a Time” as a series, the notion would not be, “Oh, excellent, let’s make a significant portion of this show about a Cuban-American family about the issues of a wealthy white man.” In spite of this, the series has a degree of storytelling skill that many traditional sitcoms can only aspire to achieve. It’s only fitting that Schneider’s story isn’t neatly wound up; after all, true stories about addiction don’t have nice ends. Instead, the show presents an accurate and realistic picture of the subject, particularly in terms of how addiction affects everyone in an addict’s life.
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There is something fitting about a season that begins with a funeral and concludes with a wedding; the show’s pursuit of gloom leads to a catharsis that is quite remarkable.
Not only a wedding, but also a time of long-awaited victory for Penelope, as she comes to grips with where she is in life, what she has accomplished, and what lies ahead. Because, ultimately, “One Day at a Time” is all about joy – taking joy in family, taking joy in life, and taking joy in both the greatest and worst moments.
After Season 2, the series’ path to renewal was notably rough, with the makers at one point appearing concerned enough to encourage fans to advocate for a third season. But Season 3 demonstrates that “One Day at a Time” has the ability to run for years (especially after that season-ending cliffhanger in Cuba), and maybe Netflix will make the correct decision much faster this time.
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FAQs
Why was the fourth season of One Day at a Time canceled?
According to insiders, Sony Pictures Television intended to shop the series to other outlets following Pop TV’s cancellation, but was unable to find a suitable or willing buyer. “It’s over officially. There will be no new episodes of “One Day at a Time.”
Will there be a fourth season of One Day at a Time?
After three seasons on Netflix, the popular sitcom was taken up by Pop TV for a fourth season but was shortly canceled again. Nevertheless, the show is still worth watching, and we’ll explain how to stream One Day at a Time from any place below.