The much anticipated show, Vida, is back and ready to delight fans once more with its unique and contemporary portrayal of two sisters returning back to their hometown roots of East Los Angeles.
Season one of Vida showcased the Hernandez sisters Emma (Mishel Prada) and Lyn (Melissa Barrera) from two very different worlds coming together because of their mother’s passing. However, instead of things going smoothly, the sisters learn that their mother was a lesbian and was married to a woman without their knowledge. Aside from family trouble within the Hernandez home, they also have to deal with the business their mother left behind- a bar called La Chinita. But if you love some relationship drama, then you’ll love the complicated relationship between Lyn and Johnny (Carlos Miranda). Latino heartthrob Johnny, the neighborhood’s local mechanic, leaves his pregnant fiancé to be with Lyn- only to be left by Lyn at the end of season one. The creator of the show, Tanya Saracho, also uses conflicts associated with gentrification in East L.A. as well as explores the narratives of gender, cultural identities, and sexual orientation.
Fast-forward to season two- premiering May 23rd on Starz- and the Hernandez sisters have to deal with the mismanagement of the family business, relationship issues, grief, loss, and so much more as they settle back into their Mexican-American childhood neighborhood while leaving behind their previous lives. I was able to speak to the cast of Vida about everything from the tasty Mexican food on set, the love and hate they’ve received for their characters, gentrification in East L.A. and so much more! Check out my chat below with Mishel Prada and Melissa Barrera!
The Knockturnal: What can we expect from your characters on season two?
Mishel Prada: We have a lot more scenes together. I mean, it’s good I think for us as actors. But then I think for both the characters it’s growth, you know? It’s challenging.
Melissa Barrera: It’s cool to get to see them together and see the dynamic, to see that they compliment each other more so than they realize.
Mishel Prada: Yeah!
Melissa Barrera: Because they’ve been apart for long that they’re basically strangers, so they’re getting to know each other. And it’s beautiful. I love working with Mish- we get to share a lot of season two so it’s great!
The Knockturnal: Do you think after season one, that fans gravitated with one character more than other? With Emma and Lyn? Anybody hating, anybody loving your character?
Mishel Prada: I think that there’s a little bit of both. We were speaking to someone earlier and they were like: “Oh my gosh! She was fully aware of wearing a yellow outfit because of Lyn”. And that was really beautiful to see. I mean, I also think it’s so easy to play each of these characters as just one note. And what I think what’s beautiful about watching Melissa play a character like Lyn which can easily be one-note is that there’s so much texture and that there’s so much there under. Even though she’s “superficial” but you can see that there’s so many other things there. And I think that it makes it a much more relatable character. I know for me, for Emma that was the thing. It wasn’t just about playing this cold stone person. It’s what she’s protecting, and like, let’s see those things.
The Knockturnal: And what about your character? Do you think anybody has been hating on it?
Melissa Barrera: Oh yeah! So much hate! But also so much love! Which is very interesting because there was no in-between. I didn’t have people say: “ehh.” I had people either say: “I love her! I can see myself in her and like she’s the best and funny.” And other people are like: “I can’t stand her!”
The Knockturnal: Really?!
Melissa Barrera: Because, you know, the issue with Johnny and Carla.
Mishel Prada: That little thing (laughs).
The Knockturnal: That little thing! Right away the homewrecker! (laughs).
Melissa Barrera: People were very offended by that. And the funny thing is I hadn’t even thought about it when I was shooting it. I was just like so in Lyn that I wasn’t even seeing the gravity of it until I saw the response on social media. But I think season two we get to see new sides to both of the sisters. And it makes them more human in a way that I think more people will be able to relate to both of them.
The Knockturnal: How was it like filming in East L.A.? Are you now more familiar with the neighborhood?
Mishel Prada: We didn’t shoot that much in East L.A.
The Knockturnal: No, really?!
Melissa Barrera: No, because we wanted to be respectful of the neighborhood. We shot a lot in Koreatown.
Mishel Prada: Pico Normandie, because the bar is actually a 99 cent store and it was changed to make it look like a bar. Tanya- I mean I didn’t make the choice but I appreciated the choices being made- that film sets take up a big footprint and when you’re talking about a neighborhood that is going through gentrification, the last thing you want is to have a star-line bus going through these neighborhoods and be like: “Here’s the bar!” So that was a big part of it as well.
The Knockturnal: So many fans knew I was going to interview you today and wanted me to ask you about the relationship with Johnny. How would it play out in season two? Is the drama still going to play out or is it officially over? Because everyone is really loving the steamy scenes!
Melissa Barrera: It’s over! Um, but they’re both now living a few blocks away from each other so they’re going to be bumping into each other a lot! That’s all I can say. There’s a lot of anger so it’s going to be a very interesting season for both of them.