‘Party of Five’ Episode 3 touches upon challenges of immigrants through struggles of the Acostas

Issues associated with immigration have always been a touchstone of political debate across the globe. Freeform’s latest series and the reboot of Fox’s classic ‘Party of Five’ is using the platform to brilliantly showcase the struggles of immigrants in a foreign land while they try to find an identity of their own. 

Episode 3 of ‘Party of Five’, while retaining the entertainment angle, emphasizes the strength and perseverance of the Acosta siblings, as they fight for survival in the US, following their parents’ deportation to Mexico. 

One such heart-wrenching moment in the episode involves Valentina’s dependency on her parents. The young girl couldn’t go a day without talking to Javier and Gloria who are living their own life in another country. When Valentina learns that Mexico was hit by an earthquake, she couldn’t help but imagine her parents stuck under a collapsed building.  It isn’t her wild imagination that makes us empathize with the little girl, but the fact that all she can count on is a phone call, which guarantees her parents' well-being. 

The creators have pointed at another pivotal factor concerning immigrants using Mathew’s role. When Lucia brings Mathew to her restaurant and urges Emilio to hire him, we learn that Mathew is undocumented. Despite carrying the caliber to do the job efficiently, as an immigrant Mathew is rather worried about finding enough food and shelter to get through another day. 

Also, the scene involving a false alarm about the immigration officer raiding shops on the block, shows how a certain section of the society is living under the constant fear of being sent away to their own land, uncertain of their lives and families. 

The latest episode of ‘Party of Five’ tells us how food, shelter and job security only form a fraction of the Mount Rushmore of challenges immigrants and refugees tackle on a daily basis.