Netflix original series faces hardships of urban life
Season two of Netflix’s “On My Block” develops last season’s background characters while teaching its audience that despite life’s worst situations, finding the happiest things in your life can make the circumstance better.
The sequel expands the backgrounds of last season’s underwhelming characters.
Monse, played by Sierra Capri, and her best friends Ruby, Cesar and Jamal, played by Jason Genao, Diego Tinoco and Brett Gray, face obstacles while trying to navigate their teenage lives through gang violence, relationships and friendships in LA’s South-Central area.
Through every pitfall, the team helps one another develop their circumstance from tragedy to one of hope.
Season one left off on Olivia’s, played by Ronni Hawk, quinceanera where a fun and carefree celebration turned into disaster when Olivia was shot by a misguided bullet. This traumatized Ruby, who encouraged Olivia to have the party, and who was also shot in the chest. Now in season two, even a song or fireworks brings on post-traumatic stress disorder in Ruby.
Even through his lowest times, Ruby helps his friends with all their missions to help the community they live in.
When Jamal believes the lost RollerWorld money is cursed and wants to exchange the “dirty” money with “clean” money to find a better place for Cesar to live, Ruby doesn’t bat an eye. He stands by the decision of spending his portion of around $50,000 to make a better life for his best friend.
This makes Ruby loved by all fans of the series who see the growth of his character. Even with his near-fatal injury, he perseveres through it, making him a role model and inspiration to many of the show’s viewers.
This also brings awareness to who Ruby is as a person. In the previous season, Ruby seemed to just be a background character or a character to further develop Monse’s or Cesar’s story plot. At least in the second season, Ruby has more screen time to flourish and expand his character and the plot surrounding him.
Another person whose character was brought to light was Jasmine, played by Jessica Marie Garcia. Jasmine is usually around the friend group but not technically in it because everyone thinks that she’s annoying. Ruby decides that he wants to befriend Jasmine because he feels bad for her. The start of this friendship sets the stage for viewers to fully understand not only Ruby, but also Jasmine and her background.
When Ruby meets Jasmine at her house, he meets her catatonic, unresponsive father who fought in Afghanistan. For Jasmine to stay positive about her father’s state, she reminds herself to be carefree.
Jasmine said the way to find happiness in life was by being herself, even if that meant being annoying or hated by most.
“I realized that the only thing that I could control was me. So I decided to be happy, because why screw yourself if the universe is going to screw you anyway,” said Jasmine.
By realizing that she couldn’t control everything around her, Jasmine decided that she should control herself. By controlling herself, she could be whatever she wanted and for her, it was to be happy.
As Jasmine’s character blooms throughout the second season, it is easier for most people to understand why she acts the way she does. It is interesting to view Jasmine not as the bothersome girl who gets in the way, but as a misunderstood young lady that only wants to be content in her own skin.
Luckily, Jasmine fills the series with humor and liveliness in the most unusual ways and the show wouldn’t succeed without her.
Knowing the more intricate lives of different characters expands the plot and gives the show a compelling narrative. With season two ending with a cliffhanger, it leaves the audience binge watching until the next season premieres. It will be fascinating to see what will come next for the group, but hopefully it will be more backstories.
“On My Block” is available for streaming now on Netflix.
By Cammie Dutchess, Staff Writer
jonesdca17@bonaventure.edu
