The Mutiny – The episode opens with Roman Compte (Danny Pino) briefly speaking about the key role Florida played in smuggling. From prohibition to the Cocaine days, the unique location was a smuggler’s paradise. Roman then introduces himself as the General Manager of Miami’s Mutiny Club/Hotel, where the world’s most influential gathered to party. Above all else, it was the fact that Miami was regarded as a neutral territory that made everything work. This would all change the night Roman was approached by DEA Agent Zulio (Michael Chiklis) at the club.

Their conversation leads to a more private outside setting where it is revealed that Roman’s brother Nestor Cabal (Yul Vazquez) is the biggest cocaine trafficker in all of Miami. Apparently after a terrible falling out Roman didn’t just part ways with his brother, but he changed his last name from Cabal to Compte. It soon becomes clear that Zuilo wants to install Roman back in the organization as an informant and already has a plan to accomplish the task. Zuilo leverages Roman’s relationship with his daughter, Valeria (Corina Bradley), to get him to play along.

Roman wastes little time enacting Zuilo’s plan by meeting with Chucho Ramirez (Juan Carlos Messier). This doesn’t go so well. Chucho denies having a boss. Roman does as requested but immediately recruits the aid of a dancer, Janice Nichols (Laura Gordon) whom Cucho fancies. Although Janice doesn’t appear to particularly like Chucho and she obviously wants nothing to do with Nestor, she agrees to help Roman secure Nestor’s address.

Elsewhere, Burton Greenberg (Mark Feuerstein) can’t stop singing Hunter Thompson’s (John Ventimiglia) praises as he interviews him for an upcoming piece about the Mutiny. This soon takes an unexpected turn when Hunter begins asking him some hard questions about his family’s persecution of homosexuals, exploitation of immigrants, and their destruction of endangered species. Although Burton vehemently claims he is a different person, he hesitates when Hunter attempts to enlist his help with bringing them down.

Janice appears to be making progress with Chucho, but her efforts are soon waylaid when a frantic Burton shows up looking for Roman. When he tells her about the situation he’s gotten himself into with Hunter, she says that the truth always comes out, but he apparently doesn’t like the answer and tells her she’s being unhelpful as he storms off.

The next morning, Roman attempts to enjoy a nice breakfast with Marisol (Tani Watson) and Valeria, but things immediately go bad when he learns she is studying the American Revolution in school. He begins by testing her knowledge of the event, but things go bad when he gets off on a tangent about Cuban history and Castro. It is Valerie’s lackluster attitude to Cuban heritage that sets him off. When he later apologizes, it’s revealed that her pretending to not care about heritage is tied to her mother’s death.

When Roman shows up at Nestor’s house, he’s hassled a bit at the front gate and Chucho clearly isn’t happy with Janice’s deception but Nestor welcomes him with open arms. Despite the welcoming, their conversation reveals that Nestor feels like Roman abandoned him after they arrived in Miami, so it takes him little time to question why Roman has sought him out. Although Roman immediately lets him know that he’s not there to beg, he does imply that he has money problems and Valeria’s soon going to college will only make matters tighter.

After some thought, Nestor agrees to help Roman but wants him to prove his loyalty. This leads them to what Nestor refers to as his screening room where a beaten and battered Roberto is strung up, clinging to life. After it is revealed that he aided in a recent robbery, Roman is ordered to kill him. Although Roman immediately refuses to get involved, he eventually shoots Roberto in the head. Roman later returns to the club and tells Zuilo about the heist and Nestor’s plans to buy it back.

While Roman tells Marisol about the situation that he’s gotten himself into with Nestor and Zuilo, Chucho questions Nestor about Roman’s sudden return. Although Nestor appears to believe Roman’s story and deeply cares for Valeria, she agrees to take some precautions.

After several minutes of meditation and self-reflection, Burton decides to reveal his sins to Hunter. Hunter is taken by complete surprise and appears to gain some respect for Burton when he learns that he forged his father’s signature on the bank loan that built the Mutiny. Although it appears that Hunter won’t do the story, it is revealed at the end of the episode that he does go to the press with a story.

When Roman attends Zuilo’s pre-op meeting, it becomes clear that he and his men are not tactically prepared for the meeting and are simply relying on the fact that Nestor will give up when they announce themselves as DEA agents. When Roman attempts to shine a light on this, he’s basically treated like an idiot. Later that evening, Roman’s fears become a reality when he not only learns that Nestor plans on killing the Haitians after their deal but he’s also apparently changed the meeting spot. Chucho hangs back to watch Zuilo and his men make fools of themselves while Roman and Nestor visit what appears to be a Haitian compound.

After being thoroughly searched, Roman and Nestor are taken to meet Baptiste (Harding Junior) and several other Haitians (Dalmand Davidson/ Alexis Chaleston Ruiz/Stephens Samuel Daceus/Engel Lorenz/Victor Kerby). There is a bit of confusion and a standoff but the Haitians end up agreeing to Nestor’s terms. Once Nestor gets confirmation of his drugs, he orders his nearby man to bring the two suitcases. One is filled to the brim with money the other guns, which they use to kill the Haitians. The Haitians refuse to go down without a fight, which leads to a shootout, during which time Roman not only kills Chucho but saves Nestor’s life.

The episode ends with Chucho clinging to life in the backseat of the getaway vehicle as Nestor and Roman race to the nearest hospital. They do appear to arrive before Chucho dies, but he is left on the ground at the front entrance.

 

Hotel Cocaine Review

Although the cocaine era has been highly dramatized and overplayed since the successes of Scarface and Blow, Hotel Cocaine was a refreshing new take. I really enjoyed how everything revolves around the hotel and club and its kooky guest list. Although I initially did not like the Burton character, the more time he spent with Hunter, the more I came around. Some of the scenes were pure comedy gold. I also appreciated the fact that there wasn’t a whole lot of emphasis on the star-studded guest list.

Sure, the stars play a huge part and are mentioned throughout but Hunter was really the only one that got a lot of attention. Danny Pino and Yul’s performances weren’t bad as the cocaine-dealing brothers, but there were times when they appeared off. Marisol and Valeria, I could have done without and although I am a Chiklis fan, I did not like a lot of his scenes, especially the staging of the raid. All in all not a horrible start to what could be an intriguing, new look into the cocaine era. I’d give the episode a 5.6 out of 10.

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