Jane the Virgin
If you loved the multi-generational, women-led dynamic of the Alvarez family, you'll feel right at home with the Villanuevas. Jane the Virgin centers on three generations of Latina women whose lives are upended when Jane is accidentally artificially inseminated.
While its telenovela format is more high-drama than ODAAT's sitcom setup, the core is remarkably similar. It's a show with immense heart, exploring themes of faith, family, motherhood, and the immigrant experience in America with both sincerity and over-the-top, winking humor. The bond between Jane, her mother Xiomara, and her abuela Alba is the show's anchor, providing the same kind of unconditional, if complicated, female support system that made the Alvarez household so special.
Superstore
On the surface, a workplace comedy about employees at a big-box store might seem like an odd comparison. But Superstore shares One Day at a Time's deep commitment to exploring the lives of working-class people. Much like Penelope navigated financial struggles, the characters of Cloud 9 deal with the realities of low wages, precarious healthcare, and corporate indifference. The show brilliantly weaves in sharp social commentary on topics ranging from immigration and unions to maternity leave and racism, all without ever sacrificing its laugh-out-loud comedy. Mateo’s journey as an undocumented immigrant is handled with particular care and nuance, echoing the thoughtful way ODAAT approached complex social issues.
Gentefied
For another authentic look at a multi-generational Mexican-American family, Gentefied is essential viewing. The series follows three cousins in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, as they try to save their grandfather's beloved taco shop from the pressures of gentrification. Like One Day at a Time, it places Latinx culture and identity front and center, exploring what it means to chase the American Dream when that very dream threatens your community. While it leans more into dramedy, the show is packed with sharp humor and deeply relatable family dynamics. It tackles themes of identity, ambition, and cultural displacement with a raw honesty that will resonate with anyone who appreciated ODAAT's real-world grounding.
Kim's Convenience
If what you miss most is the classic sitcom feel centered on a loving immigrant family, look no further than Kim's Convenience. This Canadian series revolves around the Kim family, who own and run a convenience store in Toronto. The show finds its humor and heart in the generational and cultural gaps between the Korean immigrant parents, Appa and Umma, and their Canadian-born children, Janet and Jung. Much like ODAAT, it excels at finding universal truths within a culturally specific story. It’s a warm, funny, and low-stakes comfort watch that explores themes of family legacy, reconciliation, and what it means to be a first- or second-generation immigrant, making it a perfect spiritual successor.
Please Like Me
This Australian gem might be the most unexpected recommendation, but it shares a crucial piece of ODAAT's DNA: the masterful balance of comedy and mental health. The series, created by and starring Josh Thomas, begins with Josh realizing he's gay just as his mother is hospitalized for depression. What follows is a raw, awkward, and profoundly funny exploration of coming of age, caring for a parent with mental illness, and navigating relationships. Much like Penelope's journey with PTSD and anxiety was handled with unflinching honesty and humor, Please Like Me never shies away from the difficult realities of mental health struggles. It finds the absurdity and tenderness in life’s darkest moments, a rare feat that One Day at a Time fans will deeply appreciate.
