Starz Vida returned to our screens with an episode that showed how badass, resilient, and amazing every single woman on this show truly is. The fact that we got some of the best queer scenes I’ve ever seen is the cherry on top of a show that continues to smash through glass ceilings while entertaining the hell out of us.
The Good
Thank you Tanya Saracho and everyone at Vida. The opening moments of this episode were so beautiful that they will forever be seared to my memory. To put it plainly, we don’t get to see scenes like this as queer people. We’re not given the same courtesy as hetero relationships to see the down time between queer couples.
Then Vida had to come around and give me something I never knew was missing from my life and I’m here for it. I’m here for episodes of it with a side of extra cuddles if possible because the scenes between Emma and Nico were perfect as they lounged about in bed. And I’ll never be the same because of it.
Vida showed me that it’s possible to show the tender, relaxed, and gentle side of queer couples. Vida showed me that a women can lounge around topless and it mean nothing but trusting the other person enough where they feel comfortable enough to just be themselves. And Vida showed me that queer intimacy is a beautiful thing made of plenty of layers.
And if this is any indication of how the rest of the season is going to be like, then I’m here for it!
The Bad
Look, I understand why the Vigilantes are doing what they’re doing. They feel like they need to protect their neighborhood from gentrification. Honorable goal, if we’re being honest. But this episode proved that they’re really after something else that paints them in ugly colors.
The Vigilantes are mad at Emma and Lyn that they can be anything else besides their expectations of what a Latina is. That’s why they’re attacking them with insults like “coconut Barbie” and why they’re setting their sites on Vida instead of the business behind them that clearly isn’t meant to support the Latinx community.
Because Emma and Lyn are supporting their community. They understand that things are changing in this world and that they can remain Latinx AF while growing with the world. And that’s not a bad thing, despite what the Vigilantes say or how angry this one protester is that her DACA status could be fucked with because of something SHE did.
The Ugly
How Mari is being treated by her dad is ugly. Yes, I understand that Mari did something humiliating. But everyone and their mother knows that Johnny is sleeping around with Lyn while he has a serious girlfriend that is pregnant with his kid. But does he get any backlash? Nope. Not one bit.
And it’s infuriating AF.
Not that it’s stopping Mari. This is her time to learn and hustle for herself, by herself. And I’m kind of proud of her. Do I wish more people got their heads out of their culos and start thinking about someone besides themselves? Absolutely. But I’m proud of her for trying to make it in the world on her own. Takes cojones.
So, suck it, everyone who thinks less of Mari for one mistake aka one violation that someone placed her in without her permission. Mari is a survivor that will rise up and show everyone how strong, how amazing, and how brilliant she truly is. And we are here for it.
Vida airs Sundays at 9/8c on Starz.
