FX's 'Mayans MC' Season 2 Episode 1 recap: EZ gets ultimatum to work things out with Angel as the Reyes family remains divided
Spoilers ahead for the season 2 episode 1 of 'Mayans MC' titled 'Xbalanque'
FX's 'Mayans MC' returned to television for the second season with a grittier, more violent and tense season premiere.
Season 2 picks up eight months after the events of the season 1 finale 'Cuervo/ Tz’ikb’uul'. EZ Reyes (J D Pardo) is a prospect at the Mayans MC, but this time around, he participates in the illegal dealings of the club willingly. The relationship he shares with his elder brother Angel (Clayton Cardenas) is so strained that the tension is brimming and falling over into the club. At first, Michael Irby's Bishop gives it time and space saying that the brothers must figure it out themselves, but loses his patience and gives EZ an ultimatum - his patch vote is up and before that, he must talk it out with Angel and clear this mess up.
The episode is packed with violence and bloodshed. We do not wish to give out many details, but there are young children, guns and torture involved too. The 'Sons of Anarchy' crossovers that we were promised in the run-up to season 2 are delivered in the first episode itself. Sons of Anarchy's Happy Lowman (David LaBrava) meets Chucky (Michael Ornstein) as he is delivering a shipment of guns to the Mayans. 'Sons of Anarchy; had ended with SAMCRO president Jax (Charlie Hunnam) wanting to get the club out of the guns business. Unfortunately, as Happy tells Chucky, that hasn't happened yet. "The transition is taking longer than we thought," he says. "There is a lot at stake." The scene sheds light on the sad aftermath of Jax's presidency. He ha put Tommy Flanagan's Chibs in charge to save the club, but the transaction in this episode says otherwise.
Even so, the show continues to keep the Reyes family drama at the center of all things. After the premiere, it is very clear that Happy has something to do with the murder of Angel and EZ's mother Marisol Reyes. Is it really him that killed her? We do not know that for sure yet, even as EZ is pretty confident. Pardo's EZ is now hot on the pursuit and seeks revenge. Towards the end of the episode, EZ tells his brother Angel that he knows who killed their mother. We expect the following investigation will bring the brothers closer, perhaps even end their feud. Simultaneously, Felipe (Edward James Olmos), EZ and Angel's father is trying to confront his past. He is paid a visit by Ray McKinnon's Potter (who is also reprising his role from 'Sons of Anarchy') and is now asking questions about Ignacio Cortina and if Felipe doesn't act fast, possibly dangerous secrets will be out there in no time.
We also see Marcus Alvarez (Emilio Rivera) work into his new role as Miguel Galindo’s (Danny Pino) consiglieri. We still don't know exactly why it is that he left to work with the Galindo cartel, but will this mean that Galindo and the Mayans will be working together?
One of the biggest surprises of this season premiere is finding out that Adelita (Carla Baratta) is pregnant. It looks like Angel has fallen head over heels for Adelita - he is protective of her and her unborn child. But given the events of season 1, can she be trusted?
At first, we assumed the baby could be Angel's; a natural guess given his body language around her. But Emily (Sarah Bolger) later asks Miguel (Danny Pino) about the father of the child - which plants doubt in our minds. Emily's query is not just that, it is filled with suspicion and accusation. Could it be that the child Adelita bears is Miguel's? Well, eight months since the events of season 1 and Adelita doesn't look more than roughly 4-5 months pregnant, so it is not entirely impossible.
Mayans MC' airs on Tuesdays at 10 pm EST on FX.
