(Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Netflix)
America Ferrera’s resume is full of statement-making work.
Her breakthrough film, Real Women Have Curves, which is directed by Patricia Cardoso and written by George LaVoo and Josefina López, was a Sundance hit that appealed to audiences for its unique portrayal of complicated mother-daughter relationships. As the star of the ABC telenovela Ugly Betty, she made history as the first Latina to win the lead actress in a comedy Emmy. Superstore, the NBC comedy she appeared in for six seasons, covered everything from paid maternity leave to COVID-19.
(Photo by Kevin Estrada)
Gentefied, the Netflix series she executive produces and is created by Marvin Lemus and Linda Yvette Chávez, is a family comedy that also tackles social issues. Focusing on three cousins and their grandfather, who runs a restaurant in South Los Angeles, the show addresses a community’s loss of cultural identity through gentrification, but also discusses divides between generations, be it views on LGBTQ awareness, heritage, or immigration.
These relatable, but personal, concepts of storytelling are also things Ferrera is drawn to as a fan of cinema. In honor of Gentefied’s second season, Rotten Tomatoes asked Ferrera which Hispanic films inspire her.
89%
Stand and Deliver
(1988)
I think the very first time I ever saw Latino American faces and creators as part of a movie that I was watching — but also that my friends watched, and that people watched in school and was a topic of conversation — was Stand and Deliver. Funnily enough, it was written and directed by Ramon Menendez, who directed the very first job I ever had, which was a Disney Channel movie called Gotta Kick It Up!. I was probably in middle school [the first time I saw it] and that was such a moment for me. I had never seen American Latinos in an American classroom speaking English and being American in that way before.
67%
Selena
(1997)
Selena was a really big one for me for the same reasons [as Stand and Deliver]. Yes, she was Latina, but she sang in Spanish and she was truly an American. That was the first time I felt — as a young person who knew that I wanted to be a storyteller, that I wanted to be an actress, that I wanted to be involved in the media world — to see not only her story being treated with enough value to be in the mainstream media, but then having it make Jennifer Lopez a star and being an example of success. There was — however unlikely for many — a path to our contributions, our artistic presence in mainstream culture.
90%
Y tu mamá también
(2001)
The year that Real Women Have Curves came out, we were doing the festival circuit at the same time that Y tu mamá también was doing the festival circuit. I remember being so blown away by the film for so many reasons: that Mexican filmmakers were thought of as auteurs, that [it had a] performance and story that was not about identity. It was about friendship and love and lust and a million other things, but it wasn’t about proving that you were American; that was very much the stories I had been exposed to when it comes to Latinx stories. It just brought in, for a lot of obvious reasons, my idea of Latinx filmmakers and storytellers and what was possible.
91%
City of God
(2002)
I’m at a loss of whether or not Brazil is considered Hispanic … I’m not sure. But City of God [is] obviously such an impactful film. Watching such a social topic be depicted in a narrative film, that was another really crucial [moment]. Seeing how the medium could accomplish another level of storytelling and social commentary, that was an incredibly inspiring film moment for me.
98%
I'm No Longer Here
(2019)
I was just so moved and so inspired by that film — all the technical filmmaking, how gorgeous it was, how beautifully it was shot, how skilled the storytelling was — but also just the specificity of that story. It was so stunning and such a beautiful example of how many small, tiny worlds we have yet to see on film; this small, tiny community that does dance and music in this specific way. It was just gorgeous and really just breathtaking.
(Photo by Netflix)
Whitney Friedlander for Rotten Tomatoes: At the end of the first season, it was revealed that grandfather Casimiro “Pop” Morales (Joaquín Cosío) was undocumented and he was arrested. During the premiere episode of season 2, he is reunited with his family. His grandchildren want to tell the world his story. He doesn’t. Why was that important to show?
America Ferrera: One of the things Marvin and Linda and I talked about really early on was this difference between the way this new generation of young people in this country — first-generation or undocumented themselves — are fighters. They started Dreamers and they pushed for legislation and they’re undocumented and unafraid. But that’s very different from generations past have dealt with the issue of being undocumented.
Right at the top [of the first episode] there’s a joke where Pops says, “Soy illegal,” [his grandson, J.J. Soria’s] Erik’s like “You can’t say that. You have to say ‘undocumented’; ‘illegal’ isn’t the word.” And he’s like, “Whatever with your PC words.” And that’s is very much at the core of the difference between how this younger generation feels entitled to show up and fight and to be undocumented and unafraid, but how someone in Pop’s generation wouldn’t think of showing up for the fight in this way.
The U.S. Latinx population was strongly hit by COVID-19. But you chose to set Gentefied in a COVID-free world. What was behind that decision?
Ferrera: There were conversations about whether or not to include COVID. Marvin and Linda didn’t want to go there from the beginning. And, ultimately, I think that that was the right choice to make … there’s something nice about diving into something for entertainment value and for some level of escapism — even if it deals with real-life issues — to see a world in which that wasn’t a concern.
(Photo by Netflix)
You directed the second season season premiere of Gentefied as well as two other episodes this season. What did it mean to direct the premiere? Especially since it has that emotional family reunion in the opening?
Ferrera: Everything about this project has been such a dream. As an executive producer, to get to champion the voices of Marvin and Linda — and then to have a crew that has Latinx people in every department, heading many of the departments, it’s so rewarding on so many levels. And in addition to that, I’ve gotten to direct and grow as a director and be courageous and brave and take risks and tell stories that really resonate with me.
We left season 1 a real cliffhanger with Pops being arrested and us revealing his undocumented status. So we come right in in season two and pick up where we left off and really let everyone know where Pops at and what’s going on and setting up his arc for the whole season, which is that he’s going to be in this process of not knowing whether he’s going or whether he’s staying. It’s a lot of expectation to fill. But it was exciting. And it was challenging.
You’ve given us a list of five films that inspire you. You’ve worked in a lot of disciplines. Do you watch films now from a specific perspective, be it from the point of view of an actor, director, etc.?
Ferrera: At the beginning, I definitely have my student hat on. I’m like ‘What’s their opening shot?’ And then, there’s those amazing, transcendent moments when all of that goes away because the storytelling is so phenomenal or because you get pulled in by a character or you get pulled in by a sequence of images. Then I come out of that and go ‘Wait a second! Oh my gosh! I have to go back and rewatch that and understand what just happened.’ I think it’s fun to watch with the part of the brain that’s trying to understand it and then to see at what points that part gets completely overtaken by just being moved by a story. But I’m definitely an active watcher. I’m definitely actively looking to see how is this making me feel and why. And then I’m always pleasantly awed when when I’m swept away and taken out of that active viewing mindset.
Gentefied season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
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With 15 Certified Fresh series returning to the small and streaming screen this month, we’ve got something for all tastes: the return of some beloved comedy classics (Anamaniacs, Psych), the final chapters of boundary pushing favorites (Dickinson, Narcos: Mexico), and sophomore outings from some of the best new series of the last year (The Great, Gentefied). Now — get to binging!
90%
Animaniacs
(Hulu)
What it is: The water tower–dwelling Warner kids Yakko, Wakko, and Dot are back and, well, even more animaniacal than before! This years-in-the-making reboot brings our favorite characters back together as they wreak havoc on the famed Warner Bros. studio lot and the talented folks that work it. Throw in scheming mastermind mice Pinky and the Brain — all voiced by the original voice actors — and it scratches our itch for nostalgia while being a new favorite ’toon for the kids.
Why you should watch it: Produced originally in the 1990s by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment as part of the WB’s kids lineup, Animaniacs earned a cult following thanks to its wacky characters, its fast-and-loose premise, its celebrity elbow-rubbing, and its humor geared as much to adults as children. The rebooted series was equally a hit last year. Binge it before Season 2 premieres Nov. 5 on Hulu.
Where to watch: Amazon, Google Play, Hulu, Vudu
Commitment: Approx. 4.5 hours (for the first season)
95%
Big Mouth
(Netflix)
What it is: Co-created by Nick Kroll and featuring the voice talents of comedy heavy-hitters like John Mulaney, Fred Armisen, 2020 Emmy winner Maya Rudolph, and Andrew Rannells, Big Mouth is a coming-of-age series about awkward teens discovering their sexuality through the raging hormones of puberty.
Why you should watch it: We’ve seen plenty of naughty comedies in the past, but none of them excavate the triumphs and traumas of pubescent adolescence quite as fearlessly or uproariously as Big Mouth, and that’s in part thanks to its animated treatment, where the limit is quite literally the writers’ imagination. Season 5 premieres Nov. 5 on Netflix.
Where to watch: Netflix
Commitment: Approx. 21 hours (for the first four seasons, plus a Valentine’s Day special)
92%
Dickinson
(Apple TV+)
What it is: A teen Emily Dickinson was a rebel with gifts and intelligence well beyond her years; Dickinson is a modern dramatization of how she set out to be the world’s best living poet in ways both unexpected and engrossing.
Why you should watch it: Creator Alena Smith’s hit flagship series with Apple TV+ left us wanting more the minute it started. Why? Well, Dickinson is herself a subject of intrigue, and played by a star like Hailee Steinfeld, she’s certainly a compelling character. But set to a contemporary soundtrack, sprinkled with millennial-tinged dialogue, and boasting a fast-paced, fantastical, feminist aesthetic that leaves period dramas of yesteryear in its dust, Dickinson is simply unlike anything we’ve seen before. Its third and final season premieres Nov. 5 on Apple TV+.
Where to watch it: Apple TV+
Commitment: Approx. 10 hours (for the first two seasons)
90%
Narcos: Mexico
(Netflix)
What it is: This critically-acclaimed bilingual Netflix original started with Narcos, taking a closer look at formidable and feared Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar and his criminal contemporaries. In 2018, Netflix launched companion series Narcos: Mexico, which dives into the roots of the modern drug war and the true-story rise of the cocaine trade led by the Guadalajara cartel in the 1980s.
Why you should watch it: The Narcos franchise is riveting and entertaining television, precisely documenting the history of the drug trade that still plagues the world today. In the Mexico seasons, Michael Peña stars as DEA agent Kiki Camarena alongside Diego Luna as cartel leader Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo. Narcos: Mexico season 3, its last, premieres Nov. 5 on Netflix.
Where to watch: Netflix
Commitment: Approx. 16.5 hours (for the first two seasons of Narcos: Mexico)
77%
Dexter: New Blood
(Showtime)
What it is: Whatever happened to our favorite neighborhood crime scene investigator and serial killer? Set 10 years after the original series finale, Dexter: New Blood finds Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) living in a small-town upstate New York, where he hasn’t relapsed on a killing spree in quite some time…
Why you should watch it: Even the creators of Dexter have owned up to the disappointment of original’s series finale, so led by a good-as-ever Hall, we’re keen to see how it make amends. Catch up before New Blood premieres Nov. 7 on Showtime.
Where to watch it: Amazon, Google Play, Hulu, Showtime, Vudu
Commitment: 85 hours (for all eight seasons of the original series)
96%
Gentefied
(Netflix)
What it is: Based on the original digital series from creators Linda Yvette Chávez and Marvin Lemus, Gentefied follows three cousins as they fight to save their grandfather’s taco shop from gentrification in Los Angeles’ Boyle Heights neighborhood.
Why you should watch it: This series’ exploration of a shifting city, clashing cultures, and a younger generation’s pursuit of the American Dream tackles a lot, but led by a relatable cast of newcomers, it hits every mark. Season 2 premieres Nov. 10 on Netflix.
Where to watch it: Netflix
Commitment: Approx. 5 hours (for the first season)
85%
The Flash
(The CW)
What it is: Grant Gustin is a crime scene investigator–turned–crime scene vigilante Barry Allen (aka the Flash, the lightning-enhanced fastest man alive). The story follows Barry’s crime-fighting adventures alongside a group of friends with their own special abilities.
Why you should watch it: You don’t gain an adoring following like that of The Flash without bringing edge-of-your-seat comic-book action and suspense and pitch-perfect performances week to week. Season 8 premieres Nov. 16 on the CW.
Where to watch: Amazon, Google Play, Netflix, Vudu
Commitment: Approx. 109 hours (for the first 7 seasons)
81%
Riverdale
(The CW)
What it is: With Riverdale, the beloved Archie comics get the CW treatment as a live-action murder mystery-thriller with high schoolers played by KJ Apa, Camila Mendes, Lili Reinhart, and Cole Sprouse. In other words, this is not your mom and dad’s heroic redhead.
Why you should watch it: As the classic Archie we know with a heaping dose of sex appeal and a dash of True Detective, what’s not to love? Season 6 premieres Nov. 16 on the CW.
Where to watch: Amazon, Google Play, Netflix, Vudu
Commitment: Approx. 70 hours (for the first five seasons)
52%
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness
(Netflix)
What it is: This lightning-in-a-bottle docu-series charts the rivalry between big cat eccentrics who escalate their dramatics to a murder-for-hire plot.
Why you should watch it: Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin’s rivalry is the kind of recipe TV producers dream of. As a stranger-than-fiction murder mystery with a cast of characters more likely to be seen on Jerry Springer than prestige television, it took the quarantined world by storm in 2020. This follow-up has all the ingredients to do it all over again. Tiger King 2 premieres Nov. 17 on Netflix.
Where to watch it: Netflix
Commitment: Approx. 5.5 hours (for the first season and bonus special)
89%
Psych
(Peacock)
What it is: As if you haven’t wondered what Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and Gus Guster (Dulé Hill) have been up to for the last few years? Psych: The Movie and Psych 2: Lassie Come Home have previously reunited the oddball detective duo, and typical shenanigans, of course, ensue.
Why you should watch it: No, Shawn is not a real psychic, but he’ll have you rooting for him anyway. The original USA Network series, which premiered back in 2006 and wrapped in 2014, followed Shawn as he utilized his impressive observational skills and memory as a Santa Barbara–based crime consultant. Putting affable goofiness to the forefront is what earned Psych it’s devoted “Psych-O” fan base. Catch up now so you can spot all the Easter eggs and call-back guest stars for its third film, premiering Nov. 18 on Peacock.
Where to watch it: Amazon, Google Play, Peacock, Vudu
Commitment: Approx. 93 hours (for all eight seasons and the first two movies)
84%
Star Trek: Discovery
(Paramount+)
What it is: Star Trek: Discovery is set 10 years prior to the original series and in the same universe as Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise, and sees the titular ship venturing out to discover new worlds and quell violent alien forces. As always with a Trek series, the cast of characters on board is the series’ beating heart — and you can expect some returning franchise-favorites along the way.
Why you should watch it: Creators Bryan Fuller and Alex Kurtzman, as well as star Sonequa Martin-Green and the rest of the ensemble cast, faced the franchise fandom’s lofty expectations when the series premiered in September 2017. They were rewarded with Certified Fresh Tomatometer scores for three seasons strong. Season 4 premieres Nov. 18 on Paramount+.
Where to watch: Amazon, Google Play, Paramount+, Vudu
Commitment: Approx. 39 hours (for the first three seasons)
96%
The Great
(Hulu)
What it is: From Oscar-winner Tony McNamara (The Favourite), The Great is a darkly comedic, sexy, and surprisingly contemporary look at the 18th-century rise of Russia’s Catherine the Great.
Why you should watch it: Elle Fanning is no stranger to the screen, but you’ve never seen her light it up quite like this. In a series that defies genre and pigeonholing, she steers the ship as its central hero with aplomb. And for his part as Peter III, Nicholas Hoult flexes comedic muscles we didn’t even know he had. Huzzah! Season 2 premieres Nov. 19 on Hulu.
Where to watch it: Amazon, Google Play, Hulu, Vudu
Commitment: 7.5 hours (for the first season)
91%
Marvel's the Avengers
(2012)
75%
Avengers: Age of Ultron
(2015)
90%
Captain America: Civil War
(2016)
94%
Avengers: Endgame
(2019)
What it is: Marking Jeremy Renner’s first foray into Disney+’s slate of Marvel series, Hawkeye comes from showrunner Jonathan Igla and follows the central hero’s life after Avengers: Endgame and his passing of the bow and arrow to Young Avenger, Kate M. Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld).
Why you should watch it: Led by two of some of the industry’s most in-demand (and multi-Oscar-nominated) actors and building on a world that we already know and love, Hawkeye is sure to check the boxes for fans of WandaVision, The Falcon & the Winter Soldier, and Loki. We’re recommending you catch up on all of Renner’s Marvel outings before watching the season 1 premiere Nov. 24 on Disney+: Marvel’s The Avengers (2012), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Or watch the entire MCU, in order, if you really want to do your homework.
Where to watch it: Amazon, Disney+, Google Play, Vudu
Commitment: Approx. 10.5 hours (for all four feature films)
What it is: California Governor Zack Morris — now there’s a phrase we never thought we’d see. But somehow, it works! This modern-day reboot of the 1990s classic sitcom features supporting turns from the characters of yesteryear, but zeroes in on a new group of lower-income high schoolers as they grapple with class prejudice and more after they’re transferred to Pacific Palisades’ wealthy Bayside High.
Why you should watch it: In a reboot we never knew we needed, Saved by the Bell’s modern twist makes it as fresh as ever while still quenching our thirst for nostalgia (and letting us oggle Mario Lopez as A.C. Slater all these years later). Season 2 premieres Nov. 24 on Peacock.
Where to watch it: Amazon, Peacock, Vudu
Commitment: Approx. 4 hours (for the first season)
- -
F Is for Family
(Netflix)
What it is: Inspired in part by co-creator, executive producer, and star Bill Burr’s time growing up in the 1970s, this raunchy comedy follows Frank Murphy (Burr) and his fuss-free life in suburbia with his wife Sue (Laura Dern) and their three kids.
Why you should watch it: Point blank: If you’re a fan of Burr’s gruff, incisive, fed-up take on everything from parenting and dating to politics and race, then F Is for Family is right up your alley. Season 5 premieres Nov. 25 on Netflix.
Where to watch it: Netflix
Commitment: Approx. 18 hours (for the first four seasons)
