In The Community
House of the Dragon is back and so are HBO Sundays. Granted, it’s not the same as when Game of Thrones was at its peak, but House of the Dragon is getting there and it does scratch an itch. The itch of political intrigue, family drama, and dragons. If you’ve been watching the show, you know that plenty of things have happened that could’ve been different, especially if Latinos were involved. Today we want to have some fun and do a little alternate universe exercise. Here are 5 things that would’ve been different if House of the Dragon was Latino.
Warning! Spoilers ahead if you’re not up-to-date with the show:
Rhaenys wouldn’t have gone down without a fight as heir to the throne
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In season 1, episode 1, one of the first things we learn is that Viserys is made King of Westeros over his cousin, Rhaenys, a woman who had the better claim to the throne. We don’t get much more background than that, but you can bet your bottom dollar that if Rhaenys was Latina, she wouldn’t have gone down without a fight. She would’ve fought tooth and nail for that throne because it was hers by right. Latinas often fight for what’s theirs and what’s right, so we could easily see that happening. She would’ve probably lost anyway because Westeros is kind of misogynistic, but hey, Latina Rhaenys would’ve given it her all. She would’ve created a hell of a campaign for herself and done her best to bring people to her side. After all, she’s stronger and more assertive than Viserys and would’ve been a better ruler.
Viserys would have met Daemon at Dragonstone
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In Season 1, Episode 2, “The Rogue Prince,” as Daemon Targaryen is known, has the gall and the gumption to steal a dragon egg before fleeing to Dragonstone. Like, how dare he? Not only that, he left a letter behind, taunting his brother Viserys about it. Viserys, instead of going himself, sends his right-hand man, Otto Hightower. Mind you, Daemon and Otto hate each other’s guts, so of course that wouldn’t go well. In the episode, it’s Princess Rhaenyra, Visery’s daughter, who saves the day. It was a cool scene, but if Viserys was Latino, don’t you think he would’ve run to Dragonstone and whip Daemon into shape? When was the last time you “borrowed” something from your older Latino sibling and came out of it unscathed? Let’s be serious here…
Alicent would have been an evil stepmother from the get-go
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In Season 1, Episode 3, we see Viserys doubt his decision to break with tradition and name Rhaenyra his heir instead of his brother, Daemon. In that moment of doubt, Alicent supports Rhaenyra and eases his worries. But what if this was a messy telenovela? For context, Rhaenyra and Alicent were besties, but Otto kind of forced Alicent to seduce Viserys so he would marry her and make her Queen after Rhaenyra’s mom died. Understandably, Rhaenyra is angry and giving Alicent the cold shoulder. If this was a messy telenovela, we can’t help but imagine that Alicent would’ve been petty about it. She would’ve fed Viserys’ doubts about Rhaenyra and become a full-blown villain, right then and there. The extreme dramatics are what make telenovelas great, don’t you agree?
Viserys would’ve obliterated Daemon after his night with Rhaenyra
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If you’re familiar with Game of Thrones, you already know that incest is a part of the “A Song of Ice and Fire” universe. This is actually based on real history because royal families back in the day used to dabble in it to “preserve the purity of their line.” Targaryens are notorious for having strange “customs,” shall we say, so when Daemon and Rhaenyra, uncle and niece, seem to have chemistry, no one’s shocked. The kicker is that they kind of get together in Season 1, Episode 4, and sh*t hits the fan pretty quickly. It was all a plan from Daemon to make Viserys marry the two of them, which, again, isn’t uncommon for Targeryens. But if Viserys was Latino, do you think Daemon would’ve survived that conversation? Absolutely not. Most Latino fathers protect their daughters, so your uncle isn’t going to confess to seducing you and live to tell the tale. And wouldn’t that have been fun?
Rhaenyra wouldn’t have proposed a marriage between her son and Alicent’s daughter
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On Season 1, Episode 6 a lot has happened. There was a time jump, so everyone’s grown up. Rhaenyra is married to his cousin Laenor, the compromise she made with her father after that whole mess with Daemon, and she has 3 boys with her guard, Ser Harwin Strong. Laenor is gay, so theirs is a marriage of convenience. The thing is, in this episode, Alicent is feeding the rumors about Rhaenyra’s sons being bastards, and they both hate each other. Rhaenyra, being the bigger person, offers a marriage between her son Lucerys and Alicent’s daughter Helaena to try and patch things up. Alicent, being a petty queen, says no and humiliates Rhaenyra. Now, if Rhaenyra was Latina, do you think she would’ve given Alicent the satisfaction? We argue that hell no. Laenor and the King both accepted her sons as legitimate, that’s all that should’ve mattered. Latina Rhaneyra would’ve found a way to put Alicent in her place instead of relenting to a bully.
Ah, reality TV! Much like telenovelas, you either love reality TV, hate it, or pretend to hate it but it’s low-key your favorite way to unwind after a long day. Latin reality TV is on a level of its own when it comes to dramatic moments, heartwarming stories, and just crazy, chaotic moments that have had a huge cultural impact and birthed a ton of funny memes. If you haven’t gotten into Latin reality TV, you’re missing out, so here are X shows you should check out, like, yesterday:
Made in Mexico
Image Credit: Netflix
“Made in Mexico” premiered in 2018 and it has one season, so it’s perfect if you’re looking for a reality TV show to binge. It follows a group of young Mexican socialites as they navigate Mexico City’s elite. If you love drama, opulence, and the occasional spicy catfight, you’re gonna love this one. Peeking into the glamorous lives of these people will keep you hooked and watching them all trying to secure their spot in Mexico City’s exclusive social scene is pure gold.
Nailed It! Mexico
Image Credit: Netflix
“Nailed It! Mexico” premiered in 2019 and it has three seasons on Netflix, so there’s plenty for you to watch if you end up loving it. It’s a hilarious baking competition where amateur home bakers try to recreate complicated cakes for a chance to win $10,000. The great thing about the show is that the contestants have epic baking fails because they’re not professionals, so it makes for good LOL moments. The contestants also create a sense of camaraderie that’s very lighthearted and nice to watch. If you’re in the mood for some feel-good reality TV that will make you laugh, this is it.
Forever Queens
Image Credit: Netflix
“Forever Queens” is a reality TV show that follows Mexican showbiz icons Lucía Méndez, Laura Zapata, Sylvia Pasquel, and Lorena Herrera as they reinvent themselves. We see them as they go through their glamorous lives and their personalities are on full display, which makes for highly entertaining moments. Expect some personal drama and a lot of nostalgia if you’re familiar with these icons already. Viewers of the show report enjoying how delusional some of these queens are, which is always fun. “Forever Queens” premiered in 2022 and ended this year with 2 seasons, so you have quite a few episodes to get through!
Stranded with My Mother-in-Law
Image Credit: Netflix
“Stranded with My Mother-in-Law” is a Brazilian reality competition that will surprise you. It premiered in 2023, it has one season, and the competition consists of couples who go to a paradise island, expecting to compete and win a life-changing prize. The twist is that their mother-in-law will be their teammates, not their romantic partners as they first thought, so their dynamics are quite interesting. This switcheroo makes for an entertaining competition full of hilarious, dramatic, and heartwarming moments.
Iron Chef: Mexico
Image Credit: Netflix
If you love a good reality TV show about food, “Iron Chef: Mexico” will scratch that itch. It premiered in 2022 and it has one season of an intense cooking competition where seasoned pros go head-to-head with three of Mexico's finest chefs to win the mythical katana and be crowned the Legendary Chef. Foodies will love this one because the competition is all centered around a variety of Mexican dishes, so you can learn a thing or two. Plus, the competitiveness between the contestants makes for juicy moments!
Too Hot to Handle: Latino
Image Credit: Netflix
If you’ve watched and loved the British reality TV show “Too Hot to Handle,” you’re going to love this Latino twist. “Too Hot to Handle: Latino” premiered in 2021 and it has one season. The show follows the same format, so you have a group of young singles from Latin America and Spain gathered in a tropical paradise. They thought they would be able to go crazy and enjoy the heat, but they must stay abstinent if they want to win $100,000. The show is spicy, very tense, dramatic, and so much fun to watch.
Sugar Rush: The Baking Point
Image Credit: Netflix
“Sugar Rush: The Baking Point” is for anyone with a sweet tooth who loves watching pastry chefs compete against each other. This show premiered in 2023 and it has one season where six teams of pastry chefs compete against time to see who creates the best edible masterpieces. A team gets eliminated in each episode, so the tension rises more and more. It’s a family-friendly reality TV show where creativity and delicious desserts are the main attraction. The competitive banter among contestants makes it super engaging as well. If you’re looking for something fluffy and feel-good but still interesting, this is a great option.
A Queen Is Born
Image Credit: Netflix
If you enjoy shows like “RuPaul's Drag Race” and “Drag Race Mexico,” “A Queen Is Born” will be right up your alley. It premiered in 2020 with one season and it’s hosted by drag queens Gloria Groove and Alexia Twister. The show is focused on helping aspiring drag queens and drag kings find their confidence and transform into stage-ready stars. It’s not a competition, it’s a makeover show, and it’s both heartwarming and entertaining. “A Queen Is Born” is all about self-love, acceptance, queer identity, and transformation, so you can expect glamour, fabulousness, and emotional moments.
Piñata Masters!
Image Credit: Netflix
Who doesn’t love a good piñata? “Piñata Masters!” is another fun, family-friendly reality TV show that anyone can enjoy. It premiered in 2022 and it has one season where seven teams of artists, carpenters, and designers compete to create colorful and creative piñatas. The best part is they’re judged by a group of kids who then get to destroy the piñatas at the end in true Latino fashion. This is just a delightful show to watch and you’ll be impressed by the incredible piñatas these artists get to create. It’s definitely a great show to connect with your inner child!
Taco Chronicles
Image Credit: Netflix
Last but not at all least, “Taco Chronicles” is the ultimate reality TV show/documentary to watch if you’re a taco lover. It premiered in 2019 and it has three seasons you can enjoy. In each episode, they explore the rich history and culture behind some of the most popular and delicious tacos. This show is a love letter to tacos, the people who make them, and the heritage behind them. It’s mouth-watering, feel-good, and a beautiful exploration of Mexican culture through its amazing cuisine. Beware, you will be craving tacos the entire time!
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“Of Mothers and Men” Opens May 7th: a Powerful Exploration of Afro-Latina Perspectives on Motherhood
While Mother’s Day can be a beautiful holiday that honors mothers and celebrates motherhood, it can also be a painful day for many. Mother-daughter dynamics exist on a wide spectrum and, sometimes, they’re complicated and a source of heartache for many different reasons. A new play, “Of Mothers and Men,” opens May 7th to explore some of those complex dynamics from an Afro-Latina perspective.
The dynamic new play is produced by the Black Latina Movement, an award-winning grassroots theater company and cultural group dedicated to advancing African and Latino cultures through storytelling and visual representation. The company provides a platform for diverse talent to showcase their artistry through a variety of creative projects, promote diversity in local communities, and create inclusive spaces.
The Black Latina Movement was founded by Jamaican-Puerto Rican Crystal Shaniece Roman in 2008. Roman is also the writer and director of the critically acclaimed “Of Mothers and Men.” Derived from the American classic written by John Steinbeck, “Of Mice and Men,” the play offers a unique perspective on women, their mothers, and their relationships with men.
“After creating The Black Latina Movement in 2008, I knew it was time for the world to see us for who we are and not the box they put us in. With all the social and economic issues we are facing in the world, I know that time is here. I want to help broaden the spectrum of hues the industry has and provide the further depth it so desperately needs,” Roman says in her Creator Statement.
“Through the medium of the arts, now more than ever we need to showcase the diversity of women and our multiplicities, especially those for women of color. As a Black Latina, my perspective may be unique but shares so many commonalities with many women of multicultural backgrounds,” Roman concluded.
Promotional image by “Of Mothers and Men” on Instagram
“Of Mothers and Men” is a monologue-driven play where each of the 9 vignettes offers a profound look into the significance of two of the most influential people in one’s life. Each monologue is delivered by a different character and their age and background color their perception, making each of their perspectives unique and nuanced. The play is not only female-created, it’s also female-funded and it boasts an all-female cast of Latina and African American women, including Roman herself.
“The lives of Black and Latino people are more than the pain and trauma that has been woven into the tapestry of our strength. We deserve to have more conversations about the dynamics of our healthy relationships, as well as more expressions of the complexities that exist within the arts,” said Roman in a recent press release. This is the core of “Of Mothers and Men” and it accomplishes those conversations beautifully.
What makes the play resonate with women across the board, but especially Latina, Afro-Latina, and African American women, is that each monologue is honest and raw, unraveling the joy and pain that stems from each character’s relationship with their mothers and the men in their lives.
Because each vignette offers a unique perspective, together they explore a wide spectrum of experiences, providing visibility and much-needed contrast while revealing cultural insights. Audiences may easily find at least one story they can directly relate to, and the ones they can’t relate to still provide eye-opening points of view, prompting them to think more deeply about their own dynamics and peel back the layers.
Promotional image by “Of Mothers and Men” on Instagram
First created in 2010, the play had its first off-Broadway run in 2012 and toured the Northeast. Over a decade later, “Of Mothers and Men” is coming back to the stage in New York City from May 7 to May 11 at the wild project in the East Village and it’s one of the Mother’s Day Week events you shouldn’t miss if you’re in the city.
You can get your tickets here and mark your calendar for a transformative experience.