Trying to fit it in during our developmental stages in high school is scary, but it also brings life to new friendships and connections. When we don’t have that support, situations get awkward and lonely; that is why creating a small circle of friends is beneficial before starting something new.
On My Block is a four-season show that ran from 2018 to 2021. This was during the COVID era, when everyone was bored with the cliché movies and shows. On My Block changed Netflix, and for the better. It wasn’t only my siblings watching the show; many others at school were watching it. I remember having a group of peers talking about the relationship of Monse (Sierra Capri) and Cesar (Diego Tinoco), and how Jamal (Brett Gray) was the funniest of the group.
Monse, Cesar, Jamal, and Ruby (Jason Genao) were a group of freshmen at the start of the first season that had been together since they were kids. Cesar’s brother Oscar (Julio Macias), aka “Spooky” was one of the leaders of the Santos. The whole show revolved around Cesar and how his friends were trying to save him from the gang violence and teen death.
The show took place in California in the city called Freeridge. Their ‘block’ was surrounded by gang violence between the Prophets and Los Santos. The Prophets were made up of Black Americans, while Los Santos was made up of Mexican Americans. They showed the divide the city had between the two ethnic groups. One of the main goals of the show is to demonstrate how minority groups fight over power, money, and drugs to survive.
Each season is different in its own way because it centers around Cesar, but also around the problem of one of the four. Season one centers around Ruby, season two is Monse, season three is Jamal, and finally, Season four centers around Cesar. Each teenager has a different problem with their love lives, family situations, gun violence, and trying to do the right thing. The four stories come together to create what we all know as On My Block.
The whole plot is unique, exciting, and special. They are sharing what it is like to live in a divided city while also trying to do and make the right decisions. In the show, they make note of the violence going on in the world, and how love is stronger than anything.
I would rate the show 100/10, not only because it is centered around my culture, but also because of the found family aspect of the show. Although they went through troubles and tribulations, they made it out, and that is a message a lot of people need to hear these days.
