S04.E10: You're the Boss

[TexasGal]

Quote

Marty travels to the Navarro estate, Ruth asks Frank Jr. for a favor, a new acting sheriff makes waves, and Wendy tries to bring Jim back into the fold. 

Airdate: 04.29.2022

[DoctorAtomic]

I'm not buying that Marty didn't get that Javier's mother/Omar's brother didn't order the hit. I get that he's overwhelmed being acting head of the cartel, but this was patently obvious. I'm hopeful it will be revealed Marty knows this and sacrificed Arturo to throw the mother off the scent. 

[Artsda]

Marty saw none of the signs from Javi's mother, so stupid. She had most motive, she should have been his first thought.

[DoctorAtomic]

I mean, I guess thinking he'd be able to step into the head of the cartel role seamlessly was a bit much. With hindsight, I'm trying to cut Marty some slack. He was working nonstop and he's clearly freaked out, so his thinking isn't entirely calculated. It's hard though because even *if* Marty didn't suspect the mother, she immediately was like, 'oh yeah it's got to be Arturo' loaded right up enough to garner some suspicion. 

On the other hand, it seems everyone bought that Omar did Javier so Ruth is in the clear. 

It really should have been Wendy to go down there. 

[Anela]

We start with an execution, and end with one. I wasn't expecting to see Wendy's brother again, even in a flashback. 

I'm glad that Ruth was onto Wendy, and got around her setup with the sheriff. 

[Raja]

On 4/29/2022 at 9:00 PM, DoctorAtomic said:

I'm not buying that Marty didn't get that Javier's mother/Omar's brother didn't order the hit. I get that he's overwhelmed being acting head of the cartel, but this was patently obvious. I'm hopeful it will be revealed Marty knows this and sacrificed Arturo to throw the mother off the scent. 

It seems as if Marty never heard that torture is unreliable because eventually the victim will lie to stop the pain. Arturo had to know he was dead when they first captured him even if he tried to deny it at his "trial"

12 hours ago, Anela said:

We start with an execution, and end with one. I wasn't expecting to see Wendy's brother again, even in a flashback. 

I'm glad that Ruth was onto Wendy, and got around her setup with the sheriff. 

The pre credits scene seemed to be Ozark doing their version of a The Wire episode opener. Only with Nelson playing the part of Chris and Snoop taking their victim to the vacants

[sugarbaker design]

13 hours ago, Anela said:

I wasn't expecting to see Wendy's brother again, even in a flashback. 

I wasn't either, that whole scene was so hard to watch.

On 4/30/2022 at 12:00 AM, DoctorAtomic said:

I'm not buying that Marty didn't get that Javier's mother/Omar's brother didn't order the hit.

I'm not buying it either.  Marty definitely knows.  For some reason not yet explained, Marty's playing dumb.

13 hours ago, Anela said:

I'm glad that Ruth was onto Wendy, and got around her setup with the sheriff. 

Don't fuck with Ruth.

[AZChristian]

1 minute ago, sugarbaker design said:

I'm not buying it either.  Marty definitely knows.  For some reason not yet explained, Marty's playing dumb.

IMO, that's the only reason he has survived for four years.  He makes wise decisions, Wendy goes off on our own and countermands those decisions, and Marty plays dumb while cleaning up her messes.

[DoctorAtomic]

Marty is very risk averse too. In the start of the season way back, he didn't want to open the 'clean' casino yet, but Wendy disagreed and that triggered the FBI. 

The problem is now that every decision is loaded with risk and there's not much he can do about it. 

Edited May 2, 2022 by DoctorAtomic

[iMonrey]

I'm just getting really tired of Ruth. I think once she turned against Marty I turned against her. I can't even remember what grievance caused her to fall out with him. There was something really unique about their relationship, he was sort of a parental figure to her when she so clearly lacked one. As an enemy she just seems obstinate for the sake of being obstinate. It doesn't feel organic, it feels contrived.  I was really hoping she would agree to help the Byrds just for the sake of Jonah and Charlotte - I mean they were the ones who told her where to find Javi. But no, she just wants to keep giving everyone the middle finger. There's no shades of grey with her anymore, she's just a one-dimensional, chronic thorn in everyone's side.

[DoctorAtomic]

8 minutes ago, iMonrey said:

I can't even remember what grievance caused her to fall out with him.

Marty told Frank that Ruth should be considered 'made' in terms of her being untouchable, but Frank Jr beat her up bad and she ended up in the hospital. Marty didn't want to retaliate because he needed Frank's trucks for transporting product at the time. It started from there and degraded. I think Marty could have negotiated a fair reprisal with Frank, but again, risk averse, and Marty is just a money launderer. iirc, Ruth wanted them to off Frank Jr., and that just wasn't going to happen. 

Ruth has just been anti-Byrdes since. I would concede Wendy antagonized her unnecessarily, and maybe it's more on Marty to reach out to repair their relationship because he's the adult. I also agree that the show lost something when they're at odds. 

[Avabelle]

Although I do remember feeling like the Byrds had no other option than to kill Ben at the time of the season 3 finale, that opening was brutal. Wendy is stone cold to have left her younger brother like that. I felt for her at the time but all her actions since then show her to be a smug and evil wench.

[Paloma]

On 4/30/2022 at 12:00 AM, DoctorAtomic said:

I'm not buying that Marty didn't get that Javier's mother/Omar's brother didn't order the hit. I get that he's overwhelmed being acting head of the cartel, but this was patently obvious.

Based on your comment and others, apparently it was obvious to everyone watching that Javi's mother ordered the hit on Omar in prison, but I didn't pick up on that at all. Maybe it's just because I was too tired to focus on the show, but can you give me an example of what made this so obvious? I know that Marty told her and everyone else that Omar had Javi killed because Javi was a traitor, but she seemed to accept that and didn't appear to be as upset as I would expect a mother to be. It's possible that she was hiding her real feelings and that she did order the hit on Omar out of revenge for Javi's murder, but if so I'm confused about the timing. I thought that Omar was attacked before the people in Mexico (including Javi's mother) knew that Javi was dead and that (according to Marty) Omar was the one who had him killed. So how could the hit on Omar be revenge for Javi's murder? 

[DoctorAtomic]

I'd recommend rewatch and see if you pick up on it. 

Edited May 13, 2022 by DoctorAtomic

[Rootbeer]

On 5/13/2022 at 5:58 AM, Paloma said:

Based on your comment and others, apparently it was obvious to everyone watching that Javi's mother ordered the hit on Omar in prison, but I didn't pick up on that at all. Maybe it's just because I was too tired to focus on the show, but can you give me an example of what made this so obvious? I know that Marty told her and everyone else that Omar had Javi killed because Javi was a traitor, but she seemed to accept that and didn't appear to be as upset as I would expect a mother to be. It's possible that she was hiding her real feelings and that she did order the hit on Omar out of revenge for Javi's murder, but if so I'm confused about the timing. I thought that Omar was attacked before the people in Mexico (including Javi's mother) knew that Javi was dead and that (according to Marty) Omar was the one who had him killed. So how could the hit on Omar be revenge for Javi's murder? 

I believe, at one point, Marty told Camila about the plan to return Omar to Mexico where an escape would be engineered for him so that he could return to power in the cartel and that is what set the initial hit in motion.  Camila's beloved son, Javi, was running things and, if Uncle Omar got out of jail, Javi would have to take a step back.  Camila was fine with Omar remaining in prison in the US since he couldn't run the cartel from there, it was the news that there were plans in motion to put Omar back in charge in Mexico that got her to order the first hit in the prison on her brother.

Later, realizing that Ruth's killing of Javi was ruining their plans; Wendy came up with the notion that, if Omar stayed in the US (or, better yet, was killed) there would be a power vacuum in the cartel and Camila could step up and the Byrd's could use her to get free.  That's when Camila was told that Omar ordered the hit on Javi. She then went on a quest to find out who did the actual killing because, obviously, Omar was in prison when it happened.  So, she kept up the ruse that she was fine with Omar going back to Mexico and used it as an opportunity to have him killed and then not so subtley threatened Clare to find out who did the actual shooting.

Edited May 14, 2022 by Rootbeer

[Paloma]

46 minutes ago, Rootbeer said:

I believe, at one point, Marty told Camila about the plan to return Omar to Mexico where an escape would be engineered for him so that he could return to power in the cartel and that is what set the initial hit in motion.  Camila's beloved son, Javi, was running things and, if Uncle Omar got out of jail, Javi would have to take a step back.  Camila was fine with Omar remaining in prison in the US since he couldn't run the cartel from there, it was the news that there were plans in motion to put Omar back in charge in Mexico that got her to order the first hit in the prison on her brother.

Later, realizing that Ruth's killing of Javi was ruining their plans; Wendy came up with the notion that, if Omar stayed in the US (or, better yet, was killed) there would be a power vacuum in the cartel and Camila could step up and the Byrd's could use her to get free.  That's when Camila was told that Omar ordered the hit on Javi. She then went on a quest to find out who did the actual killing because, obviously, Omar was in prison when it happened.  So, she kept up the ruse that she was fine with Omar going back to Mexico and used it as an opportunity to have him killed and then not so subtley threatened Clare to find out who did the actual shooting.

This is helpful, thanks. But what still doesn't make sense to me is why Wendy thinks they could get free (and apparently with a stash of money) if Camila took over. Maybe she thinks Camila won't care if they stop laundering money for the cartel, but the FBI or DEA (I'm not sure which federal agency Marty and Wendy are "working for") seem to be giving them only two choices: keep informing the agency of money transports so the agency can seize them, or go to prison.  What am I missing? Or is Wendy just refusing to see reality?

[Rootbeer]

6 minutes ago, Paloma said:

This is helpful, thanks. But what still doesn't make sense to me is why Wendy thinks they could get free (and apparently with a stash of money) if Camila took over. Maybe she thinks Camila won't care if they stop laundering money for the cartel, but the FBI or DEA (I'm not sure which federal agency Marty and Wendy are "working for") seem to be giving them only two choices: keep informing the agency of money transports so the agency can seize them, or go to prison.  What am I missing? Or is Wendy just refusing to see reality?

It mainly doesn't make sense because much of the plotting these past couple seasons is ridiculous.  Wendy is a little kooky, but it is hard to believe that she would think that Camila wasn't a big threat to them and that she would just roll over for the FBI and agree to the plan set in motion with Omar.  Major plot hole, of which there are way too many in this final season.

[Bluesky]

Does anyone know why the foundation is necessary in order for them to get free?

[DoctorAtomic]

It's basically 'clean'. 

[SlovakPrincess]

On 5/17/2022 at 2:38 AM, Bluesky said:

Does anyone know why the foundation is necessary in order for them to get free?

I think partly the foundation was set up as a legitimate source of money for Omar's children -- and setting that up as well as getting Omar a deal with the US government was the price for Omar leaving them alone and not expecting money laundering from them anymore.  

The Ben scene was deeply unnecessary (and I say this as someone who was a big Ben fan in Season 3).  It was more powerful for the audience to have to (much like Wendy) imagine what must have happened to him.  

I'm not sure a stretched out, ratty polo shirt and wrinkled pants is what I would have worn my first day running a cartel, but that's just me.  Marty mostly did well ... not getting himself killed, anyway.  He probably had the wrong guy executed, though -- I would not trust Camila if I were him.

Wendy just straight up threatening Clare now.  I'm only surprised it took her this long LOL!

Edited May 24, 2022 by SlovakPrincess

[DoctorAtomic]

I think the Ben scene was important for Ben to realize that he partially engineered his own demise and that his sister was the catalyst.

[SlovakPrincess]

1 minute ago, DoctorAtomic said:

I think the Ben scene was important for Ben to realize that he partially engineered his own demise and that his sister was the catalyst.

I see your point, but Ben was already crying and blaming himself at times in his last Season 3 episode.  The whole "tell Wendy I forgive her" was a giant eye roll for me ... I am not on board with anyone, even Ben himself, minimizing Wendy's role in his murder!  

[DoctorAtomic]

I didn't care for Ben, so I liked that he had the clarity at the end.