Ep 7. Super Blues

In One Day at a Time season 1 episode 7, titled "Super Blues," the Alvarez family continues facing their own problems while trying to stick together. Lydia's eldest daughter, Penelope, tries to repair her relationship with her mother by booking a romantic night out for them to watch the live performance by a renowned jazz band, The Super Blues. However, after the tickets they purchase turn out to be fake, and Lydia's arthritis flares up, their night does not go as planned, leaving Penelope feeling guilty and helpless for her mother.

Meanwhile, Penelope's daughter Elena, still coming to terms with her sexuality and identity, prepares for her quinceañera with the help of her best friend, Carmen. And although they love each other, her father's date for the evening, their landlord Schneider, and her grandmother's date, Dr. Berkowitz, cannot stop bickering about political topics they disagree on while bringing up old resentments towards one another, adding just another layer of drama to the evening.

As they get ready for the evening, each family member deals with their own set of emotions and demons. While Penelope struggles to keep up with her responsibilities as a parent as an Army veteran living with PTSD and depression, Lydia acknowledges her own frustration with losing her independence and asking for help. Meanwhile, Elena takes pride in her queer identity, and Alex, her younger brother, struggles with his insecurities and self-doubt as he looks for a role model who validates him.

Throughout the episode, the Alvarez family conveys an important message about embracing diversity and accepting one another, no matter what obstacles they face. The storyline highlights the importance of family values, and how by sticking together through thick and thin, they can overcome any challenge that comes their way.