Stammering in Netflix's 'Maya and The Three'

5th April 2022

If you're looking for something to watch with your children this Easter break, try Netflix's 'Maya and The Three', which features a prominent character who stammers.

The nine-part animated series, available to watch on Netflix, is suitable for children aged 7+ and features the voices of Zoe Saldana and Alfred Molina.

It's all about a warrior princess in Mesoamerica, what is now Central America, who embarks on a quest to recruit three legendary fighters to help save the world of gods and humankind. One of 'The Three' companions is a character called Rico, who has a stammer.

Who is Rico?

According to MayaandTheThreeFandom.com website, Rico (voiced by Allen Maldonado) is a master wizard, often known as the 'greatest wizard who ever lived'. He was considered to be an outcast in his home island, widely feared for his use of 'Peasant Magic', which causes him to lack self-confidence, which he builds up during the quest. NetflixJunkie.com adds that Rico 'has another talent for being organically funny in stressful situations'. 

So it became very important with Rico to go, 'No, stuttering is part of who he is, and in fact, stuttering makes him a better wizard'.

Director Jorge Gutierrez said, in an interview with the LA Times, "In a lot of stories, one overcomes a disability and then becomes better, and that's not cool because it implies that there's something wrong with you. So it became very important with Rico to go, 'No, stuttering is part of who he is, and in fact, stuttering makes him a better wizard'. That's very much reflective of what happened to me as a person on the autism spectrum. Early on, people were like, 'Don't worry, we'll fix you.' And I thought, 'No, the thing that you think is bad is actually the thing that makes me really unique.'"

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You can watch a clip from the show where Rico joins the quest.

Consulting for the show

U.S. speech & language therapist and filmmaker John Gomez, who was approached by Netflix to consult on the show, has written a great article for our Your Voice section, all about his involvement in the show. In it, he says, "The production team was looking to hire a consultant to ensure that Rico was portrayed with sensitivity. They asked if I was interested in the job, and of course I was all in.
 
'The first meeting with the 'Maya' team was an unforgettable experience. I had reviewed the script in advance to make suggestions on the character's storyline, dialogue, and stuttering behaviours. The team's openness to my suggestions was as impressive as it was endearing."

'Maya and the Three was a big hit in the U.S. The magical journey was spellbinding to kids and they loved all the characters, especially Rico. The feedback that I have received from adults has also been largely positive, and many people who stutter have shared their appreciation of Allen Maldonado's performance — the talented actor who voiced Rico. While I am proud of Maya, the show could have done even more in the realm of stuttering, but nevertheless I appreciate that Rico is a dynamic, empowered, heroic, cool, and essential character."

Maya and The Three is available to watch on Netflix now, suitable for ages 7+. The character of Rico is introduced in episode 2.

Read John's full Your Voice article, where he talks about why he was chosen to consult on the show, his experience working with the voice actor, and how he believes progress is starting to happen in the entertainment industry for people who stammer.

What do you think of the portrayal of Rico? If you watch Maya and The Three, we'd love to hear your opinion. Email us at editor@stamma.org. 

Images courtesy of Netflix and John Gomez.