They Called Me Magic Hands – As the first episode of The Horror Of Dolores Roach begins, people wait to get into the theater. Flora performs as Dolores Roach (Justina Machado) and receives applause once she finishes the performance. Backstage, Flora Frias (Jessica Pimentel) talks about how she had to crawl inside her skin to pull a rabbit out of the hat. She is ready to give up the role, but she is urged to continue because it is so popular. Once she is alone, Dolores shows up and says she isn’t the monster she was making her out to be. She tells the performer that she is going to tell her stuff she can never wash off.

Then, she is going to help her by setting the record straight. Dolores insists she wasn’t a bloodthirsty psychopath. She explains it was around 9/11 and everyone was coming together, but it was still during Giuliani’s time so the city was cracking down. Dominic (Anthony Grant) was the king of the block and Dolores was his queen. She loved him so much she would’ve done anything for him and she did. DEA agents raid their house while Dolores is home. When she is interviewed, she denies knowing Dominic. She tries to call his number only to find that it has been disconnected. Dolores gets 16 years and spends it with Tabitha (Maureen Cassidy).

She was released one morning in 2019. When she goes back to Washington Heights, she is shocked to find it gentrified. Dolores goes to the place where Dominic used to live. She finds a woman and asks her for a tampon. Dolores is allowed to use the bathroom. She searches for the money they hid there, but it is already gone. Dolores tries to get information from the new tenants. She goes outside where a man approaches her and offers to help. Dolores slaps him and walks away. Then, she notices that the Empanada Loca is still around. She runs into Jeremiah (K. Todd Freeman) while trying to enter the restaurant. Dolores can’t buy anything because they won’t break her fifty.

Before she can leave, Luis (Alejandro Hernandez) comes out from the back and notices her. Luis tells Nellie (Kita Updike) that they go way back. Once Dolores tells him she just got out, Luis admits he hasn’t seen Dominic since he last saw her. Dolores gets mad because she gave up 16 years of her life to protect Dominic. She tells Luis that she lost the money she saved and she isn’t even living in a halfway house. Luis takes her downstairs where he lives and reveals that his pops passed away. They smoke. Dolores begins coughing. Luis tries to get water only to realize that it is out again. Luis begins freaking out and believing he is having a panic attack. Dolores gives him a massage and explains why they call her magic hands.

Luis offers to let her stay with him. He says he has been thinking about her a lot. After a shower, Dolores lays down and thinks about Tabitha and Dominic. She had no idea how many more people were going to die in that room. Flora hears a knock on the door before she is asked if she is coming to the party. Flora yells that she’ll meet him there. Dolores locks the door before telling Flora she is such a good listener.

 

The Horror Of Dolores Roach Review

The opening episode of The Horror of Dolores Roach was a little awkward so the series may just take time to develop the core story. The performances are okay, but the dialogue is really holding everything back a bit too much. The story may get darker as it goes. Right now though, it seems a little cartoonish and over-the-top.

At the very least, I do feel somewhat inclined to see how things play out so it may be worth binging. It doesn’t nail the whole black comedy thing though unless that entails being utterly silly. It is different though. The first episode was okay and it’ll hopefully improve as the show gets into the gritty details.

The episode scores a 5.5 out of 10. Recaps of The Horror of Dolores Roach can be found on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn more about advertising on Reel Mockery here.