Animation
Good Times
Netflix takes a classic sitcom, Good Times, and turns it into a vulgar, violent, sexually-charged TV-MA show.
The difference between elementary school and middle school is insurmountable. I mean, inexplicable. I mean, overwhelming. I mean … well … it’s huge.
No more small, comfortable classes with all the kids you’ve grown up with. No more familiar surroundings. Middle school is a jungle. A place where kids stream into one big cluster, and you’re left to fend for yourself in the wild.
At least, that’s how Elena Cañero-Reed feels.
A sixth grader in Miami, Florida, at Orange Bay Middle School, Elena is an overachiever by nature. Top of her class, intelligent and always ready, not much fazes her. But since her father’s death three years ago, combined with the fact that she’s learning to fend for herself at school, things have been a bit challenging.
Good thing Elena has her loving (if a bit erratic) Latino mama, Gabi. And her too-cool-for-school 8th grade brother, Bobby. Then there’s her new best friend, Sasha, who helps her avoid mean middle school girls and awkward situations and talk to cute boys.
Oh, she’s got her diary, too. Elena’s diary is where she pens all her goals, dreams and wishes (like becoming the future president of the United States) along with her worries, fears and frustrations. After all, words are powerful. And it’s always good to look back on life and remember just how you got where you are today.
Diary of a Future President is a new, Disney+ original that features Gina Rodriguez as the all-grown-up version of Elena Cañero-Reed. She is, of course, now president of the United States. But that contemporary timeline isn’t where this show really lands. Instead, Elena looks back, beginning in sixth grade, through her diary and remembers the words and moments that have made her who she is.
In many ways, Diary of a Future President is a cute-but-inspiring coming-of-age story, one that’s clearly aimed at middle schoolers. And it has plenty of positives.
Elena, although a bit quirky and overbearing, is true to herself and isn’t ashamed of her intelligence, even when other kids make fun of her. She also does whatever it takes to figure out her problems and work through them with the help of close friends and family. And, speaking of family, Elena has a pretty solid one herself, which is always really nice to see on TV. Additionally, young viewers will see some positive examples of how to navigate middle school, blended families and the complexities of life in sixth grade.
But there are a few smudges here, too. We hear a conversation about a same-sex relationship, and it’s a plot point that seems likely to be developed further in later episodes. Middle school girls talk openly about their menstrual cycles and can be quite mean. And, of course, there’s a bit of middle school and family drama.
Disney seems intent upon creating a show that’s family friendly in some important ways. That said, Diary of a Future President also reflects the values of our age when it comes to contemporary issues such as same-sex relationships, a trend we’re seeing more and more even in shows aimed at children. As such, it’s just the latest reminder that Christian parents whose convictions differ on this issue must help their children navigate it from a biblical perspective, because this trend is one that’s likely to continue.
Elena is overwhelmed when she learns she’s forgotten to complete a 6th-grade homework assignment. Elena learns a secret about her ex-best friend. Gabi, Elena’s mother, wonders how to tell her kids about her first love interest since their father’s passing three years before.
Elena and her friend Sasha have a crush on a cute boy in their class. Gabi’s assistant, Camila, wonders when Gabi will tell her children about her love interest. Camila says she wants to tell her family about her same-sex love interest, but she says that her parents are “homophobic.” Two girls talk about their menstrual cycles and how they’re “cycle sisters.” A couple kisses, flirts and hugs.
A woman exclaims, “Oh my God!” Two middle school girls make fun of Elena, calling her a “creep” and “nerd” and telling her to “shut up.” These same girls make other rude comments. Gabi worries her son might not try hard in middle school and end up like an uncle who is now in jail.
Kristin Smith joined the Plugged In team in 2017. Formerly a Spanish and English teacher, Kristin loves reading literature and eating authentic Mexican tacos. She and her husband, Eddy, love raising their children Judah and Selah. Kristin also has a deep affection for coffee, music, her dog (Cali) and cat (Aslan).
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