It’s 2020 and it seems like we’re in a nostalgia craze. With many beloved films and television shows getting reboots such as Saved by the Bell, West Side Story, and Disney’s plan to remake their classics as live action features, expectations are set extremely high. When it comes to the content of these reboots often times audiences are not surprised by what is delivered but they are relayed a feeling they have experienced before and have enjoyed. One reboot in specifically is taking a whole different approach by delivering a feeling so relevant it may hurt. Enter in Party of Five. The original series, which ran between 1994 to 2000 on Fox, became appointment television for teens and families in the 90’s. The story surrounding five siblings who lose both of their parents to a car accident focused on their day to day and the aftermath of their parent’s death. The 2020 version headed by Freeform, takes this narrative and adds a very topical perspective. It follows the Acosta siblings whose life is turned upside down when their parents get deported. The choice to bring to light something so timely is due to the heavy media coverage of deportations in the U.S. this past year. Between August and September of 2019, 2,5000 family members were removed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The reboot of Party of Five attempts to put a face and name to these families.

When it comes to Latino representation on screen in Hollywood. It has been a slow build. In a study conducted by USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), they found that only 15 studio movies across 12 years depicted a Latinx character on screen. However, the decision to have this iteration of Party of Five focus on a Latino family really paves the way for a more inclusive entertainment industry standard. Ingred Ziemniak, Coordinator of Communications and Publicity for NALIP spoke with me and had this to say, “The show is really humanizing the Latino community. It’s putting a face to these tragic events in hopes that people will either identify with the experience or see a part of themselves in the series”. Additionally, Kammile Whitener, also a Coordinator of Communications and Publicity for NALIP added “The landscape of Hollywood is changing. With social media playing a big part into how networks are operating. People are starting their own campaigns and demanding that people that look like them are portrayed on screen. This political climate is also inspiring stories to be more reflective of the current reality”. 

The reality that is touched upon in this series is the reality of many American’s in this country. In particular, first-generation Americans. I had the chance to speak with Cal State Dominguez Hills Psychology Student Alex Ballesteros, a first generation American, about her experience after watching the first two episodes of Party of Five. When it came to the premise of the show she said “I think it is informative to those that are clueless of these kinds of situations. So often we hear people say ‘Mexicans are taking our jobs’ but, this is showing the real-life struggle of kids just trying to survive”. When it came to a particular scene between brother characters Emilio and Beto taking their baby brother Rafa to the doctor Ballesteros had this to say, “The scene in the doctor’s office, this woman thinks the two brothers are a couple and asks them all these questions about who the baby belongs to but, when they reveal their true story of how their parents were deported she is silent. She wants nothing to do with them anymore. I think that moment portrays the realities within our community perfectly. People want to act like they care until it is actually time”.

Watch the scene below

Video courtesy of Freeform Youtube Channel

The new Party of Five is a great start to what is hopefully a wave of more shows and films that depict authentic, diverse characters, and stories about the Latinx community. It is proven to be both educational and entertaining.

You can watch Party of Five on Freeform and stream it on HULU.