As viewers we have responsibilities, if we don’t support diverse and inclusive productions, we could be sending the wrong message to executives. However, sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. Many of the inclusive series don’t get much exposure on streaming platforms – while you’re bombarded with hype for big productions, the smaller, under-supported ones get lost in the mass of content. And then, because Latinx series tend to be in that category, they all get canceled.
The Annenberg Inclusion Initiative made a list of the top 100 inclusive streaming series between 2021 and 2023, tracking diversity on screen and behind the camera. Of course, many of these shows are Latinx. But the Latinx series that are highest-rated for inclusivity have all been canceled. These shows are great and deserve our support, even (or especially) if their parent companies refuse to market them! Read on for my breakdown of the most inclusive Latinx series of the past few years:
Gentefied – 12.2 Inclusivity Score
In 2022 Netflix canceled Gentefield after two seasons, which represented a significant drop in streaming content for the Latinx community. But you can still watch it now and show your support for this series that has the second-highest score for inclusion levels according to The Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.
The Spanglish series created by Linda Yvette Chavez and Marvin Lemus follows three Mexican-American cousins struggling to balance the American dream, their identities, and the family’s restaurant in the face of gentrification. America Ferrera executive produced the series and directed four of its episodes.
The Garcias – 11.4 Inclusivity Score
The Garcias is a reboot of Nickelodeon’s hit series The Brothers Garcia, set 20 years after the end of the original show in 2004. Both productions feature Latinx culture, family, and traditions—while The Brothers Garcia is considered the first English-language sitcom with a majority Latinx cast and crew.
The HBO Max version follows the Garcia kids as adults as they reunite with their parents on a family trip to Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Although it was canceled after the first season, creator Jeff Valdez struck a deal with HBO Max to regain the rights and find a new home for the family series.
Now & Then – 10.9 Inclusivity Score
This series with dialogue in Spanish and English follows a group of college friends who reunite 20 years after a tragic night. The psychological thriller, which jumps back and forth in time between the college past and the present, creates a gap between the dreams of youth and the reality of adulthood. And it’s all threatened after the group starts receiving anonymous messages from someone who knows what they did.
The Apple TV+ series uses Miami as the meeting point between the diverse Latin American, European, and American cast. The premise and talent make it an ambitious production, which marks the first production from Spain for this streaming platform. But having come out in 2022 and with no renewal announcement, it seems like Now & Then is canceled too.
With Love – 10.7 Inclusivity Score
If you are in a romantic mood, this is your show. With Love follows the story of siblings Jorge and Lily Diaz—their loves, heartbreaks, careers, and life in their big Latinx family, giving viewers a warm embrace.
This tender representation of the diverse ways of loving is also a reminder of different, inclusive stories, far from violent stereotypes. Gloria Calderon Kellett created the show for Amazon Prime and is known for her acting roles on shows like Jane the Virgin, and her behind-the-camera work on productions like How I Met Your Mother and One Day at a Time. With Love, though, was canceled after two seasons.
Los Espookys – 10.4 Inclusivity Score
Los Espookys breaks all narrative conventions with nods to Latin American folklore, surrealism, and supernatural stories. The show’s unique way of tapping into Latinx culture opened up space on HBO Max, but the magic only lasted two seasons.
The characters (created by Ana Fabrega, Julio Torres, and Fred Armisen) are hired to trick people through fake supernatural experiences, turning their passion for terror into a business. The quirky comedy set in a small, imaginary town in an unnamed Latin American country has an atypical original approach that earned it a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, although the warm response wasn’t enough to keep it going.
This Fool – 9.9 Inclusivity Score
If you want to laugh there’s no better choice than This Fool, an irreverent comedy acclaimed for its distinct voice. Created by Chris Estrada, the series follows Julio (Estrada) a 30-year-old who lives with his mother (Laura Patalano), and grandmother (Julia Vera) in a working-class neighborhood in South Central Los Angeles. Cousin Luis’ (Frankie Quiñones) release from prison marks the beginning of the show, in which these two guys, with different philosophies of life, grow.
Each character brings unique and compelling details of the social fabric of its South LA setting—no wonder this Latinx-led series has a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. But the show was canceled in February of 2024, despite the audience expecting more seasons. Estrada wrote on X: “Hopefully the show will live on to be a classic comedy that is rewatched and discovered by new viewers.”
And the List Goes On
It’s a tough time for Latinx-led shows. Vampire Academy (starring Daniela Nieves, Inclusivity Score of 9.8), The Horror of Dolores Roach (Justina Machado, 9.2), Gordita Chronicles (practically the whole cast and crew, 8.9), Freeridge (Keyla Monterroso Mejia and Bryana Salaz, 8.8) are up next and they’re all examples of Latinx series that got canceled too.
The Power, an ensemble show, with Latinx stars John Leguizamo and Auliʻi Cravalho as two of many leads, gets an 8.7 but its fate is still unclear. The first season of Selena Gomez’s Only Murders in the Building, with its 8.6 ranking, is the first Latina-led show to score three (and counting seasons) although, it doesn’t break the top third of Annenberg’s list (and also stars two very famous white guys in Martin Short and Steve Martin). It’s rough out here!
