National Hispanic Heritage Month starts Sept. 15 and continues on until Oct. 15 in an effort to highlight the impactful influence Latinos and Hispanics possess in the United States. The month-long celebration honors the culture, heritage, and contributions made by the people in the Hispanic community. Regardless of your citizenship status, whether you’re half Hispanic or half Latino, speak or don’t speak Spanish, it’s important to recognize and respect Hispanic heritage every day!
AfterBuzz TV encourages followers and readers to watch television series with diverse casts and crews. This Hispanic Heritage Month, we hope you’ll consider watching one or some of the following Netflix shows with Latino and Hispanic casts as a way to start learning more.
Topping off the list as our number one recommendation is Money Heist, also called Casa De Papel in Spanish. The series was one of those enticing, binge-worthy shows everyone watched during their time in quarantine. The Spanish drama was released back in 2017, but was added onto Netflix amid peak quarantine season—April 2020. The thrilling crime show has released four seasons or parts. Netflix announced Money Heist “comes to an end,” with its fifth and final season, while also sharing an ominous photo of the Salvador Dalí masks. Be on the lookout for the resistance!
Elite is another Spanish drama series with some of the familiar faces recognized in the widely popular Money Heist. Jamie Lorente, who plays Denver in Casa De Papel, and Miguel Herrán, who portrays Rio, are both in Elite. María Pedraza from season one of Money Heist also stars in the Spanish teen thriller. The Netflix original consists of three seasons, with production for season four already underway. The exact release date is still unknown, but that’s the case for almost every television show right now given the worldwide dangers of COVID-19.
On My Block made its debut onto the streaming platform in March 2018 as an American teen comedy-drama. The series follows a group of street-savvy teenagers as they navigate their identities, high school, and a number of family-related drama. Even though On My Block is not an entirely Latino/Hispanic cast, most of the main characters are portrayed by actors who do have Hispanic heritage. Diego Tinoco (Cesar) is Colombian, Mexican and Ecuadorian; Jessica Marie Garcia (Jasmin) is of Mexican and Cuban descent; Both of Jason Genao’s (Ruby) parents are Dominican.
On My Block currently has three seasons on the streaming platform. A fourth season was confirmed, but it’s unclear if it’ll be the end of the series. An official release date hasn’t been shared either, but it’s safe to assume 2021 is more likely than anytime this year.
Telemundo’s telenovela Reina Del Sur was originally released for Spanish speakers in 2011. Both seasons of the drama were added onto Netflix in 2019, which was exciting for former fans and news viewers alike. Nevertheless, for those who don’t speak Spanish, the USA Network actually adapted its own English-speaking version of the storyline.
The original series and the American take are both partly based on the true story and successful novel about Sandra Ávila Beltrán, a Mexican drug cartel leader. Beltrán’s nickname you might ask… ‘La Reina del Pacífico’ or ‘The Queen of the Pacific.’
All four seasons of Queen of the South are on Netflix. The scripted series was also given the green-light for the fifth season, however, the exact release date for the next part of the drama has not been announced because of delays caused by the pandemic. Fans should remain hopeful because season five is expected to go on Netflix next year.
One Day at a Time was a highly praised reboot of Norman Lear’s 1975 sitcom. Justina Machado stars in the series as single parent Penelope, alongside Puerto Rican actress Rita Moreno, who plays Lydia. The show was once a Netflix original, commended for its representation of a Cuban-American family and inclusion of a main character who’s an Army veteran.
When Netflix decided to drop the comedy-drama, co-creator Gloria Calderón Kellett gathered supporters and made #SaveOneDayAtATime or #SODAAT trend on Twitter. Her efforts worked because a few months later, Pop TV picked up One Day at a Time for season four. The series recently revealed season five will air on CBS starting Oct. 12 at 9 p.m. EST. The first three seasons are still on Netflix!
The list would not be complete without mentioning Narcos and its companion series, Narcos: Mexico. The Netflix original has two seasons available to watch at the moment. Narcos: Mexico tells the story of Mexico’s first drug kingpin, Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo (Diego Luna). The platform has not announced whether or not production for a third season of Narcos: Mexico will happen.
The last show on the list ended in the summer of 2019, but all five seasons are currently available to stream on Netflix. The CW’s Jane The Virgin is another binge-worthy rom-com series that follows the dramatic life of Venezuelan-American writer Jane Villanueva, played by Gina Rodriguez. The American telenovela follows Rodriguez’s character as she navigates a love triangle, family dynamics, and her Latino heritage.
There are plenty of other television programs with Hispanic actors and characters. Share your favorites with us below!
