Last night’s episode, Don’t Worry, Baby might be the best so far this season. Many of the show’s characters are being assured by those around them that everything is okay. However, there is imminent danger lurking around the corner for all.
Ghost and Angela are dealing with the aftermath of the Tariq gun incident. Tasha has banned the kids from staying at Angela’s apartment. In an effort to help, Angela calls in a favor to have Tariq’s record with the NYPD expunged. When Angela tells Tasha about her good deed, the two have an awkward encounter. Ghost finds out about Angela’s visit and it leads to an argument between the two. To make matters worse, Angela’s sister Paz comes over for dinner and it doesn’t go well. Paz is not a fan of Ghost and uses every opportunity to throw shade at their relationship.
As mentioned in previous recaps Ghost and Angela got what they wanted, they are together. But the saying goes, “be careful what you wish for.” Things are clearly not going well for them right now and they are not being honest with each other. The communication is poor and there are some control issues. Ghost is used to running things his way and Angela is an independent woman, there is bound to be tension. Something tells me they won’t make it through this season together. Angela even questions Ghost towards the end of the episode about their relationship. She is truly contemplating its future and if everything they’ve done was worth it.
Down in D.C. Jukebox is working out the details of a jewelry store heist. Watching Anika Noni Rose in this role is a treat. Jukebox is as ruthless and pragmatic as they come. There is no mistaking who is in charge and she is not afraid to let anyone, man or woman, know it. A minor disagreement starts when Kanan enters the room as Jukebox and her team are discussing the details of the heist. Jukebox lets them all know she will decide who does what. As she exits the room she tells Kanan she isn’t sure about his ability to handle a gun given the injuries. She then tells Kanan he probably can’t even jerk off. Kanan and Candy are left in the room to make sure that his hands are working. Candy reports back to Jukebox that both of his hands work just fine. That scene was incredible as it reinforces the power dynamic through a proxy. Jukebox is the boss and Candy is her proxy in this instance. Jukebox uses Candy’s sex to show her power and control, over both Candy and Kanan.
The jewelry store heist is a great action scene, the combination of smashing glass, screams and the loud demands of the assailants was well shot and edited. In the aftermath of the heist, Jukebox calmly throws the police off the trail by giving the description of the getaway car with four white males (anybody else catch that?) traveling in the wrong direction. She and Kanan celebrate later at a strip club and they discuss his plans on returning to NYC. He obviously wants to kill Ghost but she gives him more to think about. Ghost took a lot away from Kanan when he set him up, how should he seek revenge?
Tommy and Holly were busy this episode. On a visit to Tasha’s apartment, while Tommy is having a talk with Tariq about the afore mentioned gun incident, Tasha and Holly share a moment bonding over motherhood. Tasha gives Holly stern but prudent advice on what she needs to consider. It is in that moment when Holly begins to strongly feel the bonds of family.
Holly continues to press Tommy about killing Ghost. The new mother to be loves Tommy and wants to be in this relationship for the long haul. Her motives are clear and she needs Tommy to do the deed. Tommy’s inability to kill his brother causes tension between he and Holly. Tommy, severely stressed over the decision to kill Ghost, “confesses” during a money pickup that he is having difficulty following through on his mission. Anybody else find the priest’s comments about the Ten Commandments funny? “God doesn’t care if you honor your father or mother…” The love and feeling of family is weighing heavily on Tommy and he is unsure what to do. Tommy will have to decide, if he is going to save his old family or his new one. Remember what he tells Tariq during their talk, “families are supposed to stay together, not break up.”
Unbeknownst to Tommy, the son of the Korean primera plans on killing him that evening. Did I miss something? How did the Korean know where Tommy was going to be that night? Dre (back on the block, where he isn’t supposed to be) learns of the plan to hit Tommy and tells Ghost. Despite his desire to go fully legitimate, Ghost can’t let his boy get killed, so he springs into action and foils the attempt on Tommy’s life. When Tommy returns home injured but alive after the attempt on his life, Holly goes full alpha female. Assuming that the attempt on Tommy’s life was Lobos, she knows that now is the time to act. Holly needs to make sure Ghost is killed before Lobos kills her, Tommy and their unborn child.
The biggest revelation this week is FBI agent Greg Knox, with the help of DEA agent Medina, has located Vibora Ruiz. The former head of the Soldado nation was last seen at the end of season 2 fleeing NYC and going into hiding from Lobos at Ghost’s request. Knox travels to San Diego and finds Ruiz living under the alias Armando Garcia. Knox pushes Ruiz and eventually gets him into custody. Upon his reinstatement to the Lobos task force Knox lets the team know that Ruiz will testify and give up the entire distribution network. This means trouble for Ghost and Angela.
Knox is hell bent on burying Angela and revealing the truth about Ghost. He looked very smug on his return to the task force, shooting very cocky smirks in Angela’s direction. Angela knows how to handle herself, it will be interesting to see how she gets herself and Ghost out of this one. The head of the district office, Mike Sandoval, may actually end up inadvertently saving Ghost and Angela. As a mole for Lobos he must protect his boss at all costs.
It’s hard to believe but next week puts us at the halfway point for this season. The pressure has been turned up and nobody appears to be on solid footing.
A few extra thoughts:
- The music scored in each episode is fantastic. Pay attention when you’re watching.
- The use of mirrors in this series is incredible. Kemp uses it as a tool for the characters to explore their duality.
- I don’t know a lot about guns but when Kanan kills Dirk, it sounds like a single shot from a handgun, not a semi automatic weapon?
- At least two of the Korean’s empty their magazine clips when shooting at Tommy? How is it he only gets a minor flesh wound? (See bullet above).
- Ghost as the popular friendly club owner taking selfies, is hilarious.
- What is up with the head of the security firm Ghost hired? Does he know something? Why did Ghost, knowing he was being followed by the security firm, take action against the Koreans? There is a double cross somewhere in that storyline?
- Anybody else catch the Farnsworth Bentley reference? I wonder what he is up to these days…
- Is it me or does anyone else think Tariq is going to purposefully say something to his shrink?
- A topless Candy gets close to Kanan and he proceeds to put his hands on her when she smacks it away and says, “Nah son, you ain’t ‘bout to smash. This is about your hands.” Hilarious.
- “You can see the kids anytime you want. As long as it ain’t at Angela’s. I don’t need Reina coming home with a switchblade.” Tasha to Ghost. Burn.
- As we’ve mentioned Candy is beholden to Jukebox. Do we think she loves the position she’s in? Did you catch Candy’s reaction in the jewelry heist planning scene? Watch it again. I don’t know that Candy enjoys being a pawn. Time may not allow the series to revisit that dynamic, but if it does, pay close attention.
What do you all think? Use the comment section below. Please share with your friends and people you think would enjoy the show. As always thanks for reading and visiting BSO. See you next week!