Yesterday I wrote about how I stumbled across a little comedy show on Disney+ that had trickled its way down from being a Hulu Original into Disney's Star channel. This was a show that I had never heard of before and just dived into while looking for a fun, easy to watch comedy show. It ended up surprising me a lot, to which I ended up watching through the entire first season in a very short amount of time. It seems the second season aired this summer, and was also fully available on Disney+. Craving more, I dived into that with a curiosity over what idiotic adventures would await for the characters introduced in the first season. This first season focused around Julio, played by Chris Estrada, a highly dysfunctional thirty-something that worked in a rehabilitation program for former convicts trying to improve their lives. The character of Julio was one that had completely given up, tired of the world and all it requires from him. Putting in the absolute least amount of effort into everything as he possibly could while he barely holds the few responsibilities he has together.
In this chaotic modern world, it results a very relatable protagonist that has definitely gone off the rails, but while surrounded by other highly dysfunctional people, his method of doing so has been very different. Others resorted to gangs and seeking money, while he just sort of takes each day as it comes. Some of the episodes even refer to this, so it's highly aware of itself and how it portrays the character of Julio. Same shit, but a different day. Living in a suburban and seemingly mostly Hispanic neighbourhood of Los Angeles, it's easy to see how life is a repetitive challenge for him. There's drama in his life at every corner as everyone expects more from him, even his ex girlfriend which springs up constantly to complicate their relationship and just add to the pain of existence for Julio. I really like his character for how real he seems. Completely immature, far from an adult, but sometimes seems like the most aware and adult person in the room as everyone else goes about their delusions.
Season two ups the ante with the idiocy, while exploring these characters with a bit more of a serious tone. Making them more relatable, more real, and it's a whole lot of fun to watch still.
This post may have a few spoilers in it, I doubt anyone else is watching this but hey, the spoiler warning is here anyway!
This Fool
Unlike the first season, which each episode rarely played off the previous, season two seems like it's a lot more linear in its approach to telling the stories of its characters. This comes as a result of the last season on which ultimately everyone ended up without a job with the the collapse of the rehabilitation program. Everyone sort of goes their own way to move on with their lives. But with Julio and Luis, neither of them really manage to go anywhere after, they are sort of dead characters lingering on by a vague routine. Though with a robbery episode, to which somehow the crook convinces Julio he has something to live for while taking him hostage, he ends up being given enough money to fund a coffee shop, this sets up the season for Julio and Luis, somewhat forcing them back into gear even if Julio hates the idea of having to do things.
The character that had the most development though was by far Luis, the cousin and former convict that sleeps on the couch in the same house as Julio. His character is often the idiot, the one that generates the witty jokes. But his character goes a little beyond that in this season as we see him pushing more for starting a real life finally. Getting work, a stable income, finding a woman and thinking about the future. All of this comes with the same ideas pushed towards Julio, to which he has the entire opposite approach. Though even with the serious approach to life from Luis, his character is still constantly joking, still hardly capable of taking anything seriously and functioning as an adult. And the challenge here in season two is the production of that coffee shop, the challenge for these characters to put aside their egos and build something, it has a similar idea to the rehabilitation program. And while Julio considers himself to be the visionary of the whole operation, his idea is really just to make a coffee shop with great coffee. But it hires former convicts. This is where everyone starts to get a little dose of reality as they each attempt to take on roles they might be equipped for but also might not be. Pursuing ideal roles rather than just status.
While the production of the coffee shop dominated much of the second season, it still tried to do new things. Showing jokes aimed at different areas of life. Being a parent, the fear of retirement, the recollection of how one was in the past, with better motives and a genuine interest in helping others, not just for personal gain. For a comedy show, it actually handles a lot of real themes and gives you a lot of thoughts. Like a Hispanic version of Curb Your Enthusiasm, in a lower budget, more idiotic way. I don't think there are a lot of shows quite like it, where it's low budget but high quality, featuring small-time comedians that you probably haven't really heard of, just doing their thing. And I think I'd like to see a third season, but in a way, the development of the characters in this second season sort of set them up for change in a way that could be ruined with more episodes. Unless the next season focuses on how their lives are now better and that they've all found purpose, but that's sort of what happens here anyway. Sure there's no time skip to look ahead, but is that really necessary? I don't think so. I think the way this ends is ultimately the best send-off they can give.
And if this is the end, I'm very glad to have stumbled across this little gem. The humour is absolutely great, entirely my sort of thing. And there are just enough episodes to give us a fun look at each of the major characters with meaningful development. Not overstaying its welcome or trying to go the extra mile with more higher budget and silly episodes. It should make you laugh, and that's enough.
