Top 17 Moments from One Day at a Time Season 2

One Day at a Time Season 2 demonstrates how one show can address current social issues while being empathetic, heartfelt, and comedic.

The entire cast and crew are MVPs in our book because this show is providing and supporting such a wide range of important representation in a smart and genuine way.

There are so many fantastic moments from this season that we had to talk about some of our favorites. Here are our top 17 moments from One Day at a Time Season 2.

*Spoilers ahead. You’ve been warned*

1. I don’t want to be different

One Day at a Time Season 2 Episode 1, “The Turn,” starts out swinging as Alex expresses his frustrations with a recent situation involving racism. The episode was written by Gloria Calderon Kellett and Mike Royce and it focuses a lot on the Alvarez family, plus Schneider, discussing some major hitters like terms being used to describe Latinx people, colorism, and oppression.

Marcel Ruiz crushes us when Alex says, “I don’t want to be different,” which is something everyone can relate to at some point in their lives. We have nothing but respect for a show that can discuss these types of conversations and normalize a Cuban-American family who has these types of daily conversations and frustrations.

2. Schneider as an ally

Schneider is often the comic relief, but his character tries so hard to be an ally of the family that you can’t help but love him. Todd Grinnell has a sprinkle of boundary-pushing comedy throughout the season, but none more than on One Day at a Time Season 2 Episode 1, “The Turn.”

Schneider makes a few comments that have the family, especially Elena, evaluating the purpose of them. Schneider seems out of touch when he expresses frustration for things he can only experience viciously through the family, but you can’t fault him for trying.

His actions often allow for an uncomfortable conversation to happen more naturally, so the show can address hard topics without losing the audience.

4. Superwomen

One of the best things about this show is that they showcase the humanity of their characters. On One Day at a Time Season 2 Episode 2, “Schooled,” Penelope is trying to be a superwoman but is not able to accomplish everything that is being asked of her.

Penelope announces that she is failing, is going to quit because she doesn’t want to do everything horribly, and that she’s fine with it despite the shock of her family. The shock turns into action when the family steps up so that she can complete her goal of finishing school. Lydia reminds them all there can only be one superwoman, and that is her.

5. Lydia as the best wing-woman

Dating as a teenager is hard, especially for Elena, who isn’t fully behind the idea of outing herself and being in an uncomfortable situation with a crush on a possible straight girl. The conversation between Elena and Alex sums up the whole complicated process and exhibiting a real issue for young queer people, but its what Lydia does that surprises us all.

On One Day at a Time Season 2 Episode 3, “To Zir, With Love,” Lydia is the one who steps into the role of wing-woman and asks Dani (Elena’s crush) about what lipstick she wears.

When Dani answers with chapstick, Lydia saunters back to Elena and lets her know that Dani is in fact gay. Things might not have turned out how Elena first pictured, but the result is a much better cookie.

6. Taking the test

On One Day at a Time Season 2 Episode 4, “Roots,” the immigration and citizenship conversation comes back full speed ahead as Lydia is pressured by Elena to vote. We find out that she doesn’t vote and a comedic joke takes a back seat to a serious implication when it is revealed she is still not a citizen.

This leads to an extremely emotional discussion between Lydia and her family because there is a real possibility of being deported given the state of immigration. Lydia realizes what she has to lose and that her home is now where Penelope, Elena, and Alex are.

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