Welcome to the Family (original title: Bienvenidos a la familia) is a Mexican comedy-drama series that premiered on Netflix on March 12, 2025. Created by Mark Alazraki and directed by Alazraki alongside Jorge Macay, the series carries a 16+ maturity rating.
THE PREMISE
The show tells the story of Cristina, a single mother, who loses her house to mobsters, all thanks to her dad, who is an absolute jerk. When she visited him to get answers, he just ups and dies. This leaves Cristina and his current wife, i.e., her stepmother, who is also a single mother, to figure out how to fend for themselves with the clock ticking.
Despite their differences, they join forces to figure out a series of misadventures following the sudden death of Cristina’s father, Raúl. Left with substantial debts owed to a mafia boss, the duo devises unconventional strategies to reclaim their home and secure their family’s future.
This Mexican drama has just 1 season with 8 episodes.
Jump to Cast & Performances to skip episode summary.
Season 1, Episode 1 – Eviction
Cristina, a single mother of 3, is evicted from her house and becomes homeless overnight due to the debts of her father and brother. Then she moves back into her father’s house with her three children; trouble erupts when her father just ups and dies and she is omitted from his will. It runs for 30 minutes.
Season 1, Episode 2 – Assembly
It runs for 31 minutes; Luciana receives shocking news that her marriage to Raúl is fake. Cristina’s kids adjust to their new home. Raul’s neighbours storm their house after a power outage.
Season 1, Episode 3 – Intestate
Runs for 31 minutes, Rolando devises a means to steal Raul’s last will. Horacio takes Cristina on an impromptu date, and Moi’s mistake spells disaster for the family.
Season 1, Episode 4 – Corpse Desecration
An unexpected visitor interrupts Cristina and Luciana’s plan. Olga shares her suspicion about Raúl with Horacio; Aldama threatens Benjamin. It runs for 31 minutes.
Season 1, Episode 5 – Body Double
It runs for 24 minutes. The key to the group’s freedom lies in Raul’s laptop. Cristina and Luciana attempt a risky plan, and Olga’s suspicions rise.
Season 1, Episode 6 – Identity Theft
It runs for 31 minutes. Frustrated by dead ends, the group tries to find a new Raúl Ruiz. Olga files a complaint against Cristina; Jana stumbles on a shocking sight.
Season 1, Episode 7 – Constellations
Horacio investigates Olga’s accident; Aldama closes in on the Ruizes. Mariano assumes his new identity better than anyone expected. It runs for 33 minutes.
Season 1, Episode 8 – Succession
As Cristina and Luciana’s plans go through, Horacio makes a break in his case. Then Aldama takes over Raúl’s home. Can the family take it back?
CAST AND PERFORMANCES
Marimar Vega plays Cristina, a struggling single mother of three, Cristina is a nurse. Vega delivers a compelling performance, capturing Cristina’s resilience and determination as she deals with the challenges that arise following her father’s death.
Erika Buenfil plays the role of Luciana, Cristina’s stepmother. Buenfil’s portrayal highlights Luciana’s character, balancing her flamboyant personality with moments of vulnerability.
Ana Layevska plays Olga, the nosy neighbour; Olga’s intrusive nature adds comedic tension to the storyline. Layevska effectively embodies Olga’s meddlesome demeanour, contributing to the series’ humour.
Martín Altomaro plays the role of Moi, Cristina’s brother-in-law; Moi remains supportive of the family despite his brother’s absence. Altomaro brings a subtle charm to Moi, highlighting his unspoken affection for Cristina.
Arturo Beristáin plays the role of Raúl Ruiz, Cristina’s estranged father and Luciana’s husband; Raúl’s sudden death sets the plot in motion. Beristáin’s brief appearance establishes the complex family dynamics central to the series.
Supporting Characters
Santiago Colores portrays the role of Toto, a Mexican investigative police officer and Cristina’s love interest. He plays the role effectively, professing his love for Cristina and his willingness to go the extra mile for her.
Carla Adell plays the role of Ines, Luciana’s daughter, who has her own personal challenges amidst the family’s turmoil.
Alondra García plays the role of Jana, Luciana’s daughter, whose relationship with her mother adds layers to the family narrative.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE SERIES
The dynamic chemistry between Cristina and Luciana is noteworthy, showing a blend of dark humour and thriller elements, thus keeping one glued to the screen.
What slips under the radar in this show is how these two central characters, the single moms, realise that they are more similar to their core than they might know, and while they might perpetually be at loggerheads, there is something that ties them together, a simple phenomenon called life. They have had their varied experiences and lived different lives, but at the core, they are both mothers trying to do the best thing to secure a future for their children.
I believe that the actors performed the best they could with the script they were given.
Lesson learnt
This show highlights some of the difficulties of parenting, especially when it comes to teen children.
Family-friendly Drama
This film is very family-friendly paid a lot of attention to family values. The show also focuses on relatable themes, like family relationships, money troubles. It successfully combines real-life problems with comedic exaggeration, which I found engaging.
Beautiful Cinematography and Amazing Setting
One thing you’ll immediately notice about Welcome to the Family is how visually impressive it is. Each scene looks fantastic. This beautiful cinematography perfectly complements the humour and thrill, making the experience even better.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE ABOUT THE SERIES
Exaggerated scenarios
The series relies heavily on exaggerated scenarios and physical humour, which did not resonate with me.
Poor Character Development
The over-the-top character portrayals lack depth, making them “extremely annoying” and “unimaginative.”
Plot holes and inconsistencies
So much goes down that has seemingly nothing to do with the central plot; you’ll be left wondering why this wasn’t a movie. In fact, I think Welcome To The Family would’ve been better if it were a film rather than a series because it could cut out most of the nonsensical bits to give us just the silly comedy.
The dysfunctional family life, over-the-top schemes, and ethically challenged decisions were shown on this television show.
The idea is good: a desperate mother plotting to reclaim what she perceives as her own, forced to work in a universe of bill collectors, legal loopholes, and opportunistic in-laws – but the plot scenes didn’t do justice to the idea.
Absence of suspense
There isn’t really any suspense or surprise; everything happens in the most straightforward way possible.
Logical Flaws
Christina repeatedly repeats the dialogue “I am a single mother” in this TV show. This should have been reduced a bit.
FINAL THOUGHTS
While the performances in Welcome to the Family, especially by Cristina and Luciana, bring vitality to the series, the show’s reliance on slapstick humour did not appeal to me.
Nonetheless, it provides an entertaining take on unconventional family dynamics and the lengths individuals will go to secure their future. This is not a filmmaking masterpiece, but it surely is a worthwhile casual watch. For those interested in a light-hearted series with some humour and thriller elements, it might be a worthwhile watch.
RATING
I rate this series 2.5/5 stars.
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