'ZeroZeroZero' Episode 6 sees Manuel Contreras’ private army break down under pressure in his absence
Spoilers ahead for 'ZeroZeroZero' Episode 6
In 'ZeroZeroZero' Episode 6 we see how Manuel Contreras (Harold Torres) has built a private army by instilling fear in the people of Monterrey, Mexico. This private army is bankrolled by the Leyras Brothers and led by Manuel who hires young boys who belong to local drug runners. He trains them, brings them together and has them believe they now belong to a brotherhood and employs them as hired hands. The episode centers on how things can go wrong very quickly even if one person in the brotherhood makes a reckless decision. In this case, one of his lieutenants, who believes that they are better than the Leyra brothers' sidekick decides that he can run a mission without Manuel when he doesn't answer a call.
After helping Chris with the shipment in Mexico, Manuel had a plan that will make him an important part of the cartel led by the Leyras brothers. He had decided to help the Leyra Brothers get business through local drug peddling, by taking control of drug movement within Monterrey. He takes control of local drug peddlers and hires the young boys who work for these men to work under him. By leading the men who are armed with training and weapons, Manuel is hoping to become influential and powerful.
He begins by bringing the local drug dealers under his control and their men are put through the same training routine that Manuel himself was put through in the Mexican army. He is creating a private army of his own with Leyras support and he does so with no qualms about whose lives are at stake and who he kills. Does he not feel guilty? He believes in God and is a frequent visitor to a local church that uses a Godman to preach. Initially, it seems as if he has no space for a guilty conscious but it is his frequent visits to the home of one of his fellow soldiers who he killed and framed as a betrayer which hints at the fact that he feels at least a tad bit uncomfortable. However, in episode 6 we learn that it is not just the guilt that pushes him to give envelopes full of cash to the dead soldier's pregnant wife La Chiquita, but also the fact that he is attracted to her.
The Firm led by Manuel has now taken control over three parts of Monterrey and is looking forward to spreading their control over other regions soon. The fear that they have instilled in people will pave the way for Manuel to continue his work, but when the payday does come around the Leyras refuse to pay. They claim that they are currently short on cash, but that they have ordered weapons for the Firm that will be delivered soon enough. Manuel sees that the Leyras still have the upper hand and that's when he begins to plot their downfall.
However, unknown to him, when he is with Chiquita, his men decide to trade weapons with Leyras' men to prove their worth to Manuel and things go downhill from there. Men are shot dead, some are hurt and by the time Manuel makes it to the site of exchange, it's all a clusterf**k. The kind that Manuel would have to think hard and fast about resolving if he doesn't want to lose the Leyra brothers' backing. He starts by treating his injured men at Chiquita's home and before he could formulate a plan, Chiquita goes into labor. Amid all the chaos and violence, a new life is born, but in all probability, this is not going to change Manuel in any way.
In the meanwhile, Chris and Emma have arrived in Casablanca, Morroco after burying Omar in the desert.
Stream episodes of 'ZeroZeroZero' on Amazon Prime Video from March 6.