Indie Web Series: ‘The Pineapple Diaries’ Season 3
The complexities of discoveries that shape up a person are sure to bring both positive and negative outlooks on one’s perspectives. Sum up these complexities through the power of storytelling and you are sure to make an effective impact on audiences who are looking for relatability in the media. The Pineapple Diaries accomplishes this and more with a purpose to entertain and educate throughout the presentation of its third season.
The web series tells the story of three friends who live in a predominantly Dominican neighborhood in Boston and the life experiences that affect them both individually and as a group. The story mainly centers around Maite, Feliz, and Catalina who are joined by their eccentric neighbor Montserrat in the season’s ten-episode arc that is sure to keep you intrigued in each character’s journey. Created by Paloma Valenzuela, the series presents a nice balance between the comedic and dramatic aspects of each story in order to maintain an interesting and steady pace as the story unfolds. This is showcased as well throughout the congenial use of time which depends on which topic Valenzuela has decided to incorporate in each episode.
This quality is what makes the show shine because Valenzuela understands the importance of her work. The creator takes the opportunity to tackle topics that range from Latino identity, including colorism issues, to the process of adjustment of life in the United States through character or plotline choices that have built up throughout the course of each season. Valenzuela also incorporates various episodes dedicated to the community of Jamaica Plain in Boston by featuring its local artists, workers, and local businesses as a tool of awareness for audiences tuning in.
The web series also tackles well-known topics such as love triangles, unwanted pregnancies, and the negative effects of the use of social media. This last topic is brilliantly depicted in episode 6 titled “Down the Internet Rabbit Hole” where we see Feliz, portrayed by Valenzuela, struggle with her unhappiness in her social media career after the realization that not everything in the business is what it seems. Each episode can last 12 to 21 minutes in its contribution to the story and development of characters.
The performances from the cast play a big part in the originality and diversity of each episode. Each character is presented unapologetically with all of the quirks and qualities that make up Latinos and their culture through well-known sayings and even Valenzuela’s take on the classic shopping montages depicted in films or tv shows. The cast includes the talents of Adobuere Ebiama, Inés de la Cruz, Elisannett Martínez, and Leandra Rivera who accomplish a great portrayal of the highs and lows of the Dominican-American experience, which is something that well-known media or streaming services are getting comfortable with showcasing as time goes by.
The interesting aspect about their portrayals relies on the fact we mainly see their lives through the perspective of Maite, even though each character gets their time to shine during the season. This establishes the possibility of Maite being the most stable of the group at the moment, while most of her friends continue to struggle with their different experiences and emotions. This is presented efficiently during episode 3 titled “Damas”, as we see Maite act like the Father of the clothing boutique with each friend confessing in the dressing room during the search for outfits for Catalina’s upcoming wedding.
The Pineapple Diaries premiered its first season on YouTube in 2015 with the first episode, written and directed by Valenzuela, becoming a hit on the digital media platform with no less than 13,000 views and 309 likes. This led to the creation of two more seasons with season 2 premiering in 2016 with 21 episodes and season 3 premiering in 2019 with 10 episodes. The platform also features Q&As with the cast and crew, behind-the-scenes footage, and some of Valenzuela’s previous work before the web series.
Paloma Valenzuela created the show after moving back to the Dominican Republic after her graduation from Emerson College in 2009. After working five years as a director, writer, and actress in the Dominican Film Industry, she launched her company La Gringa Loca Productions in 2010, where she has produced stage plays, films, commercials, and web series in both Boston and the Dominican Republic. The Pineapple Diaries has been recognized in various festivals including the International Festival of Santo Domingo, the Roxbury International Film Festival, Rolda Webfest, and the New Orleans Film Festival.
The Pineapple Diaries proves to be another necessary outlook into the representation that audiences are consistently looking for in today’s media. With a well-balanced mix of comedy and drama, it is clear that Paloma Valenzuela’s vision has become the beacon for many Latino communities who seem themselves reflected in her work. The success of The Pineapple Diaries comes as no surprise as the series and Valenzuela both share a promising future in the entertainment sector.
