Rarely do sitcoms drop by that can connect cultures, communities, and hearts. Netflix's One Day At A Time exudes a soothing hum to such a warm harmony, each episode depicting family gatherings, sincere confessions, and daily wins bundled in laughter. Aside from its trope of a Cuban-American mother, her two teenagers, and their unbeatable granny dealing with little daily life trivialities to deep topics through puns and jokes, what made it special is its iconic cast. 

One Day at a Time's cast made being open and vulnerable, and yet addressing the issues of identity, mental health, and belonging through humor universal.

Center stage for the series is owned by Justina Machado, whose Penélope Alvarez is a Cuban-American Army veteran and a single mother, dealing with PTSD, raising a queer teenager, and facing life’s challenges. Freelancing as a nurse, Alvarez is a fighter and a healer who blooms on screen owing to Machado’s lucrative resume of multi-decade roles in Law & Order, Six Feet Under, Queen of the South, Jane the Virgin, and Pulse. Backing her like a pillar is EGOT winner Rita Moreno as Lydia Riera, Alvarez's mother, who is very proud of her Cuban heritage and very conservative. 

One of the last remaining artists from the Golden Age of Hollywood, Moreno (Fast X, Oz) sasses her way into the series with Riera's values that often at the same time oppose and coexist with the modern-day chaos. Isabella Gomez (Head of the Class, The Goldbergs) stars as the brilliant, socially-aware teenage daughter, Elena Alvarez, who navigates her queer identity while fighting for the acceptance of her culture. And there is Parks & Recreation's Todd Grinnell as Schneider, the odd Canadian landlord-friend. Marcel Ruiz, Sheridan Pierce, Mackenzie Phillips, Stephen Tobolowsky, Ed Quinn, and more round out the cast. Since its cancellation, the cast have moved on; however, the outcry and popularity still lingers. 

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Viewers, cast, and crew bid adieu to One Day at a Time with heavy hearts, as the uproar over its cancellation proved what the show meant to people.

One Day at a Time remains a groundbreaking Netflix creation among many of its hearty sitcoms for its hilarious yet tender depiction of the nuances of life of a recently single Latina woman raising her two children with the help of her mother. It nimbly handles PTSD, culture, LGBTQ issues, and what being a modern American immigrant is all about while keeping the audience entertained. However, Netflix ultimately cancelled the show after three seasons at the peak of COVID-19 due to a lack of ownership and insufficient viewership.

While the first three seasons are available on Netflix post-cancellation, the fourth and final season was rescued by linear cable network Pop TV, momentarily. Although lauded by critics, Netflix decided to cancel it in 2019, which is not unusual for the streaming titan. However, what disappointed viewers was the disappearance of the relatable family dynamics, gentle handling of sociocultural issues, and a feel-good factor in the midst of heavy content overdose. Nonetheless, with its caring nature and unorthodox voice, One Day at a Time brought a cast of characters that viewers still hold dear.

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