Top 15 Moments from ‘One Day at a Time’ Season 3
One Day at a Time delivered another amazing season of tackling tough and important issues with comedic relief and care in Season 3. There are episodes centered around consent, drug abuse, and anxiety, but also about life’s little milestones like getting a driver’s license.
Since the series is about to have its broadcast debut on CBS, which will air all episodes of Season 4 (previously aired on Pop TV), we’re looking back at the best moments from One Day at a Time Season 3.
Warning: This post contains spoilers from Season 3!
1. A family of guest stars
One Day at a Time Season 3 starts with the star-studded episode, “The Funeral” featuring musician/actress Gloria Estefan, who sings the show’s theme song, and actresses Melissa Fumero and Stephanie Beatriz from Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The episode really sets the bar for the outstanding season of One Day at a Time.
A death in Lydia’s family brings these Latinas to the show, and naturally, family drama unfolds. Gloria Estefan plays Lydia’s sister Mirtha, who hasn’t seen her sisters in years because of an argument that pours over into their daughters’ relationship.
Penelope, played by Justina Machado, forces Lydia to mend things with Mirtha, so she can get back her best friend and cousin Estrellita, played by Melissa Fumero. When things finally seem settled, Penelope and Estrellita enjoy a brief reunion as they dance in the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Elena tries to “out” her aunt Pilar, played by Stephanie Beatriz, and instead receives an encouraging speech about being true to herself, no matter what her family thinks.
2. Lydia and Mirtha sing.
When two award-winning singers are in the same room, you’d hope they’d sing together, and that’s what Rita Moreno, who plays Lydia, and Gloria Estefan do in One Day at a Time Season 3 Episode 1, “The Funeral.” The sisters vie for their family’s attention first with pity parties and then with a duet of “Ava Maria” in honor of their deceased aunt.
Rita Moreno is one of 16 EGOT winners, and Gloria Estefan has won multiple Grammy awards, so this special moment is a major highlight on the show. For further proof, look for Schneider’s reaction in the background.
3. Consent and respecting women
The Alvarez women talk to Alex, played by Marcel Ruiz, about consent and respecting women in One Day at a Time Season 3 Episode 2, “Outside.” Penelope is upset to see the derogatory things Alex posts on his Finsta, but Alex dismisses that it’s dumb stuff to make his friends laugh. His older sister Elena, played by Isabella Gomez, isn’t having it though.
Times have changed and the #metoo movement has forced people to have tough conversations about sexual abuse and harassment. The conversation in this episode shows the generational differences which can be confusing to Alex and Schneider.
Elena is horrified to hear that Lydia told Alex not to take no for an answer when his girlfriend initially rejects him. Penelope makes a comment that she feels sorry for guys during this time.
Elena refuses to take blame and calls out the inequality in these discussions. She mentions the signs at her school for rape prevention week that were aimed towards women.
What makes this real for Alex is hearing his sister tell her family that she and Syd haven’t left the house after some guys harassed and followed them from the bus.
4. Lydia’s bouquet list
After her stroke, Lydia creates a “bouquet list” of all the beautiful things she wants to do before she kicks the bucket. Elena asks her if she means “bucket list,” to which Lydia quips that that doesn’t make sense.
Lydia spends Season 3 checking things off her list that include things like having someone explain Star Wars to her and holding her grandchildren’s children.
Penelope’s boss, Dr. Leslie Berkowitz and Lydia’s best friend, played by Stephen Tobolowsky, helps Lydia complete some of this list as their “non-iversary” gifts. The most touching one was helping Lydia return to Cuba during the season finale.
5. Schneider meets Avery.
Schneider, played by Todd Grinnell, halts his womanizing ways when he finds his perfect match through Avery at the school’s charity benefit in One Day at a Time Season 3 Episode 3, “Benefit with Friends.” Avery is played by Todd’s wife, India de Beaufort, so naturally, there’s an undeniable chemistry.
In later episodes, his plan to appear poor for Avery does backfire, but it works out in the end as Avery is also rich with a sense of humility. The couple is adorable on screen, and you can’t help but smile to see Schneider happy.
6. Schneider and Leslie bond while the family is away.
Schneider and Leslie rarely share screen time unless they are with the Alvarez family, but the opportunity presented itself when the family goes on vacation in One Day at a Time Season 3 Episode 4, “Hermanos.”
It’s endearing to watch the duo cook and share a meal in the family’s apartment and have a heartwarming chat on the balcony. With both of them dealing with their own family issues, it makes sense that these two would not only get along, but also provide each other that father/child dynamic they both crave.
7. Schneider’s jigsaw puzzle
It’s no secret that Schneider wants to be a part of the Alvarez family and collects memorabilia featuring them. In Season 2, we learn that he has a snow globe featuring the family.
On One Day at a Time Season 3 Episode 5, “Nip It in the Bud,” Penelope walks into his apartment and sees him working on a jigsaw puzzle featuring the family. You surprisingly find yourself rooting for Schneider when he tells her that the only missing piece is him.
8. A non-binary Valentine
On One Day at a Time Season 3 Episode 6, “One Valentine’s Day at a Time,” Elena misses Syd’s not-so-subtle hints that she wants to go to Benihana for Valentine’s Day and they have their first fight.
Elena soothes it over with a non-binary Valentine’s Card she made for her non-binary Sydnificant Other, played by Sheridan Pierce.
9. The sex talk with Elena
On One Day at a Time Season 3 Episode 7, “The First Time,” Penelope finds out that Elena rented a hotel room with Syd with her emergency credit card and faces the possibility that her teenage daughter might be sexually active. She consults with her friend Ramona to prepare as much as she can for the sex talk.
What happens is one of the most genuine conversations about sex on television. It’s uncomfortable and awkward, but Penelope struggles to find the right balance and is willing to listen to Elena as she navigates this topic.
10. Leslie teaches Elena how to drive.
Not all of life’s lessons go smoothly for Penelope and Elena, and we learn on One Day at a Time Season 3 Episode 8, “She Drives Me Crazy” that driving is one of those that doesn’t. Thankfully for all parties involved, Leslie offers to steps in to teach Elena how to drive.
He breaks it down his techniques in terms Elena understands (Battlestar Galactica references), which helps her pass her driving test in Episode 12, “Drinking and Driving.” As a thank you, Elena helps Leslie reconnect with his daughter.
11. The anxiety episode
One Day at a Time Season 3 Episode 9, “Anxiety” is a masterclass on how to tackle an important and sensitive subject with great care. Mental health affects anyone, regardless of ethnicity, and this episode shows a good depiction of what it’s like to have anxiety attacks from the physical symptoms to the thought process.
The writers use the discussions in Penelope’s therapy group to help break the stigma on mental illness. Penelope reveals how Schneider helps her through a panic attack by sharing photos of cute dogs wearing wigs and providing additional support, and also how the stigma stems from her mom who refers to Penelope’s antidepressants as the “great family shame.”
Penelope doesn’t want her children to know that she suffers from anxiety, but her therapist, played by Mackenzie Phillips, explains that it could help her children if it’s hereditary. The episode ends with Penelope telling her children after she helps Elena get through a panic attack about college.
12. “Dang, Papi has a type.”
On One Day at a Time Season 3 Episode 11, “A Penny and a Nicole,” Penelope’s ex-husband Victor, played by James Martinez, introduces his girlfriend Nicole, played by co-creator and co-showrunner Gloria Calderón Kellett, to his children and his ex-wife.
Lydia quickly notices the ring on Nicole’s left ring finger and the meeting quickly becomes an engagement announcement. It’s an added surprise given that Nicole is a cookie-cutter version of Penelope, mannerisms and all.
13. Schneider returns to AA.
Schneider slips and has his first drink in eight years because of his father’s visit. It’s Victor who brings it to Penelope’s attention, and Penelope provides Schneider some tough love to help him through this.
She joins him at the AA meeting where we learn his first name is Pat, and actor Joe Manganiello makes a brief appearance as Schneider’s sponsor at the end of One Day at a Time Season 3 Episode 12, “Drinking and Driving.” After a tough episode, Penelope wraps it on a lighter note when she hits on Joe at the coffee table.
14. Elena gets her father/daughter dance.
Elena is still reeling from her dad’s rejection after she came out in past seasons. While he tries to mend their relationship in Season 3, Elena remains guarded but accepts his request to be his best woman in his wedding.
However, she gets upset and leaves the wedding reception on One Day at a Time Season 3 Episode 13, “Ghosts,” because she didn’t get to say what she really wanted to say to her father in her best woman speech. Alex has her say it to him as a release, and Isabella Gomez delivers an emotional speech about how the bigger person shouldn’t have to be the kid.
When the children return to the reception, Elena is surprised when her father not only apologizes to her for his behavior in front of the family, but he finally gives her the father/daughter dance she’s been waiting for.
15. Penelope’s happy ending
On the Season 3 finale, “Ghosts,” Penelope revisits her past relationships during her ex-husband’s wedding through visions with her late father.
It’s obvious that Max is the one for her, but she hasn’t changed her mind about her decision to not want more children. Plus, she tells her dad that she is already happy and has no regrets. While it does hurt her to let Max go after they dance at the wedding, she does reach her dreams of graduating and becoming a family nurse practitioner.
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What was your favorite moment from One Day at a Time Season 3? Share with us in the comments below!
One Day at a Time will make its broadcast debut Monday, October 12th at 9/8c on CBS.
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Sarah M. Vasquez
Sarah M. Vasquez is a writer and photography based in Marfa, Texas. Her work has appeared in the Texas Observer and Big Bend Sentinel. She covers Latinx issues and pop culture for LatinxSpaces and Luz Collective.