(Starz)
It turns out that the end is near for the Vida TV series. It’s been revealed that the Starz drama will end with the upcoming third season.
Based on the short story, Pour Vida, by Richard Villegas, Jr., Vida stars Mishel Prada, Melissa Barrera, Ser Anzoategui, Carlos Miranda, Chelsea Rendon, Maria-Elena Laas, and Roberta Colindrez. The series centers on two estranged Mexican-American sisters from the Eastside of Los Angeles. When tragedy brings them back together, Lyn (Barrera) and Emma (Prada) have to face the truth about their past, their mom, and themselves.
The second season of Vida averaged a 0.03 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 120,000 viewers. Compared to season one, that’s down by 38% in the demo and down by 8% in viewership.
Despite the very low ratings, Vida was renewed for a third season back in May 2019. Season three is scheduled to debut on April 26, 2020.
Today, Starz announced that the third season will also end the program. The cable channel included a video teaser.
What would familia be without a little drama? The final season of #VidaSTARZ returns April 26 on @STARZ. https://t.co/QTFjCPWCth pic.twitter.com/AeqCfQ8Zsk
— VIDA (@VIDA_STARZ) March 18, 2020
In addition, Tanya Saracho, the show’s creator, showrunner, and director, penned a letter to say goodbye.
“I have not been able to write this letter — every time I try my palms get sweaty, my heart does a cumbia beat and I get nauseous. It’s taken me days. Because no matter how you slice it, this is a farewell letter. So I’ll get that part out of the way: Season Three will be ‘Vida’s’ final season. Rather than dwell on the ‘hows’ and the ‘whys,’ what I’m burning to get to is the ‘thank-you’ part. That’s the part that’s making my chest ache.
“When I began this journey three and a half years ago, I never dreamed that by the end of the process I’d be so wholly changed — mind, body, and spirit — and that I’d be standing so strongly in my abilities to run and create a TV show the way it should have always been created: By us. When I started this, the landscape was a bleak one for Latinx representation. In the television landscape, the narratives about us were few and far between and were stuck on stereotypical. And I had only heard of one Latina showrunner who’d been allowed to run a show solo. Also for brown queers, there was truly no representation.
“This is where the thank-yous begin: Because you championed our delicate and darling little series, we were gifted three beautifully compelling, trailblazing seasons of television. Sincerely, this is why I wanted to personally write this letter, to express that your support has meant everything. It has meant two renewals and validation that our brown narrative is worth telling. I will never be able to thank you enough for your reception and endorsement. Truly.
“This goodbye is too bittersweet for words. I’d be lying if I said I’m not sad about not getting back into that magical writers room to keep crafting our story. But after all, I got to tell the exact story I wanted to tell, exactly how I wanted to tell it, and that is rare in this industry. I leave steeped in gratitude. Thankful to Starz for not just allowing ‘Vida’ to happen, but for being great co-parents as we raised her together. And grateful for the collaborators whose careers we were able to launch: Latinx cinematographers, writers, actors — almost entirely female — who are now out there and in demand. What a beautiful family we built. And what a beautiful show.
“Mil gracias. I do hope you’re able to give this, our last season, a good send off, because let me tell you, it is a powerful one. It is just as compelling as ever with some imagery and themes I’ve never seen on television before. I’m profoundly proud of it.”
What do you think? Have you watched the Vida TV show? Are you sorry to hear that there won’t be a fourth season?