Welcome to our weekly breakdown of the minutia of Kurt Sutter and Elgin James’ Sons of Anarchy spin-off, Mayans MC. While Kimberly Ricci provides her always excellent coverage of the series (here’s her write-up of this episode), here we’re going to endeavor to look deeper into the episode and excavate some of the details viewers may have missed, callbacks to Sons of Anarchy, and posit questions explore theories about the direction the series.
1. First things first: The title ‘Uch/Opossum,’ is the Spanish and Mayan word for possum, and as is the case in every episode, the title animal appears in the opening scene.
This week, they also worked a possum into the final scene in the creepiest way imaginable.
2. OK. Let’s dig into this episode. Last week, we noted that Alice — of the Coalition — had not been killed in the episode, and could potentially make a return visit in some capacity. Boy, did she (and no, Angel, no one else was wondering if they could get their “dick in her mouth,” but it’s good to know that Mayans MC officially has its Tig now.)
Cole wiped out the entire Coalition because “they became a liability,” whatever that means. Cole doesn’t specify to what entity he belongs, except that it’s a little like Blackwater, and that they are “unf*ckable,” but also that he is willing to take the heroin off of Angel’s hands if Angel agrees to use the Mayans’ tunnels to smuggle an Afghani on the no-fly list into America. Easy enough, although I have no idea why Cole needs to smuggle an Afghani and his pregnant wife into the States, but I guess that’s why we shouldn’t stereotype ex-military dudes who sell heroin and commit mass murder.
3. Across the border, Mexican police intercept Angel and EZ’s attempts to smuggle the Afghani and his wife, holding Angel hostage and demanding $100,000. EZ gets Coco on the case, who talks Adelita into putting up a kilo of heroin as collateral to free Angel, but Adelita knows what’s up. She hands the heroin over to the Mexican cops, but they decide to hold her hostage, which Adelita had anticipated. Adelita’s child rebels bust some caps in heads and spring Adelita free. Brave Rabbit shrugs off the bloodshed like it’s just another Thursday.
4. Speaking of Coco, he’s attracted some unwanted attention from Alvarez, who believes Coco may be the rat within the Mayans after Chucky inadvertently puts Coco on Alvarez’s radar. Alvarez is not wrong, either, even if Chucky saw Coco chatting with his daughter and not Adelita, as Alvarez believes. Coco’s days seem to be numbered; the question is whether he snitches on Angel, too. If so, will the Los Olvidados faction of the Mayans fall, or will they oust Bishop (and Alvarez) and take over the club and go to war with Galindo? Or will Coco take the fall all by himself and get Juice’d before season’s end? One way or another, either Bishop and Alvarez are ousted, or Angel and Coco are, and if I were making a prediction based on screentime so far this season, it doesn’t look good for Alvarez and Bishop.
5. On the subject of Adelita, she met with the priest who discovered the murdered nun, and while he knows that the rebels were not behind it, he’s warning Adelita to tread lightly and not to make it personal. Adelita, meanwhile, seems to believe that all her plans will come together if only she can get her hand on the money Angel is going to get from selling the heroin. It’s odd, however, that Adelita seems to have the backing of the Catholic Church but can’t seem to get any cash out of the Catholic Church to assist in her efforts to destroy the cartel.
6. Meanwhile, when Miguel Galindo summons EZ to tell him to back away from his wife, he also lets EZ in on the cartel’s plans: Rezone 250 acres into farm land, create jobs, housing, and schools, and go legit, all Michael Corleone-like. If there’s anything we know from Kurt Sutter, there’s always a land deal in the works, but the efforts to go legit never quite work out.
7. There were some far-fetched fan theories earlier this season that EZ might be Emily’s baby, but Emily seemed to put that to rest by admitting that she aborted EZ’s baby (to hurt him) while worrying that Cristobal’s abduction was some kind of karmic payback. Emily also nearly kissed EZ this week, but ultimately ended up in the ultimate hate bang with Miguel (as Kimberly covered extensively). Clearly, there is still some heat between Emily and EZ, which may make it easier at some point for EZ to flip Emily, although he has to tread carefully now that he’s on Miguel’s radar.
8. Speaking of which, Felipe at least seemed to buy EZ some time by turning the tables on Jimenez and threatening his family if Jimenez tries to expose Felipe. Felipe, nevertheless, admitted that he was part of the Mexican DEA and did some “terrible things,” things he’s not afraid to do to the family of Jimenez if he keeps pushing EZ to flip Emily. I would not mess with the old man who has pictures of himself goofing off with decapitated heads.
9. Finally, there is another theory floating around now that suggests that Miguel’s supposedly kidnapped brother — presumed dead — may have actually been raised by Felipe, which is part of the reason Felipe may have changed his name. That son would likely be Angel (because EZ would be too young to be Miguel’s older brother). It’s a little far-fetched, but this is a Kurt Sutter show, where anything is possible, and Chekhov’s baby is certainly not out of the question.
