Snowfall - General Discussion

[Joimiaroxeu]

Heh, looks like all of Franklin's crew are over him. They're stuck though because of Teddy and because they're used to the money now.

Sad that someone would abandon their child for drugs. The baby's probably better off though unless they're put in foster care.

Wanda's looking pretty good actually. Hope she can stay clean until she can give Franklin the info about that reporter.

Uncle Jerome out here handling Leon's management troubles. Can't lose with some fresh BBQ. I think one of those gangbangers is probably going to give up Leon though, just for spite.

So, who's going to kill Alton for selling them out? No way will the reporter limit the story to the CIA. Not when visions of Pulitzers start dancing in her head.

I don't know why Teddy was going after some low level banker guy. It's clear to me Avi stole his $15M.

Teddy is completely losing it and is going to get everybody associated with him killed or arrested.

[tennisgurl]

I wondered how long Alton could keep up running his shelter with so many people so terribly affected by crack while also taking proceeds from his crack dealing son, the reporter probably just pushed forward a confrontation that was always going to happen and made it have much bigger consequences for their whole family. 

You know things have taken a turn when Avi is being the reasonable one. Teddy has become increasingly unstable in ways that he's never been before, he has so few real ties left. Interesting that a theme that is emerging is that getting too deep into the darker parts of life, even tangentially like the reporter, leads to a very lonely existence. 

Wanda looks great, hopefully she stays off the bad stuff.

Edited April 5, 2021 by tennisgurl

[Lonesome Rhodes]

14 hours ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

So, who's going to kill Alton for selling them out? No way will the reporter limit the story to the CIA. Not when visions of Pulitzers start dancing in her head.

I don't know why Teddy was going after some low level banker guy. It's clear to me Avi stole his $15

Alton being a dead man walking was my first thought, but it would be far more impactful for Cissy to be the first parent to die.  TPTB have an interesting choice to make - including having them live.  After all, they've been renewed for another season. 

The CIA contact dude told Teddy that there was no evidence that Avi had transferred any of that cash among his accounts.  It would be one heckuva lousy misdirection by TPTB for him to have taken it.

[Joimiaroxeu]

Quote

The CIA contact dude told Teddy that there was no evidence that Avi had transferred any of that cash among his accounts.  It would be one heckuva lousy misdirection by TPTB for him to have taken it.

Perhaps the CIA is protecting a different operation involving Avi that's more important than Teddy's and they don't see Teddy as having a need to know.

Nah, I just don't see Alton living after he snitched like that. But I could see someone trying to kill him and taking out Cissy by accident.

[Raja]

Queen Khadijah didn't have the experience of Snoop to say why a drive-by isn't the tactic of choice for a targeted hit. I wonder if Auntie survives for next season. 

With Teddy now more Contra than American I don't know how Manboy can't see that the now public connect he is trying to spy games into getting for himself isn't going to last as the CIA cleaners do their job.  I think Franklin will turn his honey trap Tanosse into a double agent.

So we now have the Inglewood Blood set with Skully and a Compton Crip set with Manboy going to war with Uncle Jerome and and Franklin's overall distribution crew with Watts housing project Crips set

[Lonesome Rhodes]

How is it possible that Peaches and Franklin got home before T did, when she left immediately after Franklin agreed to her idea?  She was scared and she could not WAIT to get to her phone and make the deal.

This is a really weird set-up.  Franklin is still at his weakest, but he is the only one who has any coke to cook?  

Oso is quite something, isn't he?

The Reed character has always been problematic.  He's been ruthless as can be.  Two seconds later, he's a caring softie.  He gave a fig about Louie?  He may be an international man of mystery, but he's wildly inconsistent.  Sure, his circumstances dictate that he play all sides against the middle.  But, my sense is that TPTB are pushing the softer side of Teddy too hard.  

Irene got her final night in her home.  Now, she got nuthin' to lose.  Ruh roh.

 

 

[Sarah 103]

19 minutes ago, Lonesome Rhodes said:

Franklin is still at his weakest, but he is the only one who has any coke to cook?  

My understanding was that Franklin's coke is significantly less expensive, which is why people go through him. They can make more money because they can buy it for less. This may no longer be true. 

[Raja]

47 minutes ago, Sarah 103 said:

My understanding was that Franklin's coke is significantly less expensive, which is why people go through him. They can make more money because they can buy it for less. This may no longer be true. 

I didn't think that the raw product was cheaper, but before Franklin gave away the crack recipe that there were not enough buyers for cocaine to make the importation and street selling worth it for the distributors and importers to take the risk. 

[Sarah 103]

3 minutes ago, Raja said:

I didn't think that the raw product was cheaper, but before Franklin gave away the crack recipe that there were not enough buyers for cocaine to make the importation and street selling worth it for the distributors and importers to take the risk. 

You are correct about cocaine. What I meant was that Franklin could buy cocaine for less money, which allowed him to make more crack and sell crack for a lower price, because his upfront cost was less to start with. 

[tennisgurl]

Franklin thinks that he is such a big deal, you know he is being set up for a fall. Either the government will cut ties (especially if Teddy dies or loses his position after pushing too much) or he will get killed by one of the many factions pissed at him or looking to move in on him. I feel like he will end this show screaming "King Kong Aint Got Shit On Me" on an empty street before being riddled with bullets. 

If Alton doesn't leave soon I don't know how long he makes it. Maybe its time for Irene to up her security, although I guess even a padlock could keep out a halfway decent CIA agent. Glad she's alright for now, but I don't think she will give up just yet.

It cant feel great when the church gives you a "thanks but no thanks" on your donations. 

[Raja]

Before setting out for revenge dig your own grave. I wonder which way Skully jumps now?

With Saint's double agent I definitely got a set pre CSI. vibe. You can lie your way out of the three dead escorts in the car.

  I sure wasn't expected anyone to believe Wanda on her agent turn. The strippers by dayshift hitmen by night seems to be the most unreal duo introduced to the show.

On the other hand sociopath Reed's network has been blown but he plays clean up by murdering an American. But maybe he is taking Avi up on his job offer. I was thinking that Oso would take over as the connection to Saint.

[Dowel Jones]

Irene has got to be the most gullible person ever.  Sure, have a drink with the assassin who threatened to kill you.  Let him buy the drinks.  What's the worst that can happen?  With any luck she switched tapes before driving off, so the evidence is still in the car.

This season definitely has the vibe of a complete implosion on all the main characters.  There will be blood.

I think Alton had a come to Jesus moment and he is gone.  Or at least on the way; maybe he won't make it.

Poor ol' Khalijah, never got a kiss;  poor ol' Khalijah, she don't know what she missed...   Too soon?

[CoppersMom2021]

2 hours ago, Raja said:

Before setting out for revenge dig your own grave. I wonder which way Skully jumps now?

With Saint's double agent I definitely got a set pre CSI. vibe. You can lie your way out of the three dead escorts in the car.

  I sure wasn't expected anyone to believe Wanda on her agent turn. The strippers by dayshift hitmen by night seems to be the most unreal duo introduced to the show.

On the other hand sociopath Reed's network has been blown but he plays clean up by murdering an American. But maybe he is taking Avi up on his job offer. I was thinking that Oso would take over as the connection to Saint.

There are real people out there just like those strippers. They are fueled by the desire for money so much that it clouds their judgment. Smh

[coconspirator]

4 hours ago, Dowel Jones said:

Irene has got to be the most gullible person ever.  Sure, have a drink with the assassin who threatened to kill you.  Let him buy the drinks.  What's the worst that can happen?  With any luck she switched tapes before driving off, so the evidence is still in the car.

This season definitely has the vibe of a complete implosion on all the main characters.  There will be blood.

I think Alton had a come to Jesus moment and he is gone.  Or at least on the way; maybe he won't make it.

Poor ol' Khalijah, never got a kiss;  poor ol' Khalijah, she don't know what she missed...   Too soon?

I'm wondering about the tape. I think it would be an interesting twist if her husband finds it in the items the police or hospital give him after her death and he passes it along to one of her journalist friends to finish the story.  I wonder if Reed is going to be killed off before he can find the tape and that leads to a domino effect of consequences. 

[tennisgurl]

I can shenanigans on Irene accepting a drink from the guy who just broke into her house, drugged her, and threatened to kill her just a few days ago. Even if she bought him wanting to stick it to his bosses and wanted the story, I cant buy that this woman who has been portrayed as pretty smart and savvy would be so trusting of this obviously sketchy guy with every reason to hurt her. 

I would totally watch a show about strippers turned hitwomen. I am pretty sure there is one, and in a more over the top universe that would be amazing. 

Every main character is falling apart all over the place. I think Leon is going to skip town, he is increasingly over everything that has happened and Franklin. 

[Lonesome Rhodes]

Leon, once again, proves he ain't the brightest bulb in the bunch.  Wanda is still the low person on the totem pole of wisdom.  At least she got there "through better chemistry" (Hi Dupont).

Avi, Avi, Avi...what are we gonna do with you?  I love this character so much.  He's an ultimate survivor - a Gollum without a Precious.  He is almost total slime, but the man does have a point about nation states and their morality/ethos.  I am trying to decide if he is acting alone in trying to woo Teddy out of complete self-interest, or if it's part of a trap laid by the Company.

Am I a bad person for delighting in the demise under a hail of bullets of Manboy's henchman?  I loved the ironic dialogue in the moment before they were obliterated.  I so want to hear T's explanation for that deal.  THAT girl is savvy as can be.  Hey!  I know!  Recruit her to be a Teddy!!!!  She has it all.  I mean that as a compliment.

In total seriousness, I am grateful for the Irene Abe's of the world.  I hate that the world even needs them.  I utterly despise the world for not paying full attention to them.  I sure hope the reward is in the next life for folks like her.  This one is about paying, it seems.

Now, it's Oso time.  Just where is he gonna go?  I can hardly wait to find out.

 

 

 

[Raja]

On 4/16/2021 at 3:22 PM, tennisgurl said:

 

I would totally watch a show about strippers turned hitwomen. I am pretty sure there is one, and in a more over the top universe that would be amazing. 

 

Maybe Dallas and Black  Diamond were inspired by the 1984 movie Angel, high school student by day, street walker and vigilante killer by night

Edited April 18, 2021 by Raja

[Sarah 103]

On 4/16/2021 at 10:41 PM, Lonesome Rhodes said:

Avi, Avi, Avi...what are we gonna do with you?  I love this character so much.  He's an ultimate survivor - a Gollum without a Precious.  He is almost total slime, but the man does have a point about nation states and their morality/ethos.  I am trying to decide if he is acting alone in trying to woo Teddy out of complete self-interest, or if it's part of a trap laid by the Company.

I think it's self interest. Avi has seen what Ted can do, he knows his skill set, some of idea of who has connections to/with, and thinks Ted could be a great addition to Avi's business. 

[Raja]

Just when I thought they were going to let the old Black Panther get out saving his son the CIA infiltrates Cuba. At this point, make that even before Irene Abe got hit I would expect Reed to just slip away and if someone else took over the mission okay. His going on revenge killing for ruining a mission that is about to blow up with Iran Contra anyway is pathetic

For all the risk, multiple shootouts, beaten in jail, disabled that Saint has taken all the money the young sociopath has gotten seems to only serve in buying suits. he might fly around the Americas but he seems to live like a rat in a cage.

[Lonesome Rhodes]

One of my least favorite TV/drama tropes is the big conversation instead of a killing being executed at first best opportunity.  "No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die."  This ep was ridiculous with these.  Especially Skully.  

I would have loved for TPTB to play the music from the cemetery showdown in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly when Alton, Reed, and Franklin faced off.  Sadly, there was no Lee Van Cleef on screen.

I wonder if the CIA dude would have chosen to give Oso the 411 on Lucia at that moment in time.  He simply must have him working at least until the next Reed shows up.  Oso needed him every bit as much as he needed Oso.  He would have griped about the delay, but he would have kept going for awhile, at least, in the hopes he would get the 411.

Skully left no blood trail to Louie's room in the hospital.  Riiiiight.

Pretty slick how production avoided paying for even one second of engine time on the charter jet.  Heck, there were no lights ever on in the entire plane.  Me?  I would have insisted on watching the departure.

Louie and Jerome's logic as to what they created and are owed is nonsense.  However, it's not the worst plan.  I do not understand why Franklin would want to continue in retail dealing.  Wasn't this season partly about his grand plan to lead a syndicate?  Starting with those franchisees would not be the worst move evah.

I have to admit, the scene where the clients were summarily put out on the streets by the sainted Saint really got to me.   That was well paced and staged.  

Finally, I would have about died if there had been any crossover whatsoever with Friday Night Lights during Franklin's visit to Mel.  Permian High School, the actual school it all was based on, is in Odessa.     

 

     

[tennisgurl]

I did end up feeling for Leon. The game just isnt in him anymore, but no way is Franklin letting him leave any time soon. 

Not surprising that Teddy killed Alton as soon as he got to Cuba, no way could he leave that loose end. Either that or he is still just spiraling as he losses control of both his personal and professional life. Maybe a job offer from Avi is his best option at this point. 

Edited April 25, 2021 by tennisgurl

[Racj82]

We didn't see Teddy kill him so that's just an assumption at this point.

[benteen]

Great season.  I'm happy that Snowfall keeps getting better as the show goes on and there seems to be more people watching it as well.  It's a great show and one I prefer much more to something like Ozark.

Franklin is an absolutely awful human being who has destroyed his own community and screwed over people who have been good to him (the couple who owned the book store).  But his storyline remains compelling and the best thing about the show.  Damson Idris always brings it.  Nice fakeout with the cane at the end as well...this show was very good at keeping me guessing this year.

Jerome remains my favorite character on the show.  I wonder how it'll go for him and Louie to strike out on their own.

The actress who plays Wanda continues to do some great work and her storyline has been fascinating to see play out.  Dallas and Black Diamond are characters I hope to see stick around.  I'm glad Avi is still with us.

I appreciate that this show brings the funny.  Fatback was a great source of comic relief and I was bummed to see him get killed.  I think it would have been interesting to send him and Leon to another city to lay low for a while and run the drug trade out there.

Kevin Carroll was great as Alton.  It is interesting that we didn't see him get killed but I can't imagine the character having a long shelf life in any case.

Enjoyed the reporter storyline although she seemed to have a death wish.

Teddy though continues to be the absolute weak link on the show.  Whenever the show focuses on him alone, I feel it comes to a screeching halt.  The writing in this case hasn't helped but I feel a more compelling actor would be able to do more with the role.  If he's still around for an occasional guest shot, fine.  But I'm looking forward to a new CIA handler at this point.

Very happy with the Season 5 renewal and I hope that this show continues to gain more viewers.  It deserves it.

[Dowel Jones]

Somebody help me out here.  I was lost at the interaction between Franklin and Mel at the end.  What was her part in the show?  I can't place her.

[Raja]

1 hour ago, Dowel Jones said:

Somebody help me out here.  I was lost at the interaction between Franklin and Mel at the end.  What was her part in the show?  I can't place her.

She was the girl next door first love of Saint and first crackhead. Her father was LAPD who went after Saint and lost

[IndyMischa]

4 hours ago, Dowel Jones said:

Somebody help me out here.  I was lost at the interaction between Franklin and Mel at the end.  What was her part in the show?  I can't place her.

She's his ex, the cop's daughter who got addicted after one ill-fated evening with a crack pipe. 

[Dowel Jones]

Thanks.

[Joimiaroxeu]

Late to Snowfall party:
Ep 9
Franklin saved Jerome's life by letting Jerome beat up on him.

How did they know Manboy and his crew would show up at Tanosse's? That was dumb ambush IMO.

Too little, too late, Cissy. Now you want to apologize to Jerome because your wannabe boogie lifestyle fell apart?

Wanda became useful finally! She sold it too. Hopefully she'll take the money and GTFO out of Dodge.

More money talks and then loyalty always walks. Especially with stripper assassins. 😉

Actually Leon, they did need to do it. Khadijah would have never stopped coming for you. Never. She was trapped by her own grief.

Ep 10
Guess Alton has always had a different idea of what it meant to have Franklin's back. It was his way or the highway, even to his child's detriment.

I'm amazed Franklin actually did go alone to meet Alton. In broad daylight no less.

TMW you're racing to stop your CIA pal from killing your dad.

How was Skully still alive and walking around after getting gut shot? And how did that hospital have no security? Things really could've gone sideways if Skully hadn't been bleeding to death.

Stop being greedy, Franklin. Let Jerome and Louie have a bigger cut. How much money do you need?

Po widdle Franklin, everyone's abandoning him. Or trying to, anyway.

Aw, geez, Teddy. Really? And do you not think Franklin will figure out it was you if you kill Alton?

Melody did not seriously call herself hiding from Franklin. She looked terrified, as well she should've, if only for the struggle wig. 😼

🎶I'm your pusher man🎶 Curtis Mayfield, right on time!

My favorite comment from reddit:

Quote

Kaiser Franklin Soze

I'm thinking Franklin has now gone full Heisenberg. Say. His. Name!

[Racj82]

On 4/26/2021 at 12:29 PM, Dowel Jones said:

Somebody help me out here.  I was lost at the interaction between Franklin and Mel at the end.  What was her part in the show?  I can't place her.

Have you not been watching the show or did she look different to you?

Even if she looked different,  did you kill me dad should have cleared things up. 

She's been a major part of the show minus most the recent season.

[Lonesome Rhodes]

1 hour ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

More money talks and then loyalty always walks. Especially with stripper assassins. 😉

Truer words have never been written!

Actually Leon, they did need to do it. Khadijah would have never stopped coming for you. Never. She was trapped by her own grief.

This failure to grasp the bigger picture is why Leon would never last very long as the Top Cat. 

Stop being greedy, Franklin. Let Jerome and Louie have a bigger cut. How much money do you need?

It seemed to me that this was about more than just cash.  Franklin correctly, imo, read that this was about hubris and an unquenchable greed, with a dollop of rage against him boiling within Unc.    

Aw, geez, Teddy. Really? And do you not think Franklin will figure out it was you if you kill Alton?

Compared to the personal ruination he would experience, disappointing Franklin is a blip.  Besides, as others have noted, we didn't see/hear the murder. 

 

 

[Dowel Jones]

5 hours ago, Racj82 said:

She's been a major part of the show minus most the recent season.

That's probably part of it.  Had it happened this season I would probably remember it, but, 1)I watch so many different shows that I'm not so invested in any one of them to remember characters that aren't there every episode, and, 2)there was such a long break between seasons that I had forgotten most of even the major characters until a few eps. in.

[Lonesome Rhodes]

Has it been this long?  Wow.

Odd seeing a renewed emphasis on powder coke and not a whole lotta rock/crack.  Nice choice recreating Bias' death.  While that had a huge impact on the Celtics, I just don't recall some new added urgency from LE because of it. 

What are the chances we hear the term, "Deep State" this season?  This whole enterprise is an early manifestation of it.  The IC (Intelligence Community) run wild.

The ep was enjoyable, but I can't get past that Saint was declared totally off limits in L.A. development circles.  Now, he's gonna score a major redevelopment deal?  What changed?

I loved seeing Teddy and his nerd approach of Grady.  Trying to figure out what he gained from the utility reading, though.  Really loved seeing Oso large and in charge at the party.  

[Sarah 103]

It's weird seeing Saint being in charge of this massive criminal enterprise, but also still one or two steps away from disaster the entire time. I enjoyed seeing them borrow from Godfather (Michael's promise to Kay-"In five years the family is going to be completely legitimate"). 

I think the first two episodes of the season did a good job of setting up where the characters are and where they are headed. I am looking forward to the rest of season 5. 

I know it's the mid 1980s, but the new title card reminded me of a disco-ball. 

[Raja]

16 hours ago, Lonesome Rhodes said:

 

I loved seeing Teddy and his nerd approach of Grady.  Trying to figure out what he gained from the utility reading, though.  Really loved seeing Oso large and in charge at the party.  

The only thing that I can think of is the next time Teddy approaches that Grady knows that he slid up right next to him unprotected before. A more subtle approach than Peaches flashing a gun.

[Joimiaroxeu]

S5E1
Negotiating with the CIA to pay you more for the cocaine you're selling for them. Craziness. But at least Saint figured out a way to get back the $15M that he had stolen from him last season.

So were those the first Air Jordans that dumb kid got his broken foot for? Sigh, the beginning of whole different kind of addiction, for many people who could afford it the least. (Third show I've seen in the past week which had Nikes as a plot point. What's that all about?)

And then suburban White cokehead kids started trying to act gangsta, holding their guns sideways. 🙄

I don't get why Grady didn't recognize Reed. The meter reader disguise wasn't all that great IMO.

So there's a new sheriff in town. A dirty one.

A phone sex business set up like a regular office with desks and phones with multiple extensions. Heh. I barely recognized Wanda at first. She looked good with some more weight on her.

Thad, you messed up bad. You too, Rob, for telling him too much. Apparently Rob knew he was going to have to kill the kid. And that he had also become too much of a liability for Franklin. He got one last pipe hit for the road, as it were.

S5E2
Reed lowkey blackmailing the CIA to get back inside. What makes him so sure they won't just take him out?

I dunno, something about Franklin's baby mama Veronique seems mercenary to me. He better have a tight prenup if they get married. And does he know for sure she's pregnant? She might have a timely "miscarriage" after he puts all that money and real estate away her and the alleged baby.

Grady vs Reed. Yeah, right. Grady was a coked up idiot who apparently didn't know who he was dealing with. Reed does not play.

Good on Skully for turning Wanda down. She absolutely does not need to risk getting back into the crack and prostitution life.

So Reed's gone, now he's just Teddy. Hmmm. Looked like Franklin was thinking about calling him dead.

[chick binewski]

On 2/24/2022 at 4:46 PM, Lonesome Rhodes said:

Odd seeing a renewed emphasis on powder coke and not a whole lotta rock/crack.  Nice choice recreating Bias' death.  While that had a huge impact on the Celtics, I just don't recall some new added urgency from LE because of it. 

What are the chances we hear the term, "Deep State" this season?  This whole enterprise is an early manifestation of it.  The IC (Intelligence Community) run wild.

The ep was enjoyable, but I can't get past that Saint was declared totally off limits in L.A. development circles.  Now, he's gonna score a major redevelopment deal?  What changed?

I loved seeing Teddy and his nerd approach of Grady.  Trying to figure out what he gained from the utility reading, though.  Really loved seeing Oso large and in charge at the party.  

 

On 2/25/2022 at 9:13 AM, Raja said:

The only thing that I can think of is the next time Teddy approaches that Grady knows that he slid up right next to him unprotected before. A more subtle approach than Peaches flashing a gun.

 

On 2/26/2022 at 7:35 PM, Joimiaroxeu said:

I don't get why Grady didn't recognize Reed. The meter reader disguise wasn't all that great IMO.

So there's a new sheriff in town. A dirty one.

A phone sex business set up like a regular office with desks and phones with multiple extensions. Heh. I barely recognized Wanda at first. She looked good with some more weight on her.

Thad, you messed up bad. You too, Rob, for telling him too much. Apparently Rob knew he was going to have to kill the kid. And that he had also become too much of a liability for Franklin. He got one last pipe hit for the road, as it were.

S5E2
Reed lowkey blackmailing the CIA to get back inside. What makes him so sure they won't just take him out?

I dunno, something about Franklin's baby mama Veronique seems mercenary to me. He better have a tight prenup if they get married. And does he know for sure she's pregnant? She might have a timely "miscarriage" after he puts all that money and real estate away her and the alleged baby.

Grady vs Reed. Yeah, right. Grady was a coked up idiot who apparently didn't know who he was dealing with. Reed does not play.

Good on Skully for turning Wanda down. She absolutely does not need to risk getting back into the crack and prostitution life.

Grady and Teddy had never met before and I think all Teddy wanted was to look around &  confirm what a terrible job Grady was doing (and key the car bc Teddy is a total Bitter Betty if he can't run a cocaine operation).

I was a little confused at the scene with Julia (nice stalking skills, Teddy) bc the guy on the boat looked like Teddy's boss.

My take on Rob was that Franklin decided to kill him after he realized Rob told that kid about the CIA  - which makes having Rob kill the kid even more chilling to me. But some folks online are saying it was Rob going for the pipe, which I don't buy.

I am so rooting for Wanda. Veronique on the other hand is bugging me. And Louie as far as I can tell.

I was happy to hear Brandon Jay McClaren was joining the show; I hope they give him something to work with. And I really like Emily Rios but it's been three seasons - bring Lucia back or give Gustavo more to do!

[eejm]

I knew at the beginning of the episode that Rob would not be long for the world.  He was a bit of a fuck up, but he was honestly one of Franklin’s most loyal associates.  I get why Franklin killed him, but Rob deserved better.

Peaches : Snowfall : Chibs : Sons of Anarchy (I love both characters and want/ed them to survive to the end of the series.

[Lonesome Rhodes]

I couldn't watch the entire show due to technical issues.  Apologies if I missed something basic.

Saint made the second biggest mistake of his life by trying to drive a wedge between Teddy and Oso.  This will not end well for Franklin.

Nice scene when Saint confronted Aunt Louie and Unc.  It seems that Franklin is not as dependent upon them as he was a while back.  This is gonna be fun to watch play out.

There's always reasons when shows refuse to show the actual trigger pulling during a killing scene.  I knew something was up when they pulled that stunt with the Scully hit.  What I gotsta know is if the psychic foretold it all!  If not, how long is she for this world since Scully is not exactly understanding when folks become useless or are perceived to "lie," eh?

I wish I gave a hoot about Wanda.  

 

[Raja]

I think Wanda is the face of all the victims, even in recovery she can't escape the environment even as Leon at least tries to shield her from it to some extent. With all the money flowing Leon doesn't seem to be doing that well. He is still in the projects without us seeing the fancy furniture, clothes and cars like the other players from Skully up to Franklin and his aircraft. I guess it all goes into security and weapons

I think we are at the point in history where the CIA said they stopped their involvement in the trade making Teddy just a trafficker while trying to make Franklin believe that the CIA might reach out and take him at any moment. Along with a name drop of the Colombians moving in directly, my little brother tells me Jamaicans were also there, at least in our neighborhood, I wonder if or when the Mexican cartels reemerge for their cut and if it happened within the timeframe of the story 

[Joimiaroxeu]

"Sounds like Old Testament this time." Yeah, with Skully that's always going to be problematic. The OT is where all the smiting happened and Skully loves to smite people. 😉

"I'm glad you didn't not make it." Well, as apologies go, it's not the worst one I've ever heard. Nice to see the stripper assassins again, though apparently they've aged out of working the pole and are just raising their kids now.

Do we know for sure Alton is dead or is Teddy truly that cold-blooded to lie to Frankin right to his face? Seems like Teddy might be losing it too.

I didn't realize there was a problem with stripping on a Tuesday. 😏

Okay, Teddy was worried Franklin would try to influence Oso against him. For a CIA guy he let Franklin figure it out pretty quickly though. He's not paranoid enough (yet) to do a better job of covering his tracks.

Wait, they chose to stay in business with crazypants Skully? The devil you know, ha ha.

Love Wanda's hustle. Stay strong, Wanda!

Franklin might've overstepped with Louie and Jerome when he went all Denzel in Training Day on them. Will Louie be mad enough to sic her dirty cop buddy on Frankin? Or try to confront Teddy on her own?

[Raja]

2 hours ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

😉didn't realize there was a problem with stripping on a Tuesday. 

Okay, Teddy was worried Franklin would try to influence Oso against him. For a CIA guy he let Franklin figure it out pretty quickly though. He's not paranoid enough (yet) to do a better job of covering his tracks.

Wait, they chose to stay in business with crazypants Skully? The devil you know, 

Puff the Magic Dragon is not going to work low rent discount night. It's bad for her brand name.

Skully's plot armor worked big time. One of those Bloods has got to stage a coup sooner or later

[cyberfruit]

happy to see wanda doing her best to stay clean. i want her to win.

can i just say that i love skully's soundtrack? the dedication to pumping early house music while quoting old testament scripture, or whatever he's feeling that day, is just the biggest mindfuck and i love it, even though the character scares the hell out of me. i thought he was going to leave the life after last season, but it appears he's still here.

louie was right about him on one thing: he does stay in his lane. he may go nuclear regarding being lied to, but he's loud about it, so least you know who you're dealing with. skully clearly practices transparency. 

i'm curious about the little rock connection and hope that won't get lost this season. 

[eejm]

Who else thinks Franklin’s new girlfriend (Veronica?) is a DEA or CIA plant?

Skully is one weird ass dude.  It’s as though he can’t decide whether he wants to be a gangster or a performance artist, so he decided to do both in equal measure.

Edited March 7, 2022 by eejm

[Joimiaroxeu]

Quote

Who else thinks Franklin’s new girlfriend (Veronica?) is a DEA or CIA plant?

Yes, I've been thinking that from the beginning. She's too perfect. I've seen speculation elsewhere that she's working with Teddy but it seems more likely to me that Teddy has no clue.

I have my doubts about her pregnancy too, though I am aware IRL of male agents having kids while they were deep undercover. It'd be way difficult for a female agent to pull that off though. If this were a daytime soap she'd strategically have a miscarriage right before she should be starting to get a noticeable baby bump.

[eejm]

20 hours ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

Yes, I've been thinking that from the beginning. She's too perfect. I've seen speculation elsewhere that she's working with Teddy but it seems more likely to me that Teddy has no clue.

I have my doubts about her pregnancy too, though I am aware IRL of male agents having kids while they were deep undercover. It'd be way difficult for a female agent to pull that off though. If this were a daytime soap she'd strategically have a miscarriage right before she should be starting to get a noticeable baby bump.

She seemed really nervous when Franklin mentioned that Teddy was back.  I think she is DEA and knows a) Teddy won’t be as easy to manage as Grady, and b) she probably knows of the connections between Teddy and the previous DEA agent’s death.

About Leon doing well - I never got the impression Leon needs much, materially speaking.  He’s made it pretty clear with Franklin for a while now that while he’s still in, he wants to do his own thing.  I think he feels he belongs in the projects, where he knows everyone, can keep a low profile, and has an eye on everything.  

Edited March 8, 2022 by eejm

[Raja]

You all had me watching every move of Veronique from how she brightened up at every mention of the base business and doing a function check on the pistol and then here came Cissy.

From going back to her husband's Black Panther days to counsel Leon who wants to kick off an insurgency and the end with her making contact with Raul. While it seems that whoever is working her, like Teddy told Franklin would happen, is letting her believe that their mission is killing Teddy. Like that would help their nation(?)

Edited March 11, 2022 by Raja

[Lonesome Rhodes]

It's clear to me that Cissy was recruited in Cuba.  Was it super-well positioned narco interests?  South/Central American leaders?  Whichever, they all knew that they had to degrade the cash flow and put the CIA in its place.  

For Veronica to be a plant requires a truly incredible amount of savvy and sophistication.  I think she simply knows intuitively that if Cissy worms her way back in, she will lose the Queen Bee status she was just about to claim.  Mother-in Law need not apply.

Avi!  I don't understand why he would bother with Leon's insanity.  Things are going too well with his current clients.  Perhaps he will refuse to follow through.  Still, it is always a  highlight when he is on my TV screen.

Landlord Wanda.  That's some funny, right there.  

[eejm]

2 hours ago, Lonesome Rhodes said:

It's clear to me that Cissy was recruited in Cuba.  Was it super-well positioned narco interests?  South/Central American leaders?  Whichever, they all knew that they had to degrade the cash flow and put the CIA in its place.  

For Veronica to be a plant requires a truly incredible amount of savvy and sophistication.  I think she simply knows intuitively that if Cissy worms her way back in, she will lose the Queen Bee status she was just about to claim.  Mother-in Law need not apply.

Avi!  I don't understand why he would bother with Leon's insanity.  Things are going too well with his current clients.  Perhaps he will refuse to follow through.  Still, it is always a  highlight when he is on my TV screen.

Landlord Wanda.  That's some funny, right there.  

El Chapo recruited Cissy!  (Alejandro Edda plays the agent Cissy was speaking with in the diner, and he also played El Chapo in Narcos.  I love seeing all of the Narcos actors pop up here.)  I'll kind of hate Cissy if she uses Leon to take Franklin down.  I have a soft spot for Leon because he's never been anyone's bitch.  Watch yourself, Leon.

Damn, that do-it-yourself rap really got to Jerome.

I still say Veronique is a DEA agent.  She's far too worried about certain things to be legit. 

[Raja]

3 hours ago, Lonesome Rhodes said:

mount of savvy and sophistication.  I think she simply knows intuitively that if Cissy worms her way back in, she will lose the Queen Bee status she was just about to claim.  Mother-in Law need not apply.

Avi!  I don't understand why he would bother with Leon's insanity.  Things are going too well with his current clients.  Perhaps he will refuse to follow through.  Still, it is always a  highlight when he is on my TV screen.

Landlord Wanda.  That's some funny, right there.  

I remember a Hill Street Blues storyline where an undercover cop was shocked that her department was shocked that she did have sex with her target.

The cultural prejudice is that James Bond would think it is a perk of the job while a woman. a federal agent at that not someone blackmailed into it like the teacher raping J on Animal Kingdom, would think of something else to do with her life rather than have sex with a drug lord.

[Joimiaroxeu]

Do the LAPD really use pit bulls in their raids?  Or did they?

Leon is a true man of the people. A misguided one though. Avi was right to try to cool him off even though doing so would cost him a big sale.

Uncle Jerome getting all het up over being shaded in a rap song. Oh boy, that might not bode well. But I've seen speculation that this might be where Jerome begins turning into a Suge Knight type of character.

So what has Cissy gotten herself into? A hit on Teddy? Meanwhile, maybe Teddy had Alton stashed in Guantanamo. He wouldn't be able to reveal that to anyone, but he has to consider the risk of Alton's family thinking he killed him. It'll be interesting when he finds out Cissy is back.