More than 15 years later ‘The Garcias’ are back as an HBO Max original Latinx series that reflects the multi-racial complexion of American families.
Once upon a time, there was this Nickelodeon series called The Brothers Garcia – and it was a big hit. Now, more than twenty years later, “The Garcías” is back with a few additional members in their familia!
“The Garcias” which airs on HBO Max with the season finale dropping Thursday, May 12th, is a reboot of the hit Nickelodeon series “The Brothers Garcia”. The series is super relatable and fun as three generations of an American Latino family from San Antonio, Texas are juxtaposed at the beautiful resort Puerto Aventuras in Quintana Roo Mexico.
I caught up with Jeff Valdez, executive producer, and showrunner to discuss breaking Latinx stereotypes, representation in television, racial harmony, and ethnic understanding. In the episode, Jeff shares that “The Garcias” is meant to create a sense of normalcy, not just for Latinos, but for other communities as well. The Garcias are not just a Latinx family, but a family that reflects the increasingly multi-racial complexion of American families.
Jeff Valdez, is a multi-talented writer, producer, and director who spent his career realizing a dream of seeing Latinos represented in television beyond the subservient portrayals. Jeff started his career as a stand-up comic but quickly saw the need to create programs that spoke to the English-speaking market of the Latino population.
The Garcias series
The Garcias showcase authentic Latino stories through a non-stereotypical portrayal of a family that just happened to be Latino. The series is a thirteen-character cast that includes The Garcia parents (actors Carlos Lacamara and Ada Maris), their adult children, and their children travel to the Riviera Maya in Mexico for a three-month summer vacation in a fancy beach house. The Garcia family’s time in Mexico is filled with adventure and discovery as they learn what it really takes to be a “familia”.
The jokes are light and like all American families, “The Garcias” is a colorful family filled with many characters with lots of stories to tell. As a woman big on women empowerment, one of the things that jumped out at me was the power and strength of the Garcia women. This of course is also true for Alexa (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss) the free-spirited one who is the narrator guiding us through the ins and outs of The Garcia family.
“The Garcias” like the original ‘The Garcia Brothers,’ is pretty much mostly a Latino cast and creative team. Bringing the comedy series back was no easy feat, considering it took about a decade to get the project off the ground. When the producer finally got the green light, they also had to battle the forces of nature: 95-degree weather, 85% humidity, two tropical storms, and a hurricane, all during COVID.
The series started out with some of the acting feeling a bit forced. However, from what I understand, a few of the cast members had not acted in over fifteen years. But you could see where there was a natural improvement as the series progressed. If you are new to The Garcias, it might help to watch the original The Brothers Garcia for context and perspective into a few of the main characters.
Overall, watching this series really had me in my feelings and occasionally pulled at my heartstrings. “The Garcias” is a mix of endless entertainment as you watch the characters navigate and rationalize the struggles of being both family and their own unique individuals.
Yet to check out the series? Stream the episodes of The Garcias on HBO Max HERE.
