The opening scene of The Manny is a frenetic symphony of chaos: Jimena Lemus (Sandra Echeverría), a high-powered executive in the midst of a divorce, juggles conference calls, tantrums, and a fridge full of expired milk. It’s a relatable nightmare for any working parent, but here it’s amplified to near-cinematic opera levels. The series, which premiered on Netflix in 2023, is a rom-com with a twist: it flips the script on traditional gender roles by casting a rancher-turned-nanny as the catalyst for its heroine’s personal and professional growth.

Created by an unnamed showrunner, The Manny follows Jimena as she hires Gabriel Padilla (Iván Amozurrutia), a charming rancher with no formal childcare experience, to look after her three kids. The chemistry between Echeverría and Amozurrutia is the series’ secret weapon. Their banter crackles with authenticity, whether they’re debating parenting philosophies or clashing over cultural expectations. A standout moment comes when Gabriel teaches Jimena’s eldest son how to cook a traditional Mexican dish, subverting stereotypes about masculinity in Latinx culture.

The ensemble cast is strong across the board. Diana Bovio brings warmth and humor as Brenda, Jimena’s best friend, while Alexander Tavizón steals scenes as Santiago, the precocious middle child. The series also benefits from its commitment to representing Latino culture on screen, a rarity in mainstream television.

However, The Manny isn’t without its flaws. The pacing can feel uneven at times, with some episodes struggling to balance the show’s multiple storylines. A subplot involving Jimena’s ex-husband (Moisés Arizmendi) feels underdeveloped, and his character often serves as little more than a narrative obstacle for our heroine.

The series also leans too heavily on familiar rom-com tropes at times. The will-they-won’t-they tension between Jimena and Gabriel can feel predictable, especially when juxtaposed with the show’s bolder attempts to subvert expectations elsewhere.

Yet The Manny remains a compelling watch thanks to its heart and humor. It’s a series that understands the universal struggle of balancing work and family life while offering a fresh perspective on love and gender roles. The cinematography is clean and functional, serving the story without calling undue attention to itself. The soundtrack, which includes a clever nod to the Handy Manny theme song, adds a playful touch.

In the end, The Manny succeeds where it counts: in creating characters we care about and stories that resonate.