The show begins with Simon “The Alligator” Lago (Luis Callejo) dragging a body wrapped in plastic across the ground, dumping it in a hole. The woman inside the plastic tries to free herself as Hugh tosses shovel after shovel of dirt into the hole.

Simon shops before returning home. While having a glass of wine, he an unexpected phone call. The man alerts him of his being identified and an arrest to be made. Simon questions when it will happen. The man says the arrest is to take place now before informing him of his plan. Showing no urgency, Simon gives him the go-ahead. Police surround the home while he calmly enjoys a glass of wine. He begins the process of deleting his archives.  As the police move in, he walks out the door before being taken down.

Chema (Paco Marin) receives a call from Lennon (Jose Luis Garcia Perez) regarding Simon’s arrest. Chema reminds him of his promise to know in advance if something like this was going to happen. Lennon admits he was wrong before ordering him to do nothing until he gives the okay. After a reluctant Chema agrees, Lennon promises to fix it. Chema sits quietly for a few seconds before driving his vehicle at a high rate of speed off a bridge onto a platform below.

As Simon is being transported to prison, the officers receive a dispatch to transport him to the Baruca Correctional Facility. A smile comes to Simon’s face while the officers discuss the prison possibly being closed. An officer contacts dispatch to ask if Baruca officials will be ready to receive Simon. The dispatcher promises to alert the warden.

Hugo Roca (Alberto Ammann) is at home when he receives a call from Jorge about Simon’s arrest. Jorge tells him that he is to hold Simon at Baruca until they retrieve him tomorrow morning. When Hugo complains about the lack of manpower, Jorge orders him to be at Baruca within the hour. Laura Roca (Maria Caballero) alerts them of dinner being ready when she sees Hugo. He tells her there is an urgent matter that requires him to go to work. Guillermo Roca (Ivan Renedo) and Ali Roca (Zoe Arnao) sit quietly. He suggests she go with him. She refuses his offer before leaving for her mother’s place.

Lennon pushes his way through a crowded bar while a news segment featuring Simon’s arrest. The reporter says police have connected Simon to 20 bodies wrapped inside garbage bags. After greeting Ruso (Roberto Alamo) and Sara Oliver (Laia Manzanares), Lennon tells him about a job that he wants him to take care of now.

Two police cruisers are permitted access to the Baruca Correctional Facility through a security gate. While Simon is being screened, several guards question why he is there. Simon looks at the clock, which reads 6:45 pm.

Hugo calls Marta to inform her of an emergency at the prison. She inquires about the children. He says they are going to work with him. She warns him of how the judge will react to his taking them to work on Christmas Eve. When he tries to plead with her, she assures him that he will not win the Father of the Year award. After he tells her that Laura refused to go with him, she abruptly ends the call. He apologizes to his children as he is processed through the prison’s security gate. Inside the prison, they greet Raquel (Paula Morado).  He tells Guillermo and Ali to stay in his office until he returns.

Dr. Elisa Montero (Barbara Goenaga) demands to know why Simon was brought to Baruca. He assures her the decision was made at the last minute. She suggests he should’ve been taken to a maximum-security prison. He tells her that Simon will be moved out tomorrow when Macarena Montes (Sabela Aran) informs him that she will be working with him tonight. He orders Bastos (Xabier Deive) to keep Simon isolated and handcuffed in Green Block. Bastos says Cell 101 is ready.

As prison guards escort Simon to his cell, Hugo suggests they keep his being there under wraps. The cell is thoroughly inspected before he is permitted access. Hugo informs Simon that he can receive clean clothes before meeting the judge at 8:30 am. Simon assures him the night will be long before saying his name. With Simon locked in his cell, Hugo demands to know how he knew his name. Willy (Cesar Mateo) suggests it was one of the guards. Bastos alerts him that a notice arrived for Manuela Muno (Cecilia Freire). A convoy of vehicles can be seen heading towards the prison. Bastos explains to Montes how the male and female inmates have different timetables but share some activities. Willy warns her that the inmates will slip out to the bathroom to do things during activities.

Hugo wishes the inmates Merry Christmas before introducing Montes as a new guard. He tells Manuela that her attorney will contact her tomorrow. When she receives her work release, everyone claps. Mr. Montes congratulates her as they embrace. Taking a seat beside Nuria (Lucia Diez), Montes suggests she interact with the other inmates. Nuria remains quiet until Montes is out of earshot at which time she laughs at Manuela. She questions who she will live with when she is released from prison. Manuela assures her that she is a normal person. Nuria says neither of them is normal. Upset, Manuela walks away. Javi (David Solans) calls her a “bully.” Nuria begins to pant and bark like a dog.

Emma (Huichi Chiu) tells Manuela something needs to be finished before she is released from prison. Manuela refuses to do it because of her work release. When Emma reminds her of her oath, she agrees to do it.

Diego (Jean Cruz) informs Bastos that Cherokee (Daniel Albaladejo) is not alone in the yard. Bastos tells Hugo that he must go to Red Block. Hugh and Dr. Montes embrace when they find themselves alone. Hugo seems concerned that Simon knew his name. She assures him that Simon is unlike the other inmates, as is he a “highly intelligent killer.” After warning him of Simon’s manipulative nature, she suggests ignoring him. He tells Laura that he loves her in a voicemail.

Bastos informs Montes that Baruca, the last psychiatric prison, will close any day now. Entering the prison maintenance passageway, he says it is only utilized by the guards to access different blocks. He warns her to always be on guard in Red Block. Willy describes the inmates as mostly well-behaved. When Bastos tells the inmates it is time to return to their cells, an inmate rushes back inside to alert Cherokee of the guards. Cherokee relays the information to Carmelo (Jose Alias) who is creating an escape through the restroom floor. Carmelo asks Cherokee to distract the guards for a few minutes. After returning to the yard, Cherokee shoots some hoops when Montes grabs his attention. He tells her that the inmates will “eat her alive.”

Bastos calls for Carmelo as he walks toward the restroom. Cherokee whispering, “God*** pain in the ass” immediately gets his attention. Bastos confronts him about what he said. Cherokee denies saying anything. Bastos orders him to hand over the ball but he refuses, saying it is Christmas. When he repeats the order, Cherokee hits him in the face with the ball. Carmelo finally makes an appearance.

Bastos orders Willy and Montes to stay put while he escorts Cherokee and Carmelo to their cell. At the entrance, he unlocks his handcuffs before shoving him into the cell and punching him in his private parts repeatedly. As Montes starts to walk toward the cell, Willy promises to handle it. He asks Dr. Emillo Espada (Adolfo Fernandez) to check on Cherokee. Espada approaches the cell just in time to stop Bastos from hitting Cherokee again. Cherokee refuses treatment, assuring him that he is fine. When Bastos shuts the door, his pain drops him to the floor. Carmelo shows concern for Cherokee. Willy informs Espada that Hugo is with Montero in the Green Block.

Ruso speaks to someone on the phone about Ariadna’s Christmas present. Lennon checks to see if Ruso and Richi (Fran Berenguer) are ready as the convoy rounds a curve. Sara informs him that the jammers are in place.

Hugo and Montero are discussing Laura when Espada informs them of Bastos’s attack on Cherokee. Hugo promises to take care of it. After referring to Basto as an “animal,” Espada suggests he stop ignoring Bastos’s mistreatment of the inmates. Voicing her support for Espada, Montero says the “patients” are frightened. Hugo reminds her that they are inmates. He receives a video recording from a distraught Laura. After informing him of her kidnapping, she warns him that they will kill her if he refuses to release Simon. Hugo rushes out of the room toward Simon’s cell. Grabbing him by the shirt, he demands to know where they are keeping Laura. When he refuses to answer, he shoves him against the wall.

Sara watches as someone blows up an electrical system, shutting off the power to the prison. Everyone inside the prison is disturbed by the power outage. Hugo tries to physically force Simon to tell him where Laura is being held. Simon assures him that he can help his daughter by helping him. The prison landline and cellular are down.

Lennon’s convoy passes through the security gate. Armed men filing out of a van enter the prison. The guards and staff are ordered to get down on the ground. Bastos reaches out to Admissions with no success. Lennon’s men gather their equipment. Leading Simon through a dark hallway, Hugo asks what is happening. Simon claims the prison is under attack. As they look out a window, Simon warns that they are going to enter the prison. They hear a banging noise coming from outside two large doors. Bastos slides the window back to see Lennon’s men standing outside. When Lennon tells Hugo that they need to talk, Hugo warns him that the Civil Guard will be there very soon. Lennon points out that the landline and cellphone single are down.

Lennon gives Hugo two options, one to release Simon without any issues or they will forcibly take him. He assures him the second option will not be pretty.  While Hugo struggles to decide, Lennon questions if he is willing to put everyone’s life inside the prison at risk for Simon. He reminds him of his heinous crimes. After Hugo tells him that Simon won’t be released, he orders the guards and staff to the canteen.

Lennon orders his men to drive them out of the prison. His men gather their weapons.

Hugo asks Simon where Laura is being held. He claims they will release her after the judge arrives at the prison in the morning. He assures him their problems will evaporate once he has a chat with the judge. They dodge bullets on their way to the canteen. Smoke bombs fill the prison with toxic smoke. The inmates are frantic as the room continues to fill with smoke. Hugo rushes toward Admissions when Raquel doesn’t respond to the radio transmission. Nuria demands the guards fill them in on what is happening. Hugo informs Montero that they have accessed Admissions. She assures him that Ali and Guillermo are all right. Guillermo pleads with Ali to call their dad. She pretends to talk to Hugo on a cellphone without a signal.

Ruso assures Lennon that they aren’t coming out. Lennon tells him that he’ll see, before leaving in a vehicle.

The inmates ask Hugo what is going on. A female inmate suggests it is a jailbreak. He assures him that help is not far away.

Ruso reminds Lennon about what he said about going in and getting out. Lennon explains things got complicated. Ruso suggests they leave without Simon but Lennon refuses. He demands to know why they are putting their lives in danger for Simon. Lennon tells Hugo to look out the window. Three guards kneeling on the ground have guns pointed at their heads. Lennon demands Hugo to release Simon to him. When Hugo refuses, Lennon shoots one of the guards in execution style before giving him a chance to change his mind. After shooting the last two guards, Lennon tells his men that they are going in.

In a flashback, Laura and Hugo are enjoying themselves at a pool. Back to the present, Laura pleads to be released. A woman tells her to please lay down and don’t move.  After getting her hands free, Laura grabs the steering wheel. The woman loses control of the vehicle, crashing head-on into a vehicle as the episode comes to an end.

 

The Longest Night Review (La Noche Mas Larga Review)

The show has a 1979 Prisoner Cell Block H feel. The plot is intriguing enough to pull you in, and the execution is enough to hold your attention.

The acting is superb, with Alberto Ammann leading the cast. I’m glad to see Jose Luis Garcia Perez in another role since Felipe Calero “In from the Cold.”

The cinematography is far from dynamic.   The camera is continuously moving, not allowing viewers enough time to absorb anything. This combined with poor visibility due to low lighting makes some of the scenes difficult to follow. Editing could also be a contributor.

While the cast did a fabulous job bringing their characters to life, it is oversaturated. The episode features around 40 characters, many of which didn’t get more than a few minutes of airtime. The prison setting warrants more characters but to this magnitude.

Overall, the show was unique and intriguing. I would highly recommend to to anyone who likes prison shows. I am looking forward to the next episode.

The episode deserves a 6.5. Get more of The Longest Night recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking on the link to learn more.