Vida (2018–2020) – Drama/Family
Vida is an American drama television series created by Tanya Saracho, which aired on Starz from 2018 to 2020. The show explores themes of identity, culture, family, and belonging through the lens of two Mexican-American sisters living in East Los Angeles.
The story begins when sisters Lyn (Melissa Barrera) and Emma (Mishel Prada) return to their old neighborhood after the death of their mother. While dealing with grief, they also inherit their mother’s bar—and soon discover shocking truths about her double life, including her relationship with her partner Eddy (Ser Anzoategui). This revelation forces the sisters to confront not only their mother’s hidden world but also their own complicated pasts and fractured bond.
Vida stands out for its authentic portrayal of Latinx culture, bilingual storytelling, and fearless approach to topics such as sexuality, gentrification, and identity. The series mixes intimate family drama with broader social issues, grounding its narrative in the struggles and resilience of a community often overlooked on television.
Across its three seasons, Vida was praised for its representation, strong performances, and sharp writing. Critics highlighted it as groundbreaking for queer and Latinx visibility, with Mishel Prada and Melissa Barrera earning acclaim for their layered portrayals of sisters torn between tradition and change.
Though it ended in 2020 after three seasons, Vida left a lasting mark as a vibrant, boundary-pushing series that celebrated love, culture, and self-discovery.
