Written by Stephany Mandujano, Staff Writer
After 26 years since the Salinger siblings were forced to take care of each other after a tragic car crash took the lives of both of their parents, Party of Five returns this time following the lives of the Acosta siblings as they face the many dif cult challenges that arise after their parents’ deportation. In the first episode of the series, we see many scenes that are absolutely heartbreaking as well as tear-inducing. Valentina Acosta (played by Elle Paris Legaspi) bears witness to the arrest of both of her parents by ICE officials when they are working in their restaurant and desperately calls out to the officers, begging them to not take away her parents.
Eventually, six weeks pass and Gloria and Javier Acosta are still being held in a detention center and each of the children is coping badly with the situation. Lucia (played by Emily Tosa) a once respectful, focused, straight-A student sharply declines academically and is even sent to detention for disrespecting one of her teachers. Her twin brother Beto (played by Niko Guardado) is also beginning to fail most of his classes as he tries his best to keep his parents’ restaurant afloat.
Emilio (played by Brandon Larracuente), in a frantic attempt to stop the splitting of his family, spends $7,000 on a lawyer to represent his parents.
The hardest part to watch, however, is the scene where the Acosta siblings are forced to say goodbye to their parents.
It hurts to see the pure sorrow and desperation on each of the sibling’s faces and the pain of the parents who couldn’t watch over them. The way that they try to cling on to the last remaining moments they have together, not knowing when they would see each other again.
The many tears that are shed by both sides only make this moment even more real and the way Javier tells his son to take care of his siblings, to be strong and that he is extremely proud of him, even as he talks behind a fence that keeps them apart. Sadly, these are circumstances that are repeated time and time again.
This series brings to life the suffering of the children who are forced apart from their parents. It brings a perspective that – although hard to watch, is completely necessary in order to truly understand the tremendous impact that deportations have on children and the way that they are forced to grow up too quickly. It brings the horrifying truth to viewers far better than any number or statistic possibly could. For that, I give this series 5/5 stars.