Streaming
The Netflix drama centered Black and Latinx teens in a space long dominated by white protagonists.
This was especially prevalent on young adult shows, where they were mere footnotes in white protagonists stories.
On My Blockwas different.
I just wish that little 12 to 13-year-old Jessica could have seen that growing up too.
But in my head, that existed as [just] Hollywood talk.
Oscar isnot doing this for the money or the aesthetic.
He’s doing this for the love of his brother.
Most of that entire dialogue spoken after the gunshots fired was improvised.
Julio truly is like a brother to me.
So when we were shooting the death scene, it messed me up.
I left set that day really numb and down.
But I think Oscars death was something that his character always knew could be around the corner any day.
I love that Cesar makes a clear-cut decision to exit the gang life.
He finally realizes that theres much more to this world.
Macias:I do wish that we could have given Oscar something more.
I think that the message is more poignant now.
When we see Oscar change and evolve and almost get out, it becomes more personal.
It becomes, What could we have done as a society?
What could his have parents done for him from the beginning?
She’s been around for so long, has done so much and has such incredible skill.
So that was a really emotional day on set.
By prom night, both Monse and Jasmine realize theyre better off single, and everyone breaks up.
But future romances are teased in the final moments of the series including Jamal revealing his crush on Monse.
Tinoco:Im not sure if [Monse and Cesar] will end up together.
Maybe down the line.
But they have to learn to love themselves first all the way.
I hope teenagers whove watched the show get that message from it.
Right now, theyre both figuring out who they are.
But they’ll always be friends, and they’ll always love each other regardless.
Gray:Absolutely [a Monse and Jamal relationship could work].
They travel the world together writing about their stories and searching for buried treasures.
Garcia:I think it’s realistic [that Ruby and Jasmine break up].
As much as that frustrated me, for Jasmine I kind of understood it.
She’s been this caretaker for so long that she [starts] doing that for Ruby.
But she needed to remember who she is.
I do think they’re destined to be together, though.
They’re the only ones who can handle each other.
Capri:I would love for Monse to make peace with everything that’s happened with her mom.
Gray:The scene with Noel Aroma is just so weird!
And I don’t think it will ever work out with Kendra.
[But I cant see Jamal] working with Noel for a long time.
I think Noel is probably evil.
Macias:[What Oscar would hope for Cesar] is a clean slate moving forward.
I think that’s one of the biggest reasons why Oscar doesn’t tell Cesar who gunned him down.
Let this world, let this life, die with me.
You take care of yourself.
He always said that Cesar was smarter than him, better than him, and more empathetic than him.
[Oscar would say], Lean into that, you have so much to offer the world.
Im almost 24 now.
My biggest takeaway is to work hard.
Leave it all on the table.
Capri:I feel like I definitely had a crash course in Hollywood.
I was able to realize how strong I am as an individual and how resilient I am.
Garcia:I found my voice as Jessica.
Id always been a guest star and was just so happy to be there.
I never stood up for myself or really owned the skin that I was in.
When I was starting 10 years ago, I was just looking for a job.
I was like, Hey, can I get that paycheck?
I’m happy that the next batch of actors are saying … Do these roles serve a purpose?
Do they bring life to the foreground?
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
This article was originally published onOct.
