One Day at a Time's animated special couldn't help but feel dated

Vulture

"Unfortunately, between the coronavirus-forced production limitations and the unprecedented anti-racism uprising of recent weeks, there was no way for 'The Politics Episode,' written by co-showrunners Gloria Calderón Kellett and Mike Royce, to avoid appearing dated," says Sarene Leeds. "Yes, the plot centers on the Alvarez family welcoming their conservative relatives for a visit, and preparing for the inevitable heated arguments regarding the November 2020 election. But since the episode still takes place in a world where COVID-19 doesn’t exist and George Floyd’s death and subsequent protests occurred in the midst of production, Penelope’s use of the tragic El Paso Walmart shooting to drive home a point about racism feels like something out of a bygone era. What makes the episode’s shortcomings all the more dissatisfying is that this animated special is being promoted as a teachable moment. Countless families are struggling to have these kinds of difficult conversations about racism and politics right now, and they need all the guidance they can get. That makes the episode a tougher sell if it can’t use the Trump administration’s mismanagement of the COVID crisis or say the names of George Floyd or Breonna Taylor."