Gentefied

At turns hilarious, scathing, and sweet, Gentefied follows in the tradition of shows like One Day at a Time, Jane the Virgin, and Vida as a series with undeniable heart.

A bold, beautiful show about people trying to play a game in which they don't make the rules.

“Gentefied” has a lot to say, and it can turn didactic in its urge to say all of it. But the show’s likability carries it through its rougher patches. This series puts a lot on its plate, and somehow, it all comes together.

Once the series gets past some of its blunter instincts, it reveals some real nuance. While the stories of Ana, Eric, and Chris develop in interesting ways over the season’s 10 episodes, the most compelling storyline belongs to their grandfather and the intergenerational conflicts over Boyle Heights’ rapid gentrification.

Of the many series about immigration, gentrification and cross-cultural identities that have sprung up in the past several years, Gentefied is among the most astute. It only needs to trust that its cast will convey everything that’s left unsaid—and that viewers will read between the subtitles.

At its best when pairing these weighty considerations with community-specific humor instead of leaning too heavily into its stated mission to teach audiences about a complicated social phenomenon. While direct references to the current political climate and scenes of protest against “colonizers” can feel clichéd, quieter reflections resonate because of their emphasis on the connections between characters.

By the end of the season, the class and racial anxieties that the series explores get too neatly, and unconvincingly, assuaged. In taking up pressing, contemporary issues, Gentefied could fiercely challenge its audience on its core assumptions. It merely comforts.