Adults drink, and a few characters smoke pot. Two characters go to a rave and take psychedelic drugs. Three characters go on a camping trip and take mushrooms and acid to work through their issues.
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Several references to Takis and Cheetos, which are also seen being eaten. Glimpses of Doritos, Instant Pot, and one memorable hallucination of Tapatío founder Jose-Luis Saavedra (from the hot sauce label) coming to life in the guise of Chris' father.
Diverse Representations
a lot
The series follows the extended Morales family, which revolves around patriarch/Mexican immigrant Casimiro, known affectionately as "Pops" to his Chicano grandkids Erik, Chris, and Ana. Latino identity is explored in depth: Chris grew up in Idaho before moving to Boyle Heights, where the rest of the Morales clan resides, and struggles to reconcile his widespread influences (and is constantly called a "coconut" by fellow Latinos while he tries to figure it out). Ana's girlfriend, Yessika, is Afro-Dominican, experiencing colorism by Ana's mother, who takes years to warm up to her. Several Afro-Latino characters appear, particularly in the second season. Women hold crucial roles as caregivers, but ones whose struggles are visible. Lesbian couple Ana and Yessika demonstrate a loving and sometimes difficult bond. Overall, social themes are lusciously presented in full complexity: race, sexuality, masculinity, socioeconomics, citizenship status, and nontraditional family units all blend together into a very real portrait of a Los Angeles neighborhood in painful transition.
Family is the focus here, and we learn a lot about the varying generations and their bonds with one another. Community and ethnic pride are front and center, with perseverance and integrity being major themes.
Positive Role Models
some
These characters are far from perfect -- mistakes are surely made -- but the emphasis on family means that even when someone screws up, they're there for one another and do their best to make amends. Great depictions of multi-layered Latino men and women, without resorting to cheap stereotypes. Topics such as toxic masculinity and female empowerment are frequently brought up.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Gentefied is a dramedy produced by America Ferrera (Ugly Betty, Superstore) that explores cultural identity and gentrification through the struggles and triumphs of a tight-knit Mexican American family in Los Angeles' Boyle Heights neighborhood. Race, economics, and sexuality are all common topics addressed on the show. There's frequent language, including "s--t," "bitch," and "motherf--ker," and a few love scenes (no nudity), but there's little to no violence. A few scenes show adults drinking in a bar, pot is smoked a couple of times, and characters occasionally party and take psychedelics (a male character's bare bottom is briefly shown). Though the show is mainly in English, many characters slip in and out of speaking Spanish (there are subtitles). The political and social commentary should give parents and teens a lot to talk about, and the show can be quite funny to boot.
Bilingual (Spanish English) family comedy drama! Highly recommend!
I cannot figure out why this series is rated "MA" on Netflix. This is a warm and literate exploration of how an extended family and their friends. lovers, and colleagues deal with gentrification in their California neighborhood. It focusses on a grandfather, still mourning the death of his wife, four grandchildren (two boys and two girls ranging in age from middle school to adulthood), and the issues confronted by all of them as family members as they try to develop romantic and business relationship within a vibrant community being invested in by outsiders. Lots of really interesting subplots involving gentrification, implicit bias, LGBTQ issues, puppy love, homelessness, mourning, financial stressors, career decisions, unionization, sweat shops, family responsibilities, community involvement, owning one's heritage etc. etc. I cannot recommend this show enough. Amazing acting and excellent writing and beautifully filmed. Some bad language (that never impacts me or my kids), at least one person (an obnoxious racist chef) gets punched, and two steamy scenes involving committed adults in long term relationships. One scene involves some use of hallucinogens at a "rave" with some rear nudity of a main male character and one scene involves co-workers drinking in a contest during the work day at a restaurant kitchen. One character smokes pot regularly but it is discussed how this adversely impacts his motivation.
What's the Story?
GENTEFIED is a half-hour series that's part comedy, part drama, examining issues of cultural identity and gentrification through the struggles and triumphs of a tight-knit Mexican American family in Los Angeles' Boyle Heights neighborhood. Much of the action centers on Mama Fina's, the taco shop owned by widowed grandfather Casimiro (Joaquín Cosio, Quantum of Solace) -- aka "Pops" -- which is hanging by a thread in a time of rising rents and encroaching newcomers, most of them White. Casimiro lives with his two grandsons, the sometimes hotheaded Erik (a fiercely-protective but flaky dad-to-be played by Joseph Julian Soria) and aspiring chef Chris (who grew up with money and is often referred to as a "coconut" -- brown on the outside, White on the inside -- played by Carlos Santos). Also in their orbit is cousin Ana (Karrie Martin), a young painter who's trying to figure out how to make it in the overwhelmingly bourgeois art world without betraying her roots -- an issue that's especially important to her outspoken activist girlfriend, Yessika (Julissa Calderon).
What does it mean to change when your community is being displaced ... and is it even worth it? These are the issues faced by the Morales family, and they're examined with a skillful blend of humor and depth. The series does a terrific job giving its characters distinct and real-feeling personalities, especially considering the episodes are so short. It's also remarkably refreshing to see Latino men depicted as sensitive, multifaceted human beings -- there are no one-note macho stereotypes at play here. Gentefied excels at interweaving storylines that tackle big-picture cultural questions with the smaller challenges of daily life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the show's title, Gentefied, and what the play on words means. ("Gente" means "people" in Spanish.)
Why do some of the characters seem to have an issue with Chris, and the way he grew up? What is the show trying to say about the idea of someone being a "real" Mexican?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Jenny Nixon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
