Characters / Somos Familia

Canon Characters

Héctor Rivera

• Adaptational Angst Upgrade: One would think that not being murdered by Ernesto and being able to reunite with his family would make things easier for him, but it turns out that his life going forward would end up becoming besieged by tragedy. He not only loses his second daughter to cancer, but his first-born son ends up fracturing the family by enlisting in the army to fight in World War II, and he witnesses his best friend, Ernesto, die right in front of him while he's confronting him about his self-destructive behavior. All of this leads to him being the one to ban music in the household, no longer able to associate it with any positive memories.
• Child Prodigy: Hector apparently had traces of this according to the flashbacks. Turns out he was writing and beginning to compose from the age of 4!
• Took a Level in Jerkass: After Ernesto's death, he becomes a bitter and distant shell of a man estranged from the rest of his family. He realizes this himself in the Land of the Dead, leading him to stay there until he sorts through his issues.

Imelda Rivera

• Alternate Universe Reed Richards Is Awesome: Not only did Imelda become a success with her shoes like in canon, but thanks to her husband's fame, she became even more successful with even her shoes in America through her son after Matty graduated college.
• But I Can't Be Pregnant!!: Imelda is shocked and afraid when she discovers that she is pregnant with her fourth child, given her age and the fact she's also about to become a grandmother.

Ernesto de la Cruz

• Adaptational Nice Guy: It goes without saying that Ernesto gets this, since he backs away from murdering Hector.
• Alternate Universe Reed Richards Is Awesome: This alternate universe shows just how unnecessary it was for Ernesto to murder Hector. Turns out, his career is nearly identical to the actual film, even down to performing "Remember Me" (this time with Hector's permission) and his untimely death, with the added bonus of being a godfather to Hector's children and being considered an honorary member of the Rivera family. Not to mention Hector can now write new songs to prevent Ernesto from being a one-note performer.
• Broken Ace: He's just as stupidly successful as his film counterpart with the additional perk of him not being a scheming murderer. However, he lives a very self-destructive life of drugs, alcohol, and sex because he's plagued by the guilt of having nearly murdered his best friend.
• Even the Guys Want Him: One of his sexual relationships was with his male producer.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: while he didn't murder Hector in this universe, he does still have an ego, like having a massive mansion built during the great depression, but despite that, he does look out for people, like setting up a sting operation for an agent who was a pedophile. He was also extremely kind to Hector, Imelda and their children, though that could be partially contributed by his Guilt Complex over contemplating the murder of Hector
• Pet the Dog: MUCH more than his canon counterpart.
• Sexfor Solace: Along with taking drugs, Ernesto had been involved in sexual relationships, including one with his male producer and his wife, to help drown his Guilt Complex.

Socorro "Coco" Rivera

• Belligerent Sexual Tension: With Julio due to her pride contrasting his meek nature.
• Beware the Nice Ones: Coco is nice, sweet, and motherly, but she does not hesitate to yell at her parents for their mistakes.
  "For months! NO! For years! YEEEAAARS! I have watched you sulk and whine and piddle and cry and not even try to stand up for yourself while Mamá treated you like dirt! No, instead you drink yourself into a hospital bed and made us all worry for your health when you don't care at all! What a wonderful example you've set for your son and granddaughter! No, you're not a grandfather! You're just a kicked puppy trailing after Mamá! And you Mamá, are the puppy kicker! Imelda Rivera, kicker of puppies! You should be ashamed of yourself! And why?! Because you were depressed about the surgery! All-of-this-could-have-been-prevented-if-you-had-just-TOLD-US!"
• Celebrity Is Overrated: Becomes a rising starlet very quickly thanks to Ernesto, but finds the fame to be too much for her as it strains her relationship with her family and she experiences the seedier side of the celebrity life thanks to a money-hungry manager.
• Children Are Innocent: Due to being really young, Coco doesn't know a thing about her parents "welcome back" song they made together.
  • She later figures it out after her own wedding night, leading her to burst out laughing.
• Photographic Memory: Coco uses this to help explain why she can remember her very young childhood so well.

Miguel Rivera

• Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: In the canon film, Miguel was Hector great-great-grandson. In this fanfic, this Miguel is Hector’s son.

Oscar and Felipe Rivera

Julio

• Belligerent Sexual Tension
• Papa Wolf: Julio is normally a very timid and mild-mannered man. But whenever his family is threatened in any way he can prove to be just as hot-blooded as any of the other Riveras, nearly coming to blows with Coco's manager after she had intentionally put them in danger for the sake of publicity.

Rosita

• Explosive Breeder: While she appeared unmarried and childless in the movie, here she immediately falls in love with and gets married to Matty's wartime buddy and ends up having a baby at least every year after that.
• Nice Girl: As per canon there is not a mean bone in her body.

Original Characters (UNMARKED SPOILER WARNINGS)

Leticia "Leti" Rivera

• Nice Girl: Despite her mischievous side, she’s ultimately this.
• Too Good for This Sinful Earth: Leticia was kind and bright. Everyone was enamored of her, but she also was humble and protective of her twin brother. So of course she is the first of the named characters to die.

Mateo "Matty" Rivera

• Angsty Surviving Twin: Poor Matty gets hit with this hard after his sister's, becoming very moody and depressed in his teenage years.
• Belligerent Sexual Tension: With Wanda.
• Like Father, Like Son: While Mateo had the advantage of a privileged childhood to change his personality some, he still carried over his father's stubbornness and determination. Not to mention some tendancies to hide problems.
• Mistaken for Gay: Briefly discussed for a moment by his best friend, Barto. Matty reasoned if he WAS gay, he would at least know the reason for his emotional state.
• Took a Level in Jerkass: Even after getting support from his family and friends after his beloved twin sister's death, he becomes a moody young man. Least until the meeting of his future wife.
• Used to Be a Sweet Kid

Fredo Barrera

• Faux Affably Evil

Wanda (SPOILERS)

• Belligerent Sexual Tension
• Dark and Troubled Past

Vicente

• Affectionate Nickname: People closest to him call him Chente.
• Chessmaster Sidekick: De La Cruz Records employee Vincente shows signs of this. He's deeply loyal to Ernesto and the Rivieras, effortlessly figures out a Loophole Abuse way to get Coco out of an unwanted contract, and runs the company almost single-handedly by the 1950s. He also puts a lot of thought into a Long Game to get Hector to ease up on his destructive music ban, although it gets derailed pretty quickly due to external factors.
• Friend to All Children: Is great with kids, especially with Miguel. He spent much of Ernesto's fatal concert celebrating Miguel's birthday with a party he set up for him backstage, and years later tried to help the boy achieve his musical dreams by getting him involved with the family's music company.
• Nice Guy: Pretty much the only character in the story who works in the business and entertainment industry that is a good man at heart with a deep loyalty to Hector and his family.
• Opposites Attract: Vicente, a straight-laced no-nonsense businessman, is in a committed relationship with Javier, a scruffy, cigar-chomping, temperamental artist.
• Second Love: Depending on Javier’s implied sexual history with both men and women, Vicente is more like his romantic partner’s more than Second Love.
• Statuesque Stunner: Julio noted that he’s tall and handsome to boot.
• Straight Gay: Julio seems to think that Vicente is in love with his wife Coco, which couldn't be farther from the truth. The very thought of being with Coco makes Vicente break down in hysterical laughter.

Javier (SPOILERS!)

• Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Despite getting on his lover’s nerves at times, he does stand up against Vincete’s boss, Hector, when he threatened to fire him.
• First Love: A fact Javier teases him about.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold
• Manly Gay
• Really Gets Around