May 3, 2020
By Maya Malizia & Alexa Torres
Editors
High school can be tough. Between difficult classes and petty school drama, high schoolers certainly have enough on their plate to begin with. Now imagine adding the struggles that come with being caught in the middle of rival gangs, finding hidden treasure and growing relationships.
In season 1 of “On My Block” viewers are introduced to the city of Freeridge. This small Los Angeles neighborhood is where it all began for the crew. Ruby Martinez (Jason Genao), Monse Finnie (Sierra Capri), Jamal Turner (Brett Gray) and Cesar Diaz (Diego Tinoco) are now teenagers preparing for their first year of high school.
In these first ten episodes, viewers are bound to get attached to this positive and lighthearted show immediately. What starts off as a mere high school drama soon develops into a far more complicated plot riddled with gangs and hidden money.
As Cesar struggles with trying to be a normal teenager and the possibility of joining his older brother Spooky’s (Julio Macias) gang, the rest of the crew is left in a difficult situation trying to save him from the dangers that follow the Santos gang.
The second season picks up right after the tragic shooting at Olivia’s (Ronni Hawk) quinceanera. Viewers see Ruby struggle to cope with Olivia’s death and post-traumatic stress disorder while Ceasar and Monse’s romantic relationship is put to the test, and Jamal is left waiting to tell his friends about the RollerWorld money he dug up.
Frustration and heartbreak are just a few of the emotions that follow this season. This season strays from the typical comedic and straightforward plot of the first season in the best way. The audience gets to see the kind of loyalty and sacrifice this group of teens are willing to endure for one another.
In the midst of all the madness, new relationships are formed, characters like Spooky and Cesar make life-changing decisions and the crew’s friendship endures the ultimate test towards the end of the season.
It’s always important for there to be continued character development with shows like these, and this season certainly gives viewers exactly that. As Jasmin (Jessica Marie Garcia) becomes more of a prominent character, it’s gratifying to see her become more than just a source of comic relief.
This March 11 the third season of “On My Block” was released, and it’s safe to say I was on the edge of my seat with the cliffhanger from last season.
The crew has been kidnapped by Stacy ‘Cuchillos’ Jaramillo (Ada Luz Ola), the leader of the Santos, and tasked with finding Lil Ricky, the man who started it all. When they are finally released, these teens are left feeling scared and unsure of where to begin looking for Lil’ Ricky.
In the midst of all the madness, new relationships are formed, characters like Spooky and Cesar make life-changing decisions and the crew’s friendship endures the ultimate test towards the end of the season.
Another interesting aspect of the third season is Monse’s unresolved tensions with the boys. As the only girl in the core four, she takes comfort in her new friendship with Jasmin, who helps her avoid ex-boyfriend Cesar.
Even though this eight-episode season is short compared to the ten episodes included in seasons 1 and 2, it still contains a lot of action, surprises and heartfelt emotions. However, it feels as though this third season fell a little flat. The plot over the course of these last eight episodes felt rushed and didn’t leave room for the audience to really connect with what was going on.
Despite the most recent season’s subpar storyline, this show has once again left the audience awaiting the next season with a look into life two years in the future. This cliffhanger leaves viewers wondering if the next season will feature the squad finally parting ways.
For those looking for a show to keep them entertained and on their toes, this is a must-see. This Netflix original is everything viewers could want in a teen comedy-drama, with more than enough action, romance and humor. Yet, the connections the audience is able to make with the characters and their stories are what will keep viewers coming back every time.
