Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Positive messages about valuing family in holiday special.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Ashley Garcia: Genius in Love: Christmas
What's the Story?
ASHLEY GARCIA: GENIUS IN LOVE CHRISTMAS is a special presentation of the popular Netflix series Ashley Garcia: Genius In Love that celebrates the holiday season. It's Christmas Eve, and Tío Victor (Jencarlos Canela) wants everyone to come together and enjoy some family time. But Ashley (Paulina Chávez) isn't very enthusiastic about it, and her friends, Tad (Conor Husting), Stick (Reed Horstmann), and Brooke (Bella Podaras), are busy doing other things. But when Ashley hits her head, she gets a chance to see what the holidays for her and her loved ones could be like in the future.
Is It Any Good?
This lighthearted episode features the brainy teen learning an unexpected lesson about the importance of family and friendship. Ashley, in a modern day Charles Dickens-type moment, finds herself in a future Christmas. There she experiences what could happen if she doesn't prioritize spending quality time with the people she loves most. Meanwhile, despite being their older, future selves, neither her uncle or her friends change their typical tween-appealing banter.
Ashley Garcia fans will enjoy the standalone episode, which also acts as the series finale. And like the overall series, despite some Latinx inspired references, there's no effort to overemphasize the cast's ethnic heritage using stereotypical Hollywood tropes. But it contains lots of positive messages about the importance of not taking your family and friends for granted, and the value of cherishing the moments you have with them.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why families and friends often gather for the holidays. What is it about Christmas, Hanukkah, or other seasonal holidays that make family time so special?
What kinds of details are included in Ashley Garcia: Genius In Love: Christmas that highlight Ashley and her family's Latinx heritage? Do you think the way their ethnicity is represented is appropriate? Or is it stereotypical? Why?
TV Details
- Premiere date : December 9, 2020
- Cast : Paulina Chávez , Jencarlos Canela , Conor Husting
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Holidays
- Character Strengths : Gratitude
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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