Why You Should Watch “Vida” By: Rose Heredia

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Pride month may have finished, but you can still celebrate with “Vida”. If you haven’t had the opportunity to watch Tanya Saracho’s “Vida”, stop what you’re doing and binge (or watch slowly, your choice!), all three seasons available on Starz.

Lyn and Emma’s mother, Vidalia, have passed away. Vidalia owned a local queer-friendly bar in the Boyle Heights neighborhood in LA. The bar provides a reprieve for the LGTBQIA+ community who identify as Latinx to relax in a neighborhood that’s safe and familiar. Vida (for short) was married to Eddie, an out and proud butch, who lived with her. Emma and Lyn aren’t the closest sisters. However, through their grief, they try their best to save the bar, find themselves, and their place in a gentrifying neighborhood.

The girls encounter Mari, La Pinche Chinche, who is a part of Vigilantes. Vigilantes are the neighborhood activist group railing against the changes in their neighborhood. Mari’s brother, Johnny, has a past with Lyn, which continues springing up in the most inopportune moments. These characters and then some, made this watch messy and complicated in all the best ways (or not?).

Why watch “Vida”? The actors all bring their A-game to this series. Mishel Prada, as Emma, plays the ice queen older sister. She swallows all the trauma and hurt from her strained relationship with her mother to make things happen. Melissa Barrera’s Lyn channels a young, naive, and flighty younger sister that doesn’t always think about how her actions affect other people. Our girl Mari played by Chelsea Rendon (can you tell I have a favorite?) embodies that one girl who is down for the cause, La Raza, and sometimes goes too far, no matter who it affects. Johnny, embodied by Carlos Miranda, is not only nice to look at but also reads as an authentic dude, fueled by his hormones and feelings for Lyn, even when it’s not the right call. Lastly, Ser Anzoategui, playing Eddie, brings such vulnerability to their character, we can’t help but feel for her.

Each character is beautifully flawed. There will be characters having you shake your head at them, like, “Nah, girl, that ain’t the move.” And during one of my favorite episodes, where a minor character, Marcos (played by Tonatiuh), has his version of a quinceañera, I lose my shit because there aren’t enough of these stories featured in mainstream television shows. Seriously, there’s something here for everyone.

The storylines, the acting, the cinematography, and the beautiful queerness of this show are the best reasons you should watch “VIDA” during Pride month (and year-round). Also, be sure to follow Melissa Barrera’s career as she’ll be starring in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” film adaptation this summer. You will not be disappointed!