Hotel Cocaine Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Dia de los Muertos

Roman’s ability to escape Nestor’s grip on his newfound life slowly deteriorates on Hotel Cocaine Season 1 Episode 3, “Dia de los Muertos.”

Janice’s impromptu decision to influence Chucho’s fate on “The Orishas” inadvertently pushes Roman closer to being fully immersed in the life he desperately tried to avoid from the beginning.

Despite his vocal desire for a simple life with his family, though, Roman’s efforts to help Nestor in the episode tell a different story, adding more depth to his character.

Meanwhile, Burton comes face-to-face with his sister, who is curt, stuck up, and in pursuit of taking the Mutiny Club and Hotel from him.

A New Secondhand Man

As we delve deeper into the season, the layers of Roman’s character are being peeled back one by one.

He often claims that he wants nothing to do with Nestor’s business, out of respect and safety for his family. However, his actions tell a different story, adding a compelling depth to his character that keeps us intrigued.

Roman may not know the lengths she’s going to, but Janice provides ample opportunities for him to work his way out of the conundrum he’s gotten himself into. However, it’s as if he’s hooked on the thrill of potentially being caught.

After some undercover sleuthing, Janice helps Roman uncover the truth about the impending drug war, directly telling him that all he has to do is sit back and allow the Columbians to move into Nestor’s territory and take care of business. All Roman has to do is keep his mouth shut, and he’s home-free, no longer forced to worry about Valeria’s safety.

Instead, he ignores her advice and warns Nestor about the impending hit heading his way. This interaction makes it worth assuming that Roman doesn’t want to escape the new environment he’s found himself in. I hypothesize that Roman’s desire to keep Nestor in his life is a significant underlying factor in this equation.

Did the idea of being involved in killing people for money initially cause him to stay away from his brother? Absolutely. However, now that he’s thoroughly immersed in everything going on, I get the sense that no matter how vehemently he may deny desiring to be part of Nestor’s crew, he secretly doesn’t want it to end.

I’m intrigued to see where Roman’s storyline will take him, whether we’ll see him removed from the clasps of his brother’s hectic world, or whether his views will slowly begin to take on the same as Nestor.

Laura Gordon and Danny Pino’s chemistry is electrifying, and only three episodes in, I’m desperately hoping the two end the season next to each other’s side.

Sibling Rivalry

While Burton serves as the series’ much-needed comedic relief, he is far from one-dimensional. His character is multi-faceted, a refreshing departure from typical character tropes, and we see that prevalently on “Dia de los Muertos.”

When Burton isn’t experiencing a drug-induced hallucination trip, which is not often, we get a first-hand look at the non-existent relationship he has with his sister, Constance, and it doesn’t disappoint.

Like any pair of siblings who don’t see eye to eye, the two engage in a rapid-fire exchange of insults, with Constance’s cutting remarks hitting Burton like a whip. The tension in their relationship is palpable, adding a particular layer of drama and conflict.

All of their exchanges lead up to the climactic interaction between the two towards the end, with Burton imagining himself as a real-life elephant, snorting a tray full of cocaine in front of her associates and putting his foot down on her failed attempt to take over his club.

Burton’s tenacity in the face of total bankruptcy is courageous and inspiring, but now he’ll have to power through the coke-induced haze he lives in to solve his problem: finding $2.1M to pay off his loan. All while simultaneously guaranteeing his family never finds out he stole money from his father to get the club off its feet.

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“Dia de los Muertos” masterfully sets the stage for the impending drug war that will soon engulf Nestor and Roman. The real question that lingers in the air is: Will Roman choose to stay and protect Nestor, or will he find a way out for his family?

What did you think of this episode of Hotel Cocaine? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Hotel Cocaine is available to stream on Sundays on MGM+.

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