The new season of Los Espookys is flying by as we hit the midway point. The company is expanding by adding a new member. No, not the overqualified person they interviewed last week. Now that Tico has returned to Mexico and is unemployed, Renaldo sees if his uncle can be a good fit during their next gig.
It definitely provides a different dynamic with Tico in the fold with the rest of the gang. There is the natural adjustment period of introducing someone new and his vibe doesn’t’ quite mesh well. The generational differences are there with a Steve Buscemi “How Do You Do, Fellow Kids” energy.
But the show leans into this by making Tico the father like figure. He adds a positive presence by encouraging Tati and helping her reach her full potential, and even Renaldo turns to him for sagely advice. Also, by having him in Mexico, there is less jumping back and forth across the border to see what he and his daughter are doing making things more cohesive.
While Tico is that paternal figure of Los Espookys, one could argue Úrsula is the mom of the bunch. She’s supportive of Tati, following her divorce and is encouraging, and her hairbrained schemes. On the other hand, she brings the tough love for Andrés hoping that he’ll get his act together. She’ll need that balance of affections as she looks to become the new mother of the country in her crusade to unseat the current president.
The series is building to something big approaching the election from various angles and involving all these different side characters including Ambassador Gibbons, Water’s Shadow, and Mayor Teresa Lobos from “El Monstruo Marino.” Though the case is exaggerated here for comedy and emphasis, Úrsula’s task and large odds against her mirror the difficulties of tackling social issues and the indifference and ignorance that it creates. However, a movement has to begin somewhere and I have faith that Úrsula is the woman to lead the charge.
Elsewhere, Andrés is on his way to a full-on heel turn. He finds an entertaining side job that matches his flair for the dramatic and still matches with Los Espookys‘ randomness. After finding a new lover, his aversion to additional roommates leads to some sinister scheming. We have to continue the season to see if there is no limit to what he’s capable of. The only subplot that is getting tiresome is Renaldo and his haunting visions of the beauty pageant winner. It keeps on occurring with no real progress or any payoff in sight.
In an interesting turn, the job of the week isn’t very successful. The growing pains of adding a new member play a role, but it makes you wonder of there is deeper meaning to it. Their clients don’t always have the best of intentions, but the professor who hires them has especially disrespectful and questionable motives. Maybe it’s also an indictment of his views that the results are a failure. There is self-awareness as well as the professor deals with consequences.
“Las Ruinas” sets up the big narrative of the election while exploring the human side of its characters.
New episodes of Los Espookys drop Fridays on HBO.
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