The twentysomethings at the center of Neon — up-and-coming reggaetonero Santi (Tyler Dean Flores), his aspiring talent manager Ness (Emma Ferreira), and determined creative director Felix (Jordan Mendoza) — are working their hardest to make their dreams come true. The three childhood besties move to Miami and meet powerful record label executive Mia (Courtney Taylor), who believes in their vision. However, they later discover that, despite having a keen eye for talent and a true passion for her job, Mia is actually a record label assistant who keeps getting passed up in favor of nepo babies and lazy interlopers.

That’s not a problem for the foursome, who are so hungry for success that they’ll do whatever they have to do to achieve it. They’re all hard workers, but showrunner Max Searle tells Tudum, “Hustle is not even enough sometimes. You really have to do whatever you can and scratch and claw to get any notoriety or attention or anything.”

So that’s exactly what the gang does, with various successes (viral videos, a catchy grocery store jingle, and even a high-profile celebrity relationship) and failures (accidentally aligning with a drug dealer — sorry, an “importer/exporter” — the aforementioned high-profile relationship crashing and burning). By the end of the season, Santi receives a call from Daddy Yankee — yes, THEE Daddy Yankee and not a very convincing deepfake — about a potential collaboration. Is this the big break everyone’s been waiting for?

Below, find out the answers to the biggest burning questions you have after watching Season 1 of Neon.

Francisco Roman/Netflix

Does getting a call from Daddy Yankee mean Santi has finally made it?

Searle believes Santi is on the path to stardom, though still somewhere at the beginning of his journey. “I think he’s certainly going to get further in his career. He’s obviously super talented, and we start to see the fruits of that by the end of the season,” he says. Of course, “he also has some legal and rivalry questions to settle with what he did at the end of the season that certainly will have to get figured out.”

By legal questions, Searle is referencing the fact that Santi and his friends are on the hook for $400,000 from the scarily dangerous Gina (Jordana Brewster), the “importer/exporter” who initially bankrolled the team. As if that wasn’t stressful enough, there’s also Santi’s fake girlfriend, Isa (Genesis Rodriguez), who’s royally pissed when Santi reveals the true nature of their relationship to the world (at her own New Year’s Eve party, no less).

For Flores, the support of Daddy Yankee makes every obstacle and looming problem worth it. “His whole career, this whole move to Miami, he’s trying to just find validation and prove to people [that he’s talented],” Flores tells Tudum. “All these people are playing mind tricks with Santi. But then the person that he’s looked up to his whole life, the reason why he started making reggaeton music, comes and validates him. That’s everything. Nothing else matters.” Wait, that’s really Daddy Yankee, right?

It sure is! The King of Reggaeton executive produced the series alongside Searle and Shea Serrano, who co-created the series, and appears several times throughout the season. Looks like Ness’ networking panned out!

“That felt awesome. The idea that Ness, behind the scenes, was just really going to work, and figuring that out is really cool,” Ferreira, who portrays Ness, tells Tudum. “That’s also kind of an offshoot of what she learned from Gina and the things that she’s learned from Mia, of just really being able to get shit done.”

While Ferreira says she doesn’t usually become “starstruck,” she — and the rest of the cast — agree that working with Daddy Yankee was unforgettable. “It still feels surreal,” says Flores. “I was just staring at Daddy Yankee, having a conversation with him looking at the beach in Puerto Rico, and I was just like, ‘Is this really happening?’ It was amazing.” 

Francisco Roman/Netflix

Is Santi dating Isa or Celeste?

While Santi and Isa share kisses for the cameras, in real life sparks fly with industry blogger Celeste (Alycia Pascual-Peña). At the end of the season, he confesses that his relationship with Isa isn’t real because he doesn’t want to ignore the chemistry he has with Celeste. Flores admits Santi’s relationship with Isa could never work. “Santi’s too genuine,” he says with a laugh. 

What does Gina do? 

The mega mansion, private plane, and drawers full of guns and cash point to one thing: importing and exporting a very specific item. (Drugs. That specific item is drugs.)

Francisco Roman/Netflix

Are Mia and Felix dating?

Felix and Mia share a special bond, considering he’s the first person to discover her secret. By the end of the season, the duo lock lips — but whether that means they’re going to start dating or it’s just a hookup in the heat of the moment remains to be seen.

Taylor, for one, appreciates the “undying commitment” Felix shows to her character, Mia. “As I was watching it, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ He was there every step of the way. He was always trying to reach out, checking in on Mia,” she says. “I think it’s so adorable… watching somebody work so hard for somebody who feels so independent, who feels like they have to do everything by themselves. Then this other character comes and says, ‘I got you.’ ”

Why does Mia get fired? 

Mia has put in years of work and bails her boss, Oscar (Santiago Cabrera), out of plenty of tricky situations without ever being acknowledged for her service. However, when he discovers she’s crossed a few lines — especially by cancelling a powerful client’s recording session and subbing in Santi instead — he lets her go. The good thing about Mia, however, is that she’s not going to give up after one misstep — and she has plenty of allies who will help her succeed if she decides to strike out on her own.

“Mia is a manager right now. But I think her goal though is to become a talent agent and to really have the best clients in the reggaeton game,” Taylor says.

What does the future hold for the foursome?

While we’ll have to wait to find out if we’ll see more of Santi, Ness, Felix, and Mia’s adventures in Miami, Searle is eager to explore how they try to “balance a real life and friendship with this ever-growing career.” “Opportunities will be even more aplenty as [Santi] grows and as he potentially does a song with Daddy Yankee or whatever that may be,” says Searle. “It’s almost like you’re getting to another level in the video game. OK, he’s defeated the first boss, now he’s on the next level, and how is he going to use his skills that he’s learned to make it through this new journey?”

Flores has his fingers crossed that Santi will see his name in the bright neon that gives the series its name. “Of course, nothing is easy. There are definitely going to still be ups and downs,” he says. “But I do hope that Santi is able to get to the highest point and become a star.”

Additional reporting by Christopher Hudspeth and Ariana Romero.

Find Your Next Netflix Obsession on TudumWhatever you love to stream, we’ve got tips on the latest releases, true crime, book adaptations, stand-up comedy, award-winning films and more.