One Day at a Time Season 3 Episode 1 The Older Man
- September 27, 1977
In season 3 episode 1 of the sitcom One Day at a Time, titled "The Older Man," we are reunited with the Alvarez family as they deal with various challenges in their everyday lives. The episode focuses on Lydia, the matriarch of the family, who is struggling with the realization that she is getting older.
Lydia’s anxieties about aging are sparked by a chance encounter with an old friend who has, to her dismay, aged quite drastically since they last saw one another. Lydia becomes consumed with the fear that she too will lose her youthfulness and vitality. This is especially concerning for her as she recently rekindled a romance with her ex-husband Dr. Berkowitz.
Meanwhile, the rest of the family is dealing with their own challenges. Penelope, Lydia's daughter, is struggling to come to terms with the fact that her teenage daughter Elena is growing up and becoming more independent. Elena is eager to become more involved in activism and social justice causes, which Penelope tries to resist as she wants to protect her daughter from the harsh realities of the world.
Schneider, the Alvarezes’ quirky landlord, is also dealing with personal issues. He is trying to navigate the difficult waters of a long-distance relationship and is feeling the strain of being physically separated from his girlfriend.
Throughout the episode, each of the characters learns valuable lessons about growing older and dealing with the inevitability of change. Lydia comes to understand that aging is a natural process and that sometimes you have to let go of the past in order to fully embrace the future. Penelope, meanwhile, learns that she needs to let her daughter make her own choices and trust her to navigate the complexities of the world.
Overall, "The Older Man" is a heartwarming and relatable episode that touches on the challenges of growing older, both as individuals and as a family unit. The writing is sharp and witty, and the performances from the cast are excellent. One Day at a Time continues to be a standout sitcom that manages to be both genuinely funny and emotionally resonant.
