S01.E08: Full On Gangsta

[Trini]

Thony enlists Arman's help to get to Mexico for Luca's transplant, but plans go dangerously off course when Hayak finds out Arman is lying to him. Thony finds herself in a desperate situation, forcing her to call upon both the former doctor and the newfound "gangsta" in herself.

Airdate: Feb. 28, 2022

 

 

[AnimeMania]

Guest Cast: 
Josette Canilao as Dara Oum
Ivan Shaw as Marco
Liza Weil as ASAC Katherine Russo
Eva De Dominici as Nadia
Harold Fisch as Carlos
Navid Negahban as Hayak Barsamian
Jonathan Medina as Julio
RJ Wagner as Dealer
Ivan Hernandez as Bellhop
Eric T. Esparza as Waiter
Rafael Velasquez as Surgeon

Edited February 28, 2022 by AnimeMania

[Trini]

I think the writers here could use a few lessons about slowburns and building up a romance. Thony and Arman (and the actors) have great chemistry, and I'm cool with seeing that explored, But I don't think a romance between the two at this point is really believable. I can see Arman having a soft spot for Thony for a few reasons; but from Thony's side it makes less sense. I 'ship' it, but there are many reasons why she shouldn't get even more entangled with him.

So yeah, I thought it was a little soon for them to be having fireside dances - even if it was cute.

Okay, so Marco didn't lose all the money, some points for that. If Luca is really (mostly?) cured, I expect Marco will take him back to the Philliphines... never to be seen again?

Completely ridiculous that Thony did the transplant surgery herself (did she operate on the donor too??), but this is the show, I guess. But it also just felt unnecessary. Like they wanted to remind us she's a surgeon -- who, in typical TV fashion, can do any and every surgery.

I didn't realize Arman's father was still alive. He really should have picked a better lie, especially since he knows Hayak knows his family.

LOL at Agent Scumbag coming to the club to cause drama -- it worked I guess! Although, I think Nadia should have at least called to talk to Arman instead of just believing him. In any case, she covered for Arman about the guns, so at least she's still in good standing with Hayak. I still think she might take Arman's place in the organization.

[paigow]

Hayak really has to pay for smarter minions... who builds a bomb that gets triggered by time delay after unlocking? Seat pressure switch... ignition trigger. Better yet, send a fire team to camp out and execute him...

[paigow]

40 minutes ago, Trini said:

Completely ridiculous that Thony did the transplant surgery herself (did she operate on the donor too??)

Somebody else extracted the donor liver... she asked dickhead administrator for one other surgeon

[paigow]

Strange thing happened when I typed MARCO into Wordle... the puzzle solved itself as DUMMY

[Irlandesa]

39 minutes ago, Trini said:

I think the writers here could use a few lessons about slowburns and building up a romance. Thony and Arman (and the actors) have great chemistry, and I'm cool with seeing that explored, But I don't think a romance between the two at this point is really believable. I can see Arman having a soft spot for Thony for a few reasons; but from Thony's side it makes less sense. I 'ship' it, but there are many reasons why she shouldn't get even more entangled with him.

So yeah, I thought it was a little soon for them to be having fireside dances - even if it was cute.

I'm of two minds here.  The first kiss made sense out of sense of sadness, closeness, frustration and the pent up something that had been boiling between them. I thought it was too soon but the show went there so it's where we are.

But tonight is where I think the show made a mistake.  It is a little silly that she has packed fancy clothes just perfect for a romantic night.  They are not there on vacation even though the show looked like they wanted it both ways by having it take place at a resort.  But whatever.  The show has always been more about getting the scenes it wants than making sure the story to get there made sense.

However, once she agreed to dance with him to that romantic song, she knew darn well what she was agreeing to and I wish the show would have just gone there.  These are two adults on the brink of an affair.  She's frustrated with the shit her husband has put her through and this started when Arman's wife walked away.  They both know their time together is likely running out and they just flat out want each other before that happens. 

Having her pull back again after dressing up, agreeing to dance with him and letting him caress her for a good minute made no sense.

[paigow]

7 minutes ago, Irlandesa said:

Having her pull back again after dressing up, agreeing to dance with him and letting him caress her for a good minute made no sense.

The show should be retitled as: The Teasing Lady

[Trini]

6 minutes ago, Irlandesa said:

However, once she agreed to dance with him to that romantic song, she knew darn well what she was agreeing to and I wish the show would have just gone there.  These are two adults on the brink of an affair.  She's frustrated with the shit her husband has put her through and this started when Arman's wife walked away.  They both know their time together is likely running out and they just flat out want each other before that happens. 

Having her pull back again after dressing up, agreeing to dance with him and letting him caress her for a good minute made no sense.

The attraction is definitely there, and we know she's grateful to him for helping her out, but at this point I feel like they actually have to have Thony spell out how she feels about him, because I don't think they've done a good job of selling the romance on her end. To be fair, she's been occupied with other things, but if they're going to do scenes like the dance, the writers should make the time if they're serious about pairing them up.

I mean, they could just keep it all attraction and lust, but I think they've managed to make the characters a little deeper than that, so I want something better.

19 minutes ago, Irlandesa said:

The show has always been more about getting the scenes it wants than making sure the story to get there made sense.

Yes, like the surgery tonight. I'm still watching, though!

[magdalene]

Thony doing the transplant surgery herself took me totally out of the story. It's just ridiculous.

I agree that the writers are not pacing the Thony/Arman thing right. Their chemistry is not enough for me to overlook that they are both married to other people. Watching marital infidelity play out is a turn-off for me.  Marco is a shithead who deserves to lose Thony but I feel sorry for Nadja.  Arman has still been putting the moves on her while he was busy white knighting for Thony and giving her scorching looks. It's all so emotionally dishonest.

[Irlandesa]

10 minutes ago, Trini said:

I mean, they could just keep it all attraction and lust, but I think they've managed to make the characters a little deeper than that, so I want something better.

But sometimes lust and attraction comes first before the deeper feelings are explored.  I love a slow burn so I agree with you that I would have preferred that route, especially since their chemistry could sustain something like that.

But once they pushed forward with a physical connection, I think they should have pivoted and focused on that about them.  There's definitely more there but neither one are in the position to examine that in that neither seems fully prepared to walk away from their marriages.  They are in the position, though, to explore their physical pull. Acting on the attraction doesn't have to mean the end of their current lifestyles. It's messy and most shows wouldn't go there but I'm not opposed.

3 minutes ago, magdalene said:

I feel sorry for Nadja.

Nadia left Arman a few episodes ago when she felt he wasn't cut throat enough against Hayek.  She also hit on Thony the first time she saw her.  I wish there was more consistency with this relationship because I can't pinpoint who they are together or what kind of marriage they have.

Although I do think they're pretty darn hot too.

[Raja]

7 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

But sometimes lust and attraction comes first before the deeper feelings are explored.  I love a slow burn so I agree with you that I would have preferred that route, especially since their chemistry could sustain something like that.

But once they pushed forward with a physical connection, I think they should have pivoted and focused on that about them.  There's definitely more there but neither one are in the position to examine that in that neither seems fully prepared to walk away from their marriages.  They are in the position, though, to explore their physical pull. Acting on the attraction doesn't have to mean the end of their current lifestyles. It's messy and most shows wouldn't go there but I'm not opposed.

Nadia left Arman a few episodes ago when she felt he wasn't cut throat enough against Hayek.  She also hit on Thony the first time she saw her.  I wish there was more consistency with this relationship because I can't pinpoint who they are together or what kind of marriage they have.

Although I do think they're pretty darn hot too.

It is like Nadia would accept an affair by Arman with someone of the proper social class and it wasn't known to Agent Garrett which embarrassed her. An affair that went public with La Chica Que Limpia is a no no. However with Dr. de la Rosa with his tracks properly covered she might join in.

[sempervivum]

Didn't Thony say the last time somebody tried to get her to do surgery that she hadn't practiced in 5 years (or something)? I can't remember what her specialty was, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't transplant surgery. Just guessing, but that's not some little side skill that you can just summon up as needed. 

[paigow]

1 minute ago, sempervivum said:

Didn't Thony say the last time somebody tried to get her to do surgery that she hadn't practiced in 5 years (or something)? I can't remember what her specialty was, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't transplant surgery. Just guessing, but that's not some little side skill that you can just summon up as needed. 

She is a heart surgeon... maybe she has heart transplant experience...

[eel21788]

14 hours ago, paigow said:

Hayak really has to pay for smarter minions... who builds a bomb that gets triggered by time delay after unlocking? Seat pressure switch... ignition trigger. Better yet, send a fire team to camp out and execute him...

My take on it is the bomb was to send a loud and clear message but not actually kill him.

[phoenics]

Count me in as those who thought the Thony/Arman dance scene was … off? I honestly expected them to go at it like rabbits.  The song was setting it up perfectly. Arman was about to finally escape his thug life. Thony was finally saving her son for good.  For all they knew, this was the last time they’d ever see each other again alone. The song they were dancing to was completely about a man realizing the love of his life would be gone by morning.  I mean COME ON - a last night of passion was RIGHT THERE.

Even the sexual situations warning before the episode hinted at far more action than we saw.

Instead we got that dance and 2 pecks on the mouth. It made me think the show originally filmed a “last night of desperate lovemaking”, but then shelved it? They should have left out the kisses though and just showed how hard both were fighting to NOT go there. Even a conversation about that would’ve worked. 

Arman and Nadia should’ve planned better though - Arman needed a better story for why he was away. I’m surprised Hayek allowed Nadia to live.

Hayek is definitely about to get caught by the Feds.  He’s going to get the guns, completely unaware that the FBI is watching - and he’s killed Carlos who could’ve warned him. And he’s tried to kill Arman too. So is he gonna get caught or will he go out fighting and die?

I hope Luca is okay now. The preview made me think maybe the donor would die but it looks like she’s fine.  I definitely think they Mary Sued Thony a bit with the transplant. I don’t think she’d be able to do that so well.

At least Marco didn’t lose all of it. Wish he’d have stopped when he had the 100k.  Guess he will still be around in S2 if we get one.

I still think we are gonna get a ruthless and dark Arman if Hayek is arrested or killed. He’d have to off any folks still loyal to Hayek to take over. My question is how does that keep Thony tied to this still? Either my theory about Hayek is wrong or something huge happens to shift her back into that mode. Or she chooses that life for herself?

I too would like to understand Nadia and Arman’s situation? She’s clearly in it for power - she’s most ruthless with Arman when he looks like he won’t get power. I can’t say she loves him? Or her love is conditional? 
 

Also - will Hayek’s daughter play into all this if Hayek dies or is imprisoned?

Questions…

[paigow]

Arman lost his Number One. Likely Hayak will wipe out any Arman loyalists. So Arman really needs the FBI to crush all the Armenians.

1 hour ago, eel21788 said:

My take on it is the bomb was to send a loud and clear message but not actually kill him.

If he got in right after unlocking it, he would be dead. Thony saved his life by calling.

[Raja]

11 minutes ago, paigow said:

Arman lost his Number One. Likely Hayak will wipe out any Arman loyalists. So Arman really needs the FBI to crush all the Armenians.

If he got in right after unlocking it, he would be dead. Thony saved his life by calling.

I agree it was a hit, not a warning shot. However like the pen recorder in an era of remote starters the technology used was ancient

[Trini]

On 3/1/2022 at 4:09 PM, phoenics said:

Hayek is definitely about to get caught by the Feds.  He’s going to get the guns, completely unaware that the FBI is watching - and he’s killed Carlos who could’ve warned him. And he’s tried to kill Arman too. So is he gonna get caught or will he go out fighting and die?

I think one way or another, Hayak isn't getting out of this season alive. But I agree he's going to get caught by the FBI; they need a 'win'.

 

On 3/1/2022 at 4:09 PM, phoenics said:

Arman and Nadia should’ve planned better though - Arman needed a better story for why he was away. I’m surprised Hayek allowed Nadia to live.

Nadia played it off like Arman lied to her, so she's clear while Arman took all the heat.
 

On 3/1/2022 at 4:09 PM, phoenics said:

Count me in as those who thought the Thony/Arman dance scene was … off? I honestly expected them to go at it like rabbits.  The song was setting it up perfectly. Arman was about to finally escape his thug life. Thony was finally saving her son for good.  For all they knew, this was the last time they’d ever see each other again alone. The song they were dancing to was completely about a man realizing the love of his life would be gone by morning.  I mean COME ON - a last night of passion was RIGHT THERE.

<...> They should have left out the kisses though and just showed how hard both were fighting to NOT go there. Even a conversation about that would’ve worked. 

I think that would have more interesting. Another thing that didn't quite work for me in that scene is that they were both pretty much acting like a couple when I don't think it made sense at this point.

Maybe the writers accelerated all that because of the short season?

Edited March 2, 2022 by Trini
dropped word

[rr2911]

These are the things I don't agree with.

1.  Arman and Thony should not have a fling.  It follows the same formula that every show has.  Why can Arman just care for Thony in a platonic way?

2.  Thony operates on her son.  If I were the head of that hospital, I would have told Thony a big "Hell no!" you're not performing the operation!

3.  Arman's #1 guy gets killed.  Sure, Arman's to blame but Thony takes some of the blame here.  She wanted Arman to go with her and even gave him the idea that Hayek's people don't operate in Mexico so he could sell the guns.

 

I have a feeling Arman is going to help Garrett capture Hayek and stop his operations by agreeing to tell him everything with a condition that Garrett leaves him alone.  I wouldn't be surprised if Nadia and Arman end their marriage and Marco leaves or gets killed and Thony joins Arman in a new super couple.  I know it sounds ridiculous but that's tv land for you!

[Irlandesa]

24 minutes ago, rr2911 said:

1.  Arman and Thony should not have a fling.  It follows the same formula that every show has.  Why can Arman just care for Thony in a platonic way?

I'd normally agree with you but the reason they aren't going to keep them platonic is because you just don't waste that kind of chemistry.  It's pretty rare when it works so effortlessly.

[paigow]

6 hours ago, rr2911 said:

Sure, Arman's to blame but Thony takes some of the blame here.  She wanted Arman to go with her and even gave him the idea that Hayek's people don't operate in Mexico so he could sell the guns.

Thony was talking about the FBI not having jurisdiction in Mexico, not Hayak...

[Raja]

7 hours ago, rr2911 said:

These are the things I don't agree with.

 

2.  Thony operates on her son.  If I were the head of that hospital, I would have told Thony a big "Hell no!" you're not performing the operation!

3.  Arman's #1 guy gets killed.  Sure, Arman's to blame but Thony takes some of the blame here.  She wanted Arman to go with her and even gave him the idea that Hayek's people don't operate in Mexico so he could sell the guns.

 

Remember Thony went gangsta, the hospital had taken someone else's silver and Thony came back that a cartel's lead would be the result. They didn't even have to find  a slave doctor like Mother Donna's operation had to. In America she is a visa overstay and accessory after the fact, in Mexico she is a full on cartel doctor.

That Arman went with the silly ideal that the FBI doesn't operate in Mexico just proves that TV characters don't watch enough TV. Premeiring this fall FBI: International.

[eel21788]

22 hours ago, phoenics said:

 I definitely think they Mary Sued Thony a bit with the transplant. I don’t think she’d be able to do that so well.

She was able to remove her kid's diseased liver and replace it with part of someone else's without her kid even needing to be intubated!! That is some magical surgery skills!

 

Edited March 2, 2022 by eel21788

[eel21788]

On 2/28/2022 at 10:37 PM, Trini said:

Okay, so Marco didn't lose all the money, some points for that. 

Why was he bodily thrown out of the casino? I didn't understand that part.

[Raja]

Just now, eel21788 said:

Why was he bodily thrown out of the casino? I didn't understand that part.

Marco got violent with the pit boss so the casino security went old school on him instead of holding him for the police

[eel21788]

Just now, Raja said:

Marco got violent with the pit boss so the casino security went old school on him instead of holding him for the police

Did they show that? I somehow missed it.

[Raja]

2 minutes ago, eel21788 said:

Did they show that? I somehow missed it.

Marco was up and a screaming drunk. When security moved in. Then cut to him thrown out the door and folks walking past like it was an everyday event

[rr2911]

9 hours ago, paigow said:

Thony was talking about the FBI not having jurisdiction in Mexico, not Hayak...

Yeah, I stand corrected.  Still, Thony is the one that reminded Arman of this.  So everything and every dead body falls on Arman and Thony. 

[magdalene]

On 3/1/2022 at 1:09 PM, phoenics said:

I definitely think they Mary Sued Thony a bit with the transplant. I don’t think she’d be able to do that so well.

A bit? She's been a classic Sue pretty much from the start. She does everything well and makes a hardened criminals heart go pitter patter.

I hope they are done with her son in constant medical crisis.  It's become tedious.

[possibilities]

A perfect female character who is good at everything, inspires love, loyalty,  lust, and awe, has multiple skillz and thinks fast in a crisis? Mary Sue.

A man with the same qualities? A hero.

[Trini]

She's not perfect, and that term is so misused and overused, it doesn't mean anything to me. But yes, doing the surgery herself was ridiculous.

[phoenics]

16 minutes ago, Trini said:

She's not perfect, and that term is so misused and overused, it doesn't mean anything to me. But yes, doing the surgery herself was ridiculous.

Agreed. Thony hasn’t been shown as a Mary Sue in any other instance except that surgery. She’s actually made quite a few blunders - going to Theo’s funeral was a major one. 

 

 

[phoenics]

1 hour ago, magdalene said:

A bit? She's been a classic Sue pretty much from the start. She does everything well and makes a hardened criminals heart go pitter patter.

I hope they are done with her son in constant medical crisis.  It's become tedious.

I don’t agree with this. Thony has gotten lucky a few times but in others she has messed up - going to Theo’s funeral was a HUGE mistake. She fumbled and lost her necklace getting the laptop.

But beyond that - the only time she’s done something outside of her skill set was that transplant. She got lucky with LDP and converting him into a friend. Otherwise she’s been pretty normal.

Even the tracheotomy was in line with her skills.

I can’t call her a Mary Sue. There are better examples out there.

 

[Trini]

11 minutes ago, phoenics said:

Agreed. Thony hasn’t been shown as a Mary Sue in any other instance except that surgery. She’s actually made quite a few blunders - going to Theo’s funeral was a major one.

Plus, she sucks at marriage - lol! Not to mention, she's on thin ice with her sister-in-law, and the FBI is playing her.

 

1 hour ago, possibilities said:

A perfect female character who is good at everything, inspires love, loyalty,  lust, and awe, has multiple skillz and thinks fast in a crisis? Mary Sue.

A man with the same qualities? A hero.

I mean, those are the general qualities of the typical TV protagonist, regardless of gender.

[SonofaBiscuit]

Okay, Luca's liver donor is "full on" nutty. Lady, Thony and some random man (whom you know is not her husband) are flying you to a different country for a transplant surgery which Thony is performing herself. At some point, WHY DIDN'T ALARM BELLS GO OFF?!!

I wish they hadn't made Arman seemingly happily married to his wife and ready to disappear with her once he gets that $6 million. The Thony/Arman actors have fantastic chemistry, and I can ignore Thony cheating on her loser husband (they lost their car and friends because of him and nearly lost their house!), but Arman being in love with his wife and ready to bail with her once he gets his money is an issue (for me), LOL.   

Edited March 3, 2022 by SonofaBiscuit

[CrystalBlue]

12 hours ago, SonofaBiscuit said:

Okay, Luca's liver donor is "full on" nutty. Lady, Thony and some random man (whom you know is not her husband) are flying you to a different country for a transplant surgery which Thony is performing herself. At some point, WHY DIDN'T ALARM BELLS GO OFF?!!

I wish they hadn't made Arman seemingly happily married to his wife and ready to disappear with her once he gets that $6 million. The Thony/Arman actors have fantastic chemistry, and I can ignore Thony cheating on her loser husband (they lost their car and friends because of him and nearly lost their house!), but Arman being in love with his wife and ready to bail with her once he gets his money is an issue (for me), LOL.   

Agreed about donor lady.

But maybe Arman is just a very good actor and wants to keep Nadia happy because he's playing a long game wanting to end up with Thony.  Aside from their hot chemistry together, I don't really understand it except maybe Arman wasn't that happily married before Thony entered their lives.

If Marco finds out his wife is having an affair, his being a compulsive gambler might not be viewed as bad as his wife being unfaithful, for whatever reason.

[paigow]

13 hours ago, SonofaBiscuit said:

Okay, Luca's liver donor is "full on" nutty. Lady, Thony and some random man (whom you know is not her husband) are flying you to a different country for a transplant surgery which Thony is performing herself. At some point, WHY DIDN'T ALARM BELLS GO OFF?!! 

Not often you get $20K for a few weeks of pain...

[eel21788]

18 hours ago, SonofaBiscuit said:

Okay, Luca's liver donor is "full on" nutty. Lady, Thony and some random man (whom you know is not her husband) are flying you to a different country for a transplant surgery which Thony is performing herself. At some point, WHY DIDN'T ALARM BELLS GO OFF?!!

4 hours ago, paigow said:

Not often you get $20K for a few weeks of pain...

Did she even realize being paid for her for the donation was illegal?

[Raja]

3 hours ago, eel21788 said:

Did she even realize being paid for her for the donation was illegal?

I think she does, she admired Thony for going full "gangsta" after all. While she is going little gangsta and doing good. It is the gangsta fantasy the show is built on from Arman, with Thony, Lydia and Isabel all wanting to pretty man doing everything to keep Thony and Luca alive to Marco bribing an embassy official to get a US visa.