Penelope is one of the most beautifully fleshed-out characters in a sitcom today, period. It’s as much of a joy to watch Machado work as it is to watch the Alvarez family, and the people who love them, live.
There are a couple of narrative turns that aren’t all that shocking, but what keeps them compelling is the depth of emotion associated with them. Executive producers Gloria Calderon Kellett and Mike Royce have ensured that the best aspects of the multi-cam format play these scenes as pure theater, bending the rules of reality at times for the greatest emotional catharsis.
The show is more assured in its second season, even as it lacks the cohesive arc that the build-up to Elena’s quinces did in the first. In effect, that just frees characters up for their own pursuits. ... Suffice to say it will linger with viewers long after they see it, and may even get them to call their moms.
One Day at a Time doesn’t make us laugh so much as let us laugh. Not to say there aren’t some sitcom-y jokes, but they tend to feel real. ... Engaging cast, smart writing, laugh-out-loud execution.