Legacy – The show begins with Arman Morales (Adan Canto) speaking with Ben Tashjian (Danie Peera) who is intrigued with the human wheel of death. Arman offers him a private room if he wants to take things to the next level. He refuses the offer as Tarik Bersamian (Deniz Akdeniz) approaches. Tarik welcomes Ben to the family before threatening his life if he hurts his sister, Isabel. Ben’s groomsman, Greg (Lucas Leggio), stripped down to his boxers, falls off a table onto the floor. He picks up a knife, thinking he was tossing it at the woman on the death wheel, throws it across the room, hitting a man in the left shoulder. Arman orders 911 called and the man transported to the lobby to keep their illegal activities from law enforcement.
Thony (Elodie Yung) is talking to her son, Luca (Sebastien LaSalle) about stem cells therapy. He hopes to be like other kids when the treatment is over. She asks if he is ready. He says yes. They say blast off. Luca drew a picture of Arman who he refers to as “the man who saved his life.”
When Thony arrives to do a cleaning job, she is met by Arman who promises her it is not what it looks like. He proceeds to tell her about the bachelor party. She gives him the picture Luca drew, saying you are his hero for saving his life. Nadia Morales (Eva De Dominici) walks in while the two are talking. Thony wants to repay him for Luca’s healthcare expenses. He tells her it isn’t necessary. She believes it is important. He agrees to let her work at the club to help with the wedding.
Fiona (Martha Millan) is with her son, Chris (Sean Lew), and daughter, Jaz (Faith Bryant.) She scolds him for not wearing decent shoes, instead of flip-flops. He reminds her his nice shoes do not fit. Wyatt Jennings (Dan Davidson) enters the room to speak with Chris about DACA. Fiona claims Chris’ dad, Jacob with an American citizen. He was in the United States when she found out they were pregnant. They applied for a fiancé visa, which did not arrive until after Chris was born in Manila. Chris reminds her that she lied to him about being born in the United States for 15 years. Jacob was involved in a motor vehicle collision, which he did not survive. They didn’t get married before the accident. Wyatt is confident Chris can get a pathway to citizenship.
Garrett (Oliver Hudson) briefly meets his son, Sammy (Dean Allen Williams) at daycare. Sammy asks if he can come to his birthday party. Garrett promises to talk to his mom. ASAC Katherine Russo (Liza Well) approaches him from behind to alert him about her talk with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. She tells him, they are concerned he cannot deliver a case that is prosecutable. He assures her there is nothing to worry about as he currently working on another informant. She went through his case notes, finding proof that Theo LaMont wanted out. He shrugs it off, asking if she ever knew an informant that didn’t want out. Russo reminds him LaMont is dead. Garrett accuses Arman of murdering LaMont. He slept with an informant in the Cortez case. She blames herself for not firing him. He is sure Thony will agree to be an informer, pleading with her to give him time. She informs him that if he cannot successfully turn Thony, he will be pulled off the Barsamian case.
Thony and Luca meet Jenna (Ellen Humphreys) and her son Hudson at the clinic. Thony asks if they are part of the stem cell clinical trial. Jenna says they moved from Scottsdale to ensure her son would be able to participate in the trial. Dr. Laura Kirschner (Beth Bailey) approaches, asking to speak with Thony alone. She alerts her of Luca’s abnormal liver function. Luca will need to be retested before he can enter the trial. Thony tells her Luca is borderline. She denies being responsible for what goes on, but the stem cell clinical trial is heavily regulated. Hepatologist Dr. Han will run a series today. Disappointed, Thony takes Dr. Kirschner. She relays the information to Luca.
Thony is getting a drink when Garrett approaches. She says I don’t have time for this, asking why he is there. He says you lied about knowing Arman, showing her a photo. He threatens to deport her if she doesn’t tell the truth. She is shocked to learn that he wants her to spy on Arman. He promises her protection for information on Arman, or he will call to have her deported back to the Philippines. She accuses him of threatening Luca, saying if you take the clinical trial away, he will die.
Hayak Barsamiam (Navid Negahban) is elated his daughter is getting married. He discusses his legacy, which was possible with Arman by his side as Tarik disappointedly listens. An Armenian custom requires all guests to give the bride a monetary gift. Hayak asks Arman to ensure all the guests are aware of the custom. Arman asks if he has a figure in mind, laughing when he sees it. Hayak trusts Arman to handle it. When he leaves, Tarik approaches to ask why he didn’t give the task to him. Hayak has a task in mind for him later.
Arman talks to several guests, including the senator about the Armenian tradition, telling him to consider it a $25K investment as Thony listens. He samples several dishes as he marks the donors off his list. Nadia approaches, asking how the donation requests are doing. He shows her the list. She encourages him to get the job done to entice Hayak to bring him on as an equal partner in the club. He tells her Hayak and his legacy, which includes him. She agrees but believes it is time Hayak thought about his legacy.
Councilman Eric Knight (Jay Mohr) calls Arman to request help with Councilman Charles Burton (Chris Gann) who discovered information about their arrangement. Knight says Burton threatens to expose names if he doesn’t get $500K. Arman orders Knight to promise Burton he will get the money on one condition. He will have to pick it up at the club.
Thony sings as she cleans the club. Knight and Burton enter the club. Burton asks, where are the guests. Arman says the club is being cleaned. Burton explains how he has worked for the city government his entire life. The $500K will be one-time cash-out. After a club discussion, Armani offers to give Burton a tour. Thony hears someone yelling for help and glass shattering. Arman holds Burton’s head underwater, demanding to know who else is aware of their deal with Knight. When Arman lifts his head out of the water, he swears to have not told anyone. Knight yells at Arman, saying Burton gets it. Thony enters with a half-empty bottle of liquor, looking as if she will use it. Arman orders her to get out before pulling Burton’s head out of the water. Thony yells he is not breathing, running over to do CPR.
Arman orders Knight to get Burton out of the club, but not before he threatens Burton’s life if he tells anyone. Stunned, Thony reminds him this is not what she signed up for. He raises his voice, ordering her to clean it up, so she can pay off the debt she owes him.
Thony is frustrated as she washes up, slinging a bottle on the floor. Fiona asks, what are you doing, sniffing the air. Thony says Alonzo set her on a job to clean up a grease spill at a fast-food joint. Fiona says Alonzo doesn’t have a fast-food restaurant. She tells her it was at the casino, asking if she would bring her some soap.
Thony arrives at the clinic to find Garrett on the phone talking about his son. Garrett tells Thony his wife who he is separated from didn’t invite him to their son’s birthday party. She asks him what type of protection he can offer her. He says it will depend on the evidence. She refuses to do anything that will put her life in danger. She also demands a guarantee of no deportation. He promises to protect her if she gets him something he can use. She asks what type of information. He asks if Arman has been doing anything unusual with the upcoming wedding. She tells him about Arman collecting money. He wants her to get him the name of the donors.
Thony returns to the club, where Nadia is upset about the wedding plans. She knocks on the door, offering to clean the office. Nadia remembers Thony from her party, accepting her offer for help. Thony asks about the wedding plans. She describes everyone as “incompetent.” Thony offers to give her a hand with the wedding, which Nadia accepts.
Thony is assisting Nadia when Arman demands to know why she is there. Nadia makes it clean, she invited her. They speak in a foreign language. She asks why he cares so much, describing Thony as “the help.” He eventually tells her to do as she wishes. Nadia seems a little surprised by his attitude.
The guests arrive, bringing gifts. Hayak meets Isabel Barsamian (Shiva Negar) at the bottom of the staircase. He gives a short speech about how his people are impacted by the war. Armenia will always be their home no matter where they go. Thony watches a short distance away. He announces Tarik’s enlistment in the Armenian military to reclaim their land. Tarik is not happy with the announcement.
One by one the guests arrive, giving Arman money. The money is counted, the donors are marked off the list. Thony tries to see what is going on as she retrieves dirty glasses. As he locks the money in the safe, he looks outside to see Isabela standing by the pond. He joins her there, asking if everything is okay. She denies anything being wrong. He gives her a necklace. She admits to not riding in years. He says the necklace will help her think of the past. She asks if he ever thinks about them, claiming Hayak made her break up with him. He only wanted her to marry an Armenian. Arman was part of the help.
Thony finds the guest list inside Arman’s money room. She is looking out the window at Arman and Isabela kissing. They promise to never forget each other. Tarik demands to know what she is doing in the money room. She says I am here to clean. He accuses her of stealing, recognizing her as Arman’s cleaning lady. She assures him that she is just cleaning. He asks what is going on between her and Arman, accusing him of turning Hayak against him. He grabs her arm as she tries to leave the room, demanding she empty her pockets. Arman enters the room, pushing him away. He accuses her of stealing. He demands her to show him. She pulls out her cellphone. He tries to comfort her, but she refuses. She says you are not the man I thought you were. He asks, “What am I,” asking if she thinks he is a monster. He calls her a leach.
She accuses him of working with horrible people against his father’s wishes. She asks was it worth giving up her family to work with Hayak. He tells her to not come running to him the next time she finds herself in a predicament. The wedding donor list is attached to her phone.
Hayak speaks with Arman about the monetary gifts. He alerts him of Knight not making it to the wedding. He describes his actions as “disrespectful,” ordering Arman to go get him. Arman offers to send someone over while they go to the church. He refuses the offer, demanding him to go. Arman says what about the ceremony, I can’t miss it. Nadia adds if you leave now, you will be back in time for the wedding. Hayak and Nadia leave Arman to go to the church.
Fiona offers Chris some food. He starts naming off things he can no longer do because he is an undocumented immigrant. She promises to get the money to pay the attorney fees. He asks her how, calling her a “mess” and a liar. She promises to never lie to him again before telling him his father is alive. She got pregnant during a one-night stand in Manila. Jacob discovered the lie when they arrived in the United States. She breaks down, pleading with him to not hate her. He sits beside her, touching her hand.
Thony meets Garrett at the clinic to give him Luca’s walkie-talkies for his son. She apologizes for not getting him the evidence he wanted. Each of Luca’s birthdays is a gift. She suggests he see his son without his wife’s permission.
Colleen (Erinn Bartlett) answers the door to find Garrett standing there. She questions what he is doing. He gives her the walkie-talkies. He says this is about Sammy, not us. She invites him in.
Dr. Kirschner explains Luca’s liver function tests results. She says his liver damage is more extensive than initially thought. Thony contributes the liver damage to the adenovirus. Dr. Kirschner suggests a liver transplant. He is being disqualified from the stem cell clinical trial. Thony suggests utilizing Luca’s previous test results. She offers to pay him to do it off the books. Dr. Kirschner tells her to leave. Thony breaks down as the episode comes to an end.
The Cleaning Lady Review
Thony is reaching the point of desperation. This is a mother who will do anything to save her son’s life, even if it means bribing a medical professional. Of course, her offer was immediately rejected, but it didn’t do any harm trying.
The show shines the light on various sensitive real-world problems, including healthcare availability, immigration, unplanned pregnancy, single parenting, undocumented workers, and gun control. There is nothing subtle about the way the show grapples with these issues. The audience may become disengaged if this doesn’t change very quickly.
It is highly unlikely, anyone could clean a crime scene without leaving some type of DNA evidence behind. It is unbelievable how the writers portray Thony’s ability to clean as remarkable. She works from a small handheld tote, which must contain a magical potion that makes DNA evidence completely disappear.
The episode deserves a 6.5. Get more The Cleaning Lady recaps here. Support ReelMockery by clicking the link.
Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.
