Selena: The Series Fails to Tell a Nuanced Story

selena performing on stage
Photo Credit: Netflix

In an industry where the Latinx community is overly underrepresented, the latest Latinx centric show, Selena: The Series is long anticipated. Part one containing nine episodes, will be streaming on Netflix starting December 4th. The much expected series portraying the life of the Mexican-American singer Selena Quintanilla tells her story from her humbling beginnings to her successful stardom and will appeal to longtime fans while introducing newer generations to the queen of Tejano music.


Selena the Netflix series’s extensive run time is the perfect opportunity to incorporate extra content potentially depicting never before known occurrences due to the family’s involvement with Suzette Quintanilla, Selena’s older sister, as executive producer.

The series opens with a scene from a 1994 concert in Chicago, one of Selena’s last shows, reminding the audience of the magnitude of her success. Episode one looks into the origins of the “Selena y los Dinos” musical band consisting of siblings Selena, Suzette, and A.B. Quintanilla. The band is formed by their father, Abraham Quintanilla, soon after eight year old Selena, remarkably portrayed by Madison Taylor Baez, displays her talents. Baez is prevalent throughout the first episode and her performance is the most memorable from part one of the series. Effortlessly conveying an innocent and joyous young Selena, the singing capabilities that Baez brings to the table elevates her performance to another level.

Every musical group’s beginnings differ but what sets this particular story apart is the family aspect and their Mexican-American cultural background. Selena’s Mexican-American identity is one angle many Latinx viewers will relate to. According to the Pew Research Center, over 60% of Latinos in the U.S are of Mexican origins, so seeing their experiences represented in the series brings important representation. Selena exploring her bicultural identity will also transport viewers to some familiar experiences. For instance the constant struggle of having to choose one identity over the other (Mexican or American) to appeal to certain demographics. Also, being forced into stereotypes, for instance being labeled “exotic,” simply because of our complexions. Selena’s father’s analogy entirely captures the Mexican-American experience when he says, “We’re like a tree with the roots over there and we’re growing here, both countries, Selena, come together in you.”

Sadly, this first part of the series missed an opportunity to tell a nuanced story about one of the most beloved Latina musicians of all time. It heavily suffers with the writing causing various scenes to completely fall flat with cringey, eye-rolling inducing dialogue. Its generic cookie cutter feel will frustrate many viewers, particularly those eager to see Latinx representation. Some sequences hit you over the head with cheesy motivational lines that completely ruin any possible emotional impact. For example, Abraham sits next to A.B. to encourage him to write their songs by comparing him to the popular songwriter Luis Silva “…Is he a man? you’re a man…He has a brain, you have a brain. You’re a musician, so write a song.” While it was amusing to discover A.B.’s evolution to becoming a songwriter, the story is partially ruined by comical motivational dialogue.

The most disappointing element of Selena: The Series is Christian Serratos’s interpretation of Selena. Serratos, who plays Selena in the Netflix series, delivers a bland, uninspiring, forgettable performance that is entirely lacking Selena’s essence, charisma, and bubbly personality. Sorretos’s Performance leaves the series feeling like another simple common music biopic. As a romantic enthusiast, I was especially anticipating Selena and her husband Chris Pérez’s love story which sadly is one of the most disappointing storylines in the series (for now). The chemistry between Serratos and Jesse Posey, who plays Chris, is nonexistent and their romantic affection development is cringey to view. This love story is at its worst when songs (from soundtrack) are played as narrative.

Netflix series shows provide a great amount of creative freedom, so it is even more upsetting that the show’s creators missed the mark with this project. However, it doesn’t escape me that this end product is possibly due to Selena’s family’s direct involvement. Perhaps because of this involvement, A.B. and Suzette, two members of the family who are often overlooked in other stories about the family, receive their deserving spotlight acknowledging their responsibilities and valuable contribution to “Selena y Los Dinos.”

One of the memorable scenes is with Suzette, involving a fan who aspires to be a drummer. Assuming the fan wanted Selena’s autograph, Suzette instinctively directed her to the van where Selena was, but was startled when the fan was actually looking for her. The scene ends with a symbolic gesture with Suzette handing the fan her drumsticks. A moving scene spotlighting the importance of representation, particularly of female musicians. Also, Suzette’s storyline involving a romantic interest was one of the few nuanced scenarios I pleasantly liked.

two characters from Selena: The Series on Netflix(Photo Credit: Netflix)

Overall, Selena: The Series misses the target of telling a compelling and nuanced story by instead delivering a generic musician’s journey to stardom. While the series contains some great facts about Selena Quintanilla, Queen of Tejano, unfortunately, these glimmers in the storytelling are overshadowed by frustratingly poor dialogue. Hopefully part two will conclude the series on a higher note by featuring the backstory to Selena’s well-known mainstream songs plus a deeper view and incorporation of Yolanda Saldivar, the woman who murdered the Tejano star.

Selena: The Series will arrive on Netflix Friday, December 4.

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.