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On My Block provides so many people with hope. Whether you're a kid growing up in a bad neighborhood or someone who doesn't think they will get an opportunity because of the color of their skin. This show is able to provide so many a feeling that they can one day be an actor on a big TV show or get out of that bad neighborhood. The cast and the show On My Block are starting the fire and hopefully the world is ready to keep it burning.

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Netflix's original shows and movies keep getting better. The streaming giant has taken to the internet to give us an insider look at the most popular original films, series, and stars that have hit the platform this year.

Romance seemed to be a key factor with The Kissing Booth taking home the crown for the most loved movie, and Lana Condor ( To All the Boys I've Loved Before) getting the second highest boost in Instagram followers but the same isn't true for the most-binged show. The coming-of-age comedy, On My Block, came in first place, knocking out one of Netflix's other most talked about teen show, 13 Reasons Why.

What is 'On My Block' about?

On My Block follows four street-savvy teens, Cesar, Ruby, Monse, and Jamal, as they navigate their everyday lives in South Central LA. Between the drama of being a freshman in high school and the dangerous challenges of living in an inner-city, the quartet has quite a road ahead of them. Every episode gives viewers the opportunity to peer into their lives as they experience the struggles of puberty, the bliss of first love, the trauma of heartbreak, the threat of gang violence and everything in between.

The main cast in 'On My Block'

Lauren Iungerich, the mastermind behind Awkward., created On My Block alongside Eddie Gonzalez and Jeremy Haft. The writers put together an amazingly diverse cast for the show.

Cesar Diaz, an intellectual who enters gang life because of his brothers' bad life choices, is played by Diego Tinoco. Look familiar? The young star made a brief appearance on the popular fantasy-drama .

Jason Genao plays Ruben "Ruby" Martinez, the groups' resident know-it-all. He also played Napoleon in The Get Down, one of the most expensive Netflix original shows.

Sierra Capri plays Monse Finnie, a headstrong tomboy who is the "leader" of the group. Her rocky relationship with best friend Cesar makes for some tense scenes in the show.

Brett Gray plays Jamal Turner, the all-around nerd who is knee deep in a conspiracy surrounding RollerWorld.

The hilarious Jessica Marie Garcia, from Shonda Rhimes' popular drama How to Get Away with Murder, and The Middle plays Jasmine. While she isn't a core member of the group, she is a classmate who plays an integral role in their daily lives.

The last central cast member is Ronnie Hawk who plays Olivia, a friend of Ruby who joins the family after her own is deported.

Why is 'On My Block' the most-binged original series on Netflix?

On My Block premiered back on March 16th. By early April the show climbed to number one in the Netflix original charts, putting it ahead of well-known series like Marvel's Jessica Jones and Orange is the New Black. The icing on the cake, the show won a Teen Choice Award for Choice Breakout TV Show. What makes On My Block so unique that it won not just an award but most-binged original Netflix show of the year?

Netflix has recently been catering to its younger audience, a large viewing demographic. On My Block does just that but accurately portrays high school life while leaving all the artificial melodrama we typically see behind. Its diverse cast, talented actor and actress performances and well-written storylines have received praise from critics and viewers alike.

Rotten Tomatoes gave the Netflix original 95% saying the show is "Charming, realistic, and focused on underrepresented communities, On My Block is the respite from stylized teen dramas you didn't know you needed." That sums up the reason the show is so popular. It features people of color tackling real issues that happen every day in their communities, something that is rarely covered in modern TV shows.

As Matt Seitz of New York Magazine said, "One of the many remarkable things about this series is how it folds crime and the awareness of potential violence into everyday life..."

On My Block has thankfully been confirmed for a second season, and it can't come soon enough.

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'On My Block:' What Is Netflix's Most-Binged Original Show of 2018 About?

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Netflix's original shows and movies keep getting better. The streaming giant has taken to the internet to give us an insider look at the most popular original films, series, and stars that have hit the platform this year.

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Courtesy of Netflix

Netflix's coming of age sitcom On My Block is one of the most buzzed-about shows right now. The dramedy, depicting the highs and lows of four South LA teens, has earned rave reviews not just for its predominantly black and Latinx cast, but also for its exhilarating cliffhanger ending (you'll have to watch to find out). It's not surprisin g On My Block has resonated with viewers. The show had a strong team behind it. On My Block was created by Lauren Iungerich (the creator of MTV's Awkward) and Jeremy Hat and Eddie Gonzalez (writers of the 2017 Tupac biopic All Eyez On Me).

Lauren found herself wanting to create a show for teens not seen "through a white prism," she tells i-D. "What if you allow these [POC] kids to be the heroes of the story?" she asked herself. "They don't need anyone to save them because they're saving themselves." Lauren knew that, as a white person, she could assist in telling this story - but definitely couldn't tell all of it. Enter: Eddie Gonzalez. Lauren was introduced to the Inwood-raised screenwriter through her friend Jeremy Hath. Together, the three filmmakers drew heavy inspiration from Eddie's life to create On My Block, highlighting the fact that joy, friendship, and community can also be found in inner-city neighborhoods. "Growing up in Inwood wasn't bleak," Eddie says, addressing one of the stereotypes about inner-city life that On My Block dispels. "It wasn't this hopeless place a lot of people portray it to be."

Here, the creators of On My Block talk discovering and mentoring POC screenwriters. Also, Eddie tells us why the location of his school locker, not gang violence, was the biggest thing he worried about as a teenager.

On My Block really stands out for being one of the few coming of age sitcoms to capture diversity well. How did the show come together?
Lauren Iungerich: I had created another YA show called Awkward on MTV. A couple years after leaving the show I made a bunch of busted pilots and was thinking about where my heart really lied. I thought about how most of the fun YA shows out there were seen through a white prism. I felt like kids from all backgrounds need to see representation of their own experience. Obviously this is not my experience, so I needed to collaborate. It just so happened I ended up having lunch with Jeremy, who is a good friend of mine that I met during the Writers Guild Strike in 2007.

Jeremy Hath: Yes, thankfully the strike paid off for both of us! [Laughs.] I told Lauren Eddie and I were writing a Tupac biopic and that Eddie grew up in Compton and Inwood. This is his life. When Eddie talks about his childhood it's not 'Oh woe is me.' He has great stories that are kind of universal: 'I like the girl, I want to play on the baseball team, I want to go to prom.' Most of his stories are fun and full of adventure.

What parts of growing up in an inner-city neighborhood did you tap into, Eddie?
Eddie Gonzalez: I was born in Compton and grew up in Inwood - and I loved my childhood. I grew up in a really dangerous neighborhood, but it was still a great neighborhood to grow up in. My biggest fear wasn't getting shot in a drive-by. I was bite-sized. I was five foot two when I was a high school senior. My biggest fear was that my locker would be on the top row and I wouldn't be able to reach it.

Jeremy: Tell them the story about you and the gang member! That's a great one.

Eddie: Oh yeah. In high school, I was one of those kids that got along with everybody. When I was a junior I had a gang member come up to me that I didn't know very well. I was terrified. Then he said, "You have sisters. They have quinceañeras. I want you to show me how to dance." It's things like that. Subverting the trope of what people think they know.

And how did you make sure the On the Block came off as authentic? What was diversity like behind the camera?
Lauren: We only had black and Latinx writers. We made a really big effort to find young screenwriters that were not on the traditional path and signed with agents. We went out and found three young storytellers to be in our room. One of them was Alexi Gonzalez, who graduated from the Ghetto Film School. She made a short film when she was 19 that she shot entirely in Japanese in Tokyo. We wanted to lift up young storytellers from these inner-city neighborhoods who don't normally get opportunities. To put them in our room and give them a real living wage.

What character or storyline did you each connect with most?
Lauren: I'm very Monse in a lot of ways and Jeremy is very Jamal.

Eddie: I'm Ruby, of course.

Jeremy: And we all wanted to be Caesar! [Laughs.]

Was working with Netflix different from working with a traditional television platform?
Lauren: The thing that was most different was if there was a discussion or disagreement about the path to take, Netflix would always give it to us to decide. I think in traditional media the artist doesn't always win. With Netflix, they were more of a partner than a boss. They would raise questions about the storytelling only to make us think it out and articulate why we needed to do what we did. Which was great. There are so few opportunities in film to feel like you're doing anything besides making candy bars.
You can watch "On My Block" on Netflix now

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the creators of netflix's 'on my block' on subverting inner city stereotypes

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Courtesy of Netflix Netflix's coming of age sitcom On My Block is one of the most buzzed-about shows right now. The dramedy, depicting the highs and lows of four South LA teens, has earned rave reviews not just for its predominantly black and Latinx cast, but also for its exhilarating cliffhanger ending (you'll have to watch to find out).

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Many TV shows present the same bleak image of inner-city life: police sirens, housing projects, gangs. But that's changing with Netflix's "On My Block," which premieres March 16.

"Every time a show or movie talks about gangs, it loves to show the violent parts," says Jason Genao, 21, who stars in the half-hour dramedy. "For me, gangs are like stores and restaurants. It's just something there where I live [in Jersey City]."

Like other popular Netflix shows ("13 Reasons Why," "Stranger Things,") "On My Block" is a coming-of-age story following a group of high school friends in the fictional city of Freeridge, Calif. What sets it apart is its setting and its diverse cast - the characters are all African-American and Latino.

"Everyone in this show minus maybe two people were of color, and that's so rare," says Genao, who's Dominican (his character, Ruby, is Mexican). "[Growing up] I wondered if it was even possible for me to be an actor, because I don't look like people I saw onscreen. I hope 'On My Block' shows people who don't believe these sort of opportunities exist for them do exist."

'Every time a show or movie talks about gangs, it loves to show the violent parts. For me, gangs are like stores and restaurants. It's just something there where I live.'

Ruby isn't in a gang but his friend Cesar (Diego Tinoco) is. Since it's a family legacy for Cesar, scenes with gangs are interspersed with the those about the teens' home lives. The show's co-creator Eddie Gonzalez says, "I'm not trying to glorify gangs by any means - I'm saying it is nuanced and there is more to [gang life] than someone just banging for the sake of it. You see that in the relationship with Cesar and his brother, Oscar."

Gonzalez, 49, co-created the show with Lauren Iungerich ("Awkward") and Jeremy Haft ("Empire"), based on his own experience. He was born in Compton, Calif., grew up in nearby Lynwood, and comes from a large Mexican family - 7 siblings and 117 first cousins.

"Lauren wanted to do something on the inner city, but she needed to team up with people who know that space," he says. "The moment we [started talking] we felt this connection, because even though I grew up in a dangerous neighborhood, Jeremy, Lauren and I had these same aspirations. We all wanted this kind of John Hughes existence."

Gonzalez says in addition to his own life and John Hughes films such as "Sixteen Candles" (1984), another major inspiration was 1985's "The Goonies."

"These kids share a common thread that a kid in Kentucky can relate to, a kid in Florida, a kid in Seattle. I'd love for kids in the inner city to go, 'they got it right.' But if it's connecting with other kids and adults, that's great, too. I want 30- and 40-year-olds to connect to it. [It has] universal themes."

To make the dynamic between the friends feel genuine, Genao says the core cast members shared an Airbnb for the duration of the production shoot in Burbank. "We were living together for two weeks before the show even started and as it filmed, so [our friendship] was authentic."

"The thing about growing up in neighborhoods [like Freeridge] is there's this tendency to go, 'Oh, we're victims,'" says Gonzalez. "We don't need to be saved, we just need to be heard. Our show is hopeful; it's bright. Growing up, I was enjoying high school much like Lauren and Jeremy. We all wanted the same things - to fit in, to be popular."

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Netflix's 'On My Block' shows a different side to the inner city

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Many TV shows present the same bleak image of inner-city life: police sirens, housing projects, gangs. But that's changing with Netflix's "On My Block," which premieres March 16. "Every time a show or movie talks about gangs, it loves to show the violent parts," says Jason Genao, 21, who stars in the half-hour dramedy.

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The past year has provided TV and film lovers alike with a surge of content that centers the teenage experience. Though coming-of-age movies and shows existed long before the days of video streaming services, today's fictional narratives set themselves apart from their predecessors. TV creators and networks are now embracing a discussion about stigmatized and controversial topics, such as mental illness, racism, and classism. Although there is always room for improvement, one can appreciate the attempts of different networks to reflect their diverse audiences in their upcoming and ongoing shows. Netflix is one of the many entertainment companies that is contributing to the increase in diverse narratives on the screen. Its new teen TV series "On My Block" proves that TV shows that subvert traditional fictional storylines possess the potential to do well.

Averaging a on Rotten Tomatoes and an rating, "On My Block" is more than your average teenage dramedy. Admittedly, on a surface level, the 10-episode series mimics that of many other coming-of-age content. The TV show chronicles the lives of four friends as they navigate the unfamiliar world of high school while trying to find themselves and simultaneously juggle friendships, family, and relationships; however, the four, Monse, Cesar, Jamal, and Ruby, grapple with more than the average struggles of adolescence as they must deal with problems that arise in their South Central Los Angeles neighborhood.

The show makes genuine efforts for diversity, as it is the first Netflix original TV series where all of the cast consists of young people of color. The basis for the show's noteworthiness exists within its ability to thread together versatile storylines in order to both bring awareness to neglected experiences and provide comic relief.

The major storylines on the show involve three seemingly contrasting things: romance, gangs, and a treasure hunt. Surprisingly enough, those three aspects function within each other, aiming to show the harsh realities of the inner-city while simultaneously humanizing those who live within it.

Viewers see a genuine, more accurate side of black and brown teens that the media often distorts. The characters are vulnerable, like other teens trying to figure out their lives; however, they face issues distinct to their particular position in the world. For instance, the pilot centers around the character Cesar's dilemma of being forced into a gang by way of legacy. The gang situation is out of Cesar's control, much like his racial and socioeconomic status, which results in a feeling of empathy for him that ultimately complicates the common dehumanization of gang members. The specificity of each character's struggle adds originality to the coming-of-age theme, also highlighting the underlying systemic issues that render many marginalized groups of people helpless.

It is this very juxtaposition of universal and situational elements that allows the show to thrive in its plot progression and emotional impact. All of its success relies on one major element: diversity. "On My Block" excels through its prioritization of perspectives that are often neglected in TV and film, especially in the coming-of-age genre. It is funny, heartfelt, binge-worthy, and overall charming. Most importantly, it implores people to engage in important conversations that they may have never considered prior to watching the show.

If you haven't watched it, what are you waiting for?

Author: Alexis Doryumu

Alexis Doryumu is a second-year English major who, you guessed it, wants to be a writer but should probably consider professional career opportunities in Netflix binge-watching instead.

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'On My Block': The Importance of Diverse Narratives in the Coming-of-Age Genre

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The past year has provided TV and film lovers alike with a surge of content that centers the teenage experience. Though coming-of-age movies and shows existed long before the days of video streaming services, today's fictional narratives set themselves apart from their predecessors.

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Netflix just came out with another great coming-of-age dramedy

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'On My Block' is a new Netflix dramedy series that focuses on four teens of color as they come of age.

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Netflix excels at pumping out original series for all age groups and its newest addition to the teen genre is On My Block. Unlike Everything Sucks!, another coming-of-age series set in the '90s in the town of Boring, On My Block takes place in current times in an inner-city neighborhood of Los Angeles. Because of its realistic setting, On My Block could be a true story. But the show is fictional and from the minds of Lauren Iungerich ( Awkward), Eddie Gonzalez, and Jeremy Haft (both writers for the Tupac Shakur movie All Eyez On Me). Yet, that doesn't change how accurate On My Block is at portraying life for teens in an inner-city neighborhood as the main cast members discussed in an interview with Bustle during a Netflix press junket.

On My Block, which premiered on March 16, follows a group of four friends - Cesar, Ruby, Monse, and Jamal - as they enter high school. While they have to deal with the trials and tribulations that are often portrayed in coming-of-age stories on TV and in movies, they also must face violence that's occurring in their neighborhood. And although that dynamic is normal for kids who grow up in community like the one in On My Block, it's not commonly shown on TV.

Yet, the cast members said how the blend of humor and violence that their characters experience is very much based in reality. "It's a real story," Cesar actor Diego Tinoco says. "It feels normal to me," Ruby actor Jason Genao adds. "I love that it's getting told. Because when it does get told, it's just the entire violent part. It's all the bad. But this is showing you that it happens in these areas because that's the way it is, but you don't drown in it."

Jamal actor Brett Gray adds, "If you've grown up in an inner city or underprivileged neighborhood, you know the blocks you don't walk down, you know the neighborhoods you don't go to without friends, you know the bus routes that you're not supposed to be on," he says. "So I feel like it's so normal for me to be on a show like this where it's comedy intermittent with violence and drama and gangs and stuff like that because that's life. I feel like it might not be as revolutionary as people think, it's just not being told as much."

Even if the violence that Cesar, Ruby, Monse, and Jamal face in On My Block in their community and school isn't relatable to some viewers, the cast thinks the series can start a dialogue. "Hopefully it opens the conversation of more people who are not from an inner city [neighborhood] to talk to people who are," Gray says. "And also for people who are going through the same things as our characters ... to say, 'This is valid and this wasn't uniquely my own experience. There are other people out there who are like me and this is how we can hopefully triumph in situations like this.'"

But the cast also notes that what their characters go through isn't exclusive to the community that's represented in On My Block. "A lot of times you don't have to be on a block for this to happen, you don't have to be in an inner city [neighborhood] to experience the things we experience. That's a stereotype, unfortunately," Monse actor Sierra Capri says.

"It's closer than people think it is," Genao says. "The show is just telling the story of us. It's part of our everyday life. For other cities that are close to these types of scenarios that have no idea that they are, I hope that they look at the characters and fall in love with the characters and realize that there's people like that that are living there not by choice. So there's no judgment."

"It's literally just the story of these characters that live in this place and go through these things," Gray says.

"Hopefully it gives the other end of the world a way in to see that this is what's happening in the youth. So imagine the people that are younger than the people in On My Block, and imagine the people that have been through worse than the people on On My Block. It's almost like a mirror but not at themselves, it's into something else."

So while Cesar, Jamal, Monse, and Ruby aren't real people, On My Block is most certainly telling a truthful experience of four kids, who just happen to grow up in a dangerous Los Angeles neighborhood. And whether you can relate to their experiences directly or not, you'll still be moved by their story.
Additional reporting by Dana Getz.

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Is 'On My Block' Based On A True Story? The Coming-Of-Age Netflix Series Feels So Real

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Netflix excels at pumping out original series for all age groups and its newest addition to the teen genre is On My Block. Unlike Everything Sucks!, another coming-of-age series set in the '90s in the town of Boring, On My Block takes place in...

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Cassius | born unapologetic | News, Style, Culture

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Anyone who's seen Netflix's groundbreaking new show On My Block, can attest to the fact that as a character, Monsé Finnie is HBIC. She is the matriarch of the crew and won't let anything split them apart, even sometimes to her own detriment. She's stubborn, hot-headed, passionate, and independent - and that's exactly what actress Sierra Capri has loved about her character from the very start.

"She isn't a normal girl in normal circumstances," Capri explained to CASSIUS. "I was very intrigued by the way she behaved in her surroundings ... she's a very headstrong tomboy, a young girl who in some ways was forced to grow up and learn things on her own without her parents really being around."

Another complexity to Monsé's character is that she is Afro-Latina, an identity that has been grossly neglected in mainstream media in both the United States and Latin America. The 18-year-old actress felt a greater responsibility to get the character right as she knew she'd be taking on a character that could be a voice for women who had never seen themselves elsewhere.

"Being able to play an Afro-Latina and meld together two very influential cultures, I had to tap into a lot of different emotions," she said. "I definitely think the show breaks a lot of stereotypes that people may have held before about [Black and Latinx] cultures. There's nothing like it right now on any media platform."

She admits with a chuckle that she's more like her character than not - both headstrong, never sticking to the status quo, never caring about fitting in, and independent. But on a very visceral level, Capri explains that Monsé is on a journey of self-discovery that we get to play witness to throughout the season.

"Monsé is an example of how your surroundings can influence you if you let them, but also how much they can't," Capri explains. "She was raised by men without a woman figure to tell her about feelings and how to deal with certain situations so throughout the show we see her evolve in that. She's taking it upon herself to find herself and figure out why she's a hot-head, always ready to come to everyone's defense. This is the journey she goes on to self-discovery."

While we're still waiting to hear on whether or not Netflix will greenlight a second season for the show, Capri already has a list of things she'd love to see Monsé explore in the second season. Ultimately, she feels like Monsé needs to get her own life together before attempting to help anyone else.

Monsé is an example of how your surroundings can influence you if you let them, but also how much they can't.

"I definitely would like her to forge a relationship with the woman she thinks could be her mom but she's not sure, just because I think it will open up doors and she'll be able to really get her priorities in order," she said. "Sometimes she can be all over the place because she's so busy focusing on everyone else around her."

As for fans who are shipping her relationship with Cesar, her best friend turned bae, Capri said she needs to let go of control a little bit.

"With her relationship with Cesar, more than anything, she needs to help him make the best decisions for him," she emphasized. "Not for her, not for his brother, but whatever's best for him. Regardless of where their relationship goes, they'll always have a strong bond."

Ultimately, her wish for Monsé is one that is incredibly relatable to young women her age: it ain't that deep, fam.

"Not everything is serious," she said. "She takes herself so seriously, she can be so dramatic and over the top. I'd tell her to chill for a minute, everything will be okay, it's not the end of the world if something doesn't work out the way you wanted it to, that's what you have your family and friends for, to help you through it."

Without a doubt, Monsé (as well as Capri) has a bright future ahead of her - now it's just a matter of getting a second season to see her and the crew truly shine.

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'On My Block' Lead Sierra Capri Talks Coming-of-Age Stories & Representation

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Anyone who's seen Netflix's groundbreaking new show On My Block , can attest to the fact that as a character, Monsé Finnie is HBIC. She is the matriarch of the crew and won't let anything split them apart, even sometimes to her own detriment.

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Netflix's "On My Block" Is a Multi-Cultural Marvel

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There is a medley of wonderful things about On My Block, from its spot-on casting and strong performances from its young cast to its sharp comedic writing and the overall diversity of the show.

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Krystie Lee YandoliBuzzFeed News Reporter

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The Cast And Creators Of Netflix’s “On My Block” Say The Show Occupies An Important Space For Young People Of Color

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“I hope young people of our ethnicity can feel comfortable that there are people on TV representing them,” Brett Gray told BuzzFeed News. (Warning: spoilers!)

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By

is Netflix's next groundbreaking show because it's unlike anything else we've seen on television.

The show is about black and Latino kids in the tough neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles, and though they have to deal with the ever-present threat of gang violence, they also have loving families and tight-knit communities and each other. To these kids, the universal teenage experiences of falling in love for the first time and getting in fights with your friends feel just as consequential as the life-threatening ones. A certain hood may have its own unique challenges, but high school is hard anywhere, and sometimes it's really, really fun.

The show feels like an authentic representation of what it's like to grow up in South Central (or Independence Heights in Houston or the South Bronx in New York City or any number of communities of color throughout the country). It can be heavy, but it can also be really, really funny. These kinds of stories are still rare on TV, but the people making the show hope that changes.
What to Stream the Weekend of March 16
"I grew up not in South Central but in a place that is relatable to South Central more so than, like, Brentwood is," says Jersey City, New Jersey native Jason Genao, who plays the overdramatic, kindhearted aspiring ladies' man Ruben "Ruby" Martinez. "So I think if I wasn't in the show and just watching it I would have been so glad that someone who looked like me got to make a show. There'd be hope, like 'Oh my God, he's doing that? Maybe I could do that too.' It becomes more of a reality for people that possibilities are on the horizon."

"In real life we actually all are from different sides of the country," adds Sierra Capri, who's from Atlanta and plays Monse Finnie, a tomboy whose heart gets her in a lot of trouble. "So bringing that to the show as well as our own individual personalities, it brings a lot of diversity. I think a lot of people will appreciate that because there's nothing like that right now on Netflix or any media platform, for that matter."

She's right; On My Block feels different than just about anything else on TV. Netflix has carved out a niche as a place for young adult programming that respects teens' intelligence and maturity (and appeals to adults, too). On My Block slots in nicely with Netflix's other groundbreaking young adult programming like 13 Reasons Why, The End of the F---ing World and Everything Sucks! because it's not like any of them (and they are not like each other). For one, there are almost no white people on it. It centralizes black and Latino characters - and points of view - in a way that feels like a matter of course. And that extended behind the camera, too.

"We had Asian directors, Latino producers, Latino writers, African-American writers," says Diego Tinoco, who's from California and plays Cesar Diaz, a young man who is caught between his desire to have a normal high school life and the criminal birthright he inherited as the brother of fearsome gangbanger Oscar aka Spooky (Julio Mascias). "Everybody on screen is of color and everybody on the crew is of color."

He's exaggerating a bit - co-creators Lauren Iungerich and Jeremy Haft are white; the third co-creator, Haft's writing partner Eddie Gonzalez, is Latino. But the show is uncommonly inclusive.

It's also uncommonly apolitical for a show whose very existence in 2018 feels politicized. It sublimates whatever agenda it may have by just, y'know, allowing its characters to be real people.

"It's not political, it's informative," says Capri. "And I think that's the main thing that people will take away from this, and that is needed right now with everything that's going on. People just need to be informed."

"This how people like us live," says Philadelphia native Brett Gray, who plays class clown Jamal Turner. "This is how our lives are."

Jamal spends much of the season on a treasure hunt to find cash that went missing after a heist at a roller rink in the disco era, so it's not always literally how their lives are. But it captures the spirit of growing up in a place like South Central, the struggle as well as the joy. No matter who you are, it makes you care about ordinary, imperfect black and Latino kids.

On My Block is now streaming on Netflix.

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Why Donald Trump Would Hate Netflix's Teen Dramedy On My Block | TV Guide

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By is Netflix's next groundbreaking show because it's unlike anything else we've seen on television. The show is about black and Latino kids in the tough neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles, and though they have to deal with the ever-present threat of gang violence, they also have loving families and tight-knit communities and each other.

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One of the more impactful songs of the show that uses a very postmodern way of telling a story, take a listen.

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Kevin Abstract - Runner (Audio) [ON MY BLOCK - 1X08 - SOUNDTRACK]

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"In real life we actually all are from different sides of the country," adds Sierra Capri, who's from Atlanta and plays Monse Finnie, a tomboy whose heart gets her in a lot of trouble. "So bringing that to the show as well as our own individual personalities, it brings a lot of diversity. I think a lot of people will appreciate that because there's nothing like that right now on Netflix or any media platform, for that matter."

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"I grew up not in South Central but in a place that is relatable to South Central more so than, like, Brentwood is," says Jersey City, New Jersey native Jason Genao, who plays the overdramatic, kindhearted aspiring ladies' man Ruben "Ruby" Martinez. "So I think if I wasn't in the show and just watching it I would have been so glad that someone who looked like me got to make a show. There'd be hope, like 'Oh my God, he's doing that? Maybe I could do that too.' It becomes more of a reality for people that possibilities are on the horizon."

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On My Block is an original take on a common story-line that is a coming of age story.