Rita Moreno Steals Every Scene in This Groundbreaking, 99% Too Soon Canceled Masterpiece RT Netflix
One day at a timethe 2017 version of Norman Lear’s classic sitcom, may have been a multi-camera throwback to an era dominated by single-camera comedies released on Netflix like The office And Schitt Creek. But it was so fully realized and relevant in terms of character, heart, and humor that it immediately stood out despite the angle of the original series. Although it unfortunately only lasted three seasons on Netflix, including one on Pop TV, one performance stood out above all others: EGOT winner Rita Moreno like the irrepressible Lydia Alvarez.
Rita Moreno shone as Lydia Alvarez in “One Day at a Time”
Moreno plays Lydia with impeccable timing, emotional depth and unabashed flamboyance. She steals the show in each scene, as one arrives in a theater set, effervescent with theatricality and Cuban accent to draw the eye to the vortex that is about to act. Moreno’s Lydia is pathos personified – with harmless hilarity while dancing around her apartment like the unwitting star of a Broadway musical, acting awkwardly in the kitchen and perching wherever she can find a performance. Moreno demonstrates genuine joy in Lydia’s vanity, sexual confidence, and lack of shame – she never crosses the line into caricature in a way that detracts from the overall narrative and her dexterity in achieving that balance.
Lydia is more than comic relief. Lydia is the centripetal figure at the intersection of Alvarez’s nuclear and extended family systems over several generations. Lydia brings foresight, wisdom, multiple levels of empathy, and strong cultural pride. In many ways, Lydia is an additional parental figure to her daughter, Penelope (Justina Machado), and his grandchildren, Elena (Isabelle Gomez) and Alex (Marcel Ruiz). Moreno said playing Lydia was “the best time of my life” because she can be absurdly funny while remaining grounded in her emotional reference point as an actress. Moreno’s enthusiasm as she imagines Lydia trying to engage in a micro-local case discussion or have other mundane, inattentive experiences rooted in misdeeds is evidence of her commitment to fully realizing the character while also being wildly entertaining.
One day at a time it goes beyond being just a sitcom; it’s a sort of master class in balancing humor and cultural commentary. The Alvarez Family tackles the heaviest and most relevant issues—PTSD, mental health, sexuality, immigration, and participatory democracy—preferably by making the material comfortable. Lydia in Moreno’s stories is often a stable presence. Yet she sometimes has her own debates about citizenship and voting or counters her daughter’s experiences with depression in her own humorous way.
Critics will compare Lydia to Norman LearIt’s Archie Bunker. Although she resonates with current issues and issues of race and gender, she does so with warmth, charm, humor and confidence rather than bluster. In Moreno’s capable hands, the humor adds depth to potentially thorny issues, like Elena’s coming out or Penelope struggling with her anxiety, while deftly avoiding heaviness. Moreno brings a genius to comedy that also allows her to provoke empathy, understanding and humor in the audience as she leads through uncomfortable terrain.
Rita Moreno elevated every scene in ‘Once Upon A Time’
Moreno’s career has spanned several decades, since he won an Oscar for West Side History to receive several Emmy, Grammy and Tony Awards. Few actors can bring as much weight to a sitcom, but Moreno gave Lydia all the humanity, sexuality and charm – both timeless and current – of an inspiring TV grandmother. Her co-stars are obsessed with her effortless appearance, which they call her wit and world-class artistry that lights up every scene. A moment of Stephen TobolowskyThe memory of a table reading makes her description true: “You can see her talent breathing with her,” and you can’t help but be captivated by the depth of Moreno’s craftsmanship and sexuality.
What makes Moreno’s performance in One day at a time What’s special is her ability to take even the broadest comic gesture and make it deeply human, as if Lydia herself were just a fantastic reader of humanity. It could be during a scene where Lydia gets accidentally high at the opera, or after chatting with Penelope about their family members being in a drama, or when Moreno riffs a punchline as referencing “Vicks VapoRub”… it all works with an appreciation for classic slapstick, although that’s not where his distinct style ends. Instead, Moreno succeeds and excels with this balance of humor and emotion (whether rehearsed or improvised), while fully embracing a three-dimensional Lydia, without ever settling for playing a stereotype.
Despite widespread success, including a 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, One day at a time have faced challenges in the harsh realities of streaming. Netflix canceled the series after three seasons due to low viewership, but it was resurrected for a single season on Pop TV thanks to a passionate fan campaign. Its cancellation was considered a disappointment, in part because of the engaging storylines, pioneering representation of Latinx and queer backgrounds, and the emotional weight of Moreno’s performance. For many, The Alvarez Family was an opportunity for joy, compassion and laughter in a harsh world, and a reminder of the importance of a show like One day at a time.
