Queen of the South Season 3 Episode 5 Review: El Juicio
Christine Orlando
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Teresa Mendoza proved once again why she deserves to rule on Queen of the South Season 3 Episode 5, because there is nothing more badass than looking at your abductors and calmly telling them, "Let's get on with this."
Now we know who Pecas was calling at the end of Queen of the South Season 3 Episode 4. It was Devon Finch.
I hope it was clear to James that Pecas wasn’t calling in La Comisión because he’s the one who called Devon in the first place, but James certainly didn’t appear to be thinking about that when it was all over.
James and Teresa having sex was inevitable. I had no doubt that it was going to happen eventually, but now it’s a question of whether or not it will continue, and if it will affect the business.
I don’t know that the sex will change things when it comes to business. These two would already lay down their lives for one another.
The biggest issue will be when Guero pops back into Teresa’s life. We all know it’s going to happen.
As if Guero and James didn’t butt heads enough before, this will definitely ramp up the tension.
That James had held back details of the story about his last job for Finch was expected, but he didn’t lie to pull one over on Teresa. He lied because he was ashamed that a little girl had died because of him.
James: Her name was Suzie and she couldn't have been more than 6-years-old. I can't stop thinking about her.
Teresa: You didn't mean for that to happen. You once told me there's not good or bad in this business. Right?
James: I'm not sure I believe that anymore.
Teresa: Because of that little girl?
James: Her and you.
Teresa: Listen, whatever you've done you don't need to hide from me. We're in this together.
James: I don't deserve that.
Teresa: Everyone deserves that.
For the first time, I believed James when he said he wanted to do things differently.
When Teresa told Devon that he could have James, James didn’t even look shocked. I think it was what he was expecting once Teresa found out the truth, but I never doubted that she’d have James' back.
Teresa: The cabinet behind me.
James: With the guns? There's too many of them. We won't make it.
Teresa: Then we don't make it.
Teresa is the ultimate badass not because she can beat up her foes, but because she can outthink them. She’s a strategist who is always thinking several steps ahead, like the way she’s building her business large enough so that no one can touch her, but still taking flying lessons so she can escape if they come for her.
Or being willing to fight her way out and possibly die by her partner’s side rather than surrender him to save her own skin.
Much like King George, Teresa’s crew is loyal to her not because of the money she pays or the threat of what might happen if they leave. She’s given everyone from Little T and Kelly Anne to James and Pote the option to walk away without consequence.
Teresa's team chooses to stay because Teresa is smart about the business, powerful and compassionate, and she’s proven loyal to them.
Take Little T.
She ended up on the outs from her family after her last encounter with Teresa, but when Teresa made it back to the states, she offered her a place on her crew.
Then there’s Kelly Anne.
I love Kelly Anne because at first glance she comes across as some pretty, fragile flower, and then she shocks you with how resilient she is and how tough she can really be.
Kelly Anne: Shooting Cole, I knew who I was and what I was doing and it killed me. But I'm scared because today I don't feel a thing.
Pote: Your husband beat you. The man you shot at wanted to kill us. It is alright to feel nothing for hurting the people who want to destroy you. You saved my life. You're family now.
Kelly Anne: Thank you.
Did I say that Pote wasn't a hugger in my review of Queen of the South Season 3 Episode 4? Obviously, I was wrong; it just depends upon who is offering the hug.
We should all be so lucky to have a Pote in our lives, he’s unendingly loyal to those who earn it, will lay down his life for those he cares about, and he’s an excellent cook! But hopefully, we don’t all have to kill to find our version of him.
Even Pote was surprised when Kelly Anne practically sacrificed herself to allow him to escape. On the one hand, it only made sense. Pote was their secret weapon and if they caught him, the odds of gaining the upper hand in this confrontation with Devon would have gotten even worse.
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But that doesn’t mean what she did wasn’t ballsy. Heck, the woman ended up being waterboarded because of her loyalty to Teresa and her team.
Loyalty must be earned and it goes both ways. Teresa can only be as strong as the people around her and she chooses them carefully.
Camila should take notes.
Camila doesn’t trust anyone around her, other than perhaps Isabela, and I’m not sure I’d trust Isabela if she ever finds a way to wrest power from her mom.
Camila can’t trust that Alonzo isn’t just setting her up, and Cortez couldn’t even kill Boaz when they were finally given the okay from the cartel. Was that because he couldn’t find him to get the job done or because keeping Boaz alive works out better for him?
I was a little surprised that Camila continued to sleep with Alonzo but what irked me was the way that Cortez questioned why she was having sex with the DEA agent.
Would Cortez have questioned Epifanio having a sexual relationship for information and sex? I doubt it, and yet Cortez questioned Camila’s motives.
Camila doesn’t know who to trust because neither Cortez or Alonzo is truly loyal to her. Alonzo will turn her in if and when he needs to save himself, and Cortez will turn on her the moment he believes he can successfully take control.
While Teresa and James’ sexual encounter was fueled by adrenaline, attraction, and emotion, Camila and Alonzo’s was more about selfish need, power, and control.
When Alonzo got shot and still had to fight off Cortez, I thought he was a goner, but the DEA agent proved to be tougher than expected, and his parting line to the General in this Queen of the South quote was the perfect insult…
Cortez: Camila and I will rule Mexico and there is no room for her little boy.
Alonzo: Better her boy than her dog.
Will James and Teresa continue their new intimate relations? Will Kelly Anne become Pote’s right-hand woman? And will Cortez allow Alonzo to continue to be Camila’s boy toy?
Check back for my review of Queen of the South Season 3 Episode 6, and until then you can watch Queen of the South online here at TV Fanatic.
C. Orlando was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow her on Twitter.
