The second seasons of ‘Vida’ and ‘This Close’ prove diversity on TV is a storytelling good as much as a political one, says critic Alan Sepinwall
was able to easily and smartly convey, for instance, some of the unexpected benefits and unique challenges of being deaf in a mostly hearing world, like an episode where the leads were oblivious to a crying child on an airplane, only for one of them to be hassled by TSA agents who misinterpreted demonstrative use of sign language as threatening gestures. And‘s East L.A. neighborhood felt instantly like a place the audience had been visiting for years, even as it had its own unwritten rules.
There was suddenly a lot going on, all of it smart, much of it sexy , with a solid mix of pathos and humor. The episodes were also much more clearly differentiated from one another than they had been a year ago, with an installment where the sisters have very different experiences at a local art show a particular standout.Melissa Barrera as Lyn and Mishel Prada as Emma in ‘Vida.’, which returns on September 12th with an eight-episode season, has similarly leveled up.
One of the best arguments for greater diversity in storytelling is that it breathes new life into what is now a very old medium. So many series have had characters run over by cars, trucks, and buses that it’s stopped being a surprising narrative device.
With the increase in episodes and ambition comes growth in the world itself. Kate is presented with a wealth of romantic options beyond longtime boyfriend Danny , including her high school ex and even Michael’s hearing brother Jacob . Steven Weber, Marcia Cross, and Lisa Rinna all turn up as parents of various characters .
Because even the Peak TV landscape can get sadly homogenous about the kinds of characters spotlighted, the ongoing existence of these shows makes them notable.are less worthy of attention for what they’re about than for how excellent they’ve become at bringing those worlds to life. It’s a given that greater diversity on TV is a good thing; what’s even better is when marginalized groups get the artfully-told, compelling stories they deserve.
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