Ep 3. Jealousy

In "One Day at a Time" season 1 episode 3, titled "Jealousy," we explore the theme of envy and its destructive impact on relationships. The episode delves into the complicated nature of jealousy and how it can be a sign of insecurity and fear of losing someone we love.

The episode follows the story of the Alvarez family, led by newly-divorced mother Penelope Alvarez. She is struggling to find her footing as a single mother, raise her two teenage children, Elena and Alex, and care for her Cuban-born mother, Lydia. The family is presented as an example of a typical American Latino family, dealing with contemporary social issues and the clash of different generations and cultures.

At the start of the episode, we see Elena being noticed by her classmate and love interest, Syd. However, Elena is not too keen on the extra attention and seems less interested than Syd. Meanwhile, her younger brother Alex is struggling with his schoolwork and asks Penelope to find him a tutor. Penelope arranges a tutor, and after meeting him, she finds herself attracted to him and is quick to dismiss it as nothing.

Later in the episode, Lydia is seen digging through old photos of her past and reminiscing about her first love, a man named Eduardo. Interestingly, when Lydia's daughter Penelope sees the old picture of Eduardo, she recognizes the tutor from earlier that day: the old flame is none other than Elena's new tutor. Despite her attempts to brush off her attraction to Eduardo, Penelope soon realizes that her feelings are more intense than she realized as she finds herself being jealous of Lydia's past love interest.

In the midst of this, Alex is struggling with his grades, and Elena is trying to navigate her feelings about Syd. Penelope experiences a moment of jealousy when she mistakenly believes that Syd has feelings for Elena and is trying to steal her away. As a result, she forbids Elena from seeing Syd. However, the situation is resolved after a heartfelt conversation between mother and daughter.

Ultimately, the episode delves into the theme of jealousy and explores how it can be both destructive and revealing, as well as how it affects individuals differently. The episode shows that while it's important to acknowledge and work through feelings of jealousy, it's equally important to recognize that envy often stems from a place of insecurity and fear of losing someone we love. The episode also highlights how communication and understanding are key to resolving conflicts and letting go of jealousy.

Overall, "Jealousy" serves as an insightful exploration of the impact of envy on relationships, while also providing a relatable and heartwarming look at the struggles of a modern, multi-generational family. The episode offers a poignant lesson in love and acceptance that will resonate with viewers.