FX’s Mayans M.C.
Season 2, Episode 3: “Camazotz”
Directed by Guy Ferland
Written by Elgin James & Jenny Lynn

* For a recap & review of the previous episode, “Xaman-Ek” – click here
* For a recap & review of the next episode, “Lahun Chan” – click here
In Maya mythology, Camazotz is a bat god. Camazotz means “death bat” in the Kʼicheʼ language. In Mesoamerica, the bat was associated with night, death, and sacrifice.

After Medina was shot in Stockton, the Mayans meet. They already know it was the dirty cops who run their “Vic Mackey bullshit” in that area. The girl— Hope— who was blowing one of the cops took off with the cellphone that was recording. Bishop doesn’t want Stockton involved in the next steps. EZ tries to offer himself up as bait to lure the cops. Bishop thinks Hope might be the better shot, though it’s a bit exploitative using her addiction to their advantage. He’s taking it hard because he was Medina’s sponsor.

Poor Mini has to live in less than desirable conditions. She has Adelita, but she’s seeing things she ought not see. She’s likely already traumatised due to what happened to her a long while ago, let alone the problems with the mercenaries. Adelita tries telling her she’s special. The girl laments: “I don‘t want to be special.”
EZ and Angel continue to mend their relationsip. They’re also going to use Medina’s burial to figure out the movements of the Sons of Anarchy, which should give them an idea about when would be best to go pay Happy a visit. The club’s all pulling together to take care of their dirty cop problem. EZ commiserates with Bishop about Medina’s murder. The club leader first voted ‘no’ on patching his sponsor because of his “naive romantic” conception of the MC. He’s also starting to feel like a father figure to EZ, who’s his new sponsor.

Things at the Galindo house are no better. Miguel sees that Emily’s torn up about their recent development issues. She’s going to try using her personal relationship with Ileana as leverage. Hubby’s not excited— not when the term “bribe” arises. She doesn’t see it that way. He’s concerned she’s becoming someone else playing around in his world.
Lincoln Potter and Anna Linares turn up at the house. They want Miguel to go for a ride with them. He leaves Alvarez to check on Felipa, as well as other business. Nobody in the Galindo world is too pleased. Not to mention Dita’s calling Felipe— a.k.a Ignacio— to keep talking about their shared history.

Alvarez goes to visit Adelita in the tunnels, to make sure things going well and that Mini’s okay. Adelita tells him that things are difficult for the little girl. So Marcus shows Mini the vicious scars on his legs, telling her about the many he has across his body from bullet holes to knife wounds. He explains that scars serve as “a reminder of who we are” and they’re nothing of which to be ashamed. He tells her that nothing’s more beautiful than owning who you are, your identity. And it moves the girl, as well as Adelita.

“We’re survivors”

The club is taking Hope to a rundown place junkies frequent. They’re going to “kill a cop today.” Coco tries to make sure EZ’s ready for what’s about to happen. He tells the prospect to “know the weight” of the line they’re about to cross. EZ assures he can handle it. Bishop lets Hope know what to do when the cops— Pollen and O’Grady— turn up. She starts to freak out because she doesn’t know any of them. EZ steps in, introducing himself. The prospect calms her, then Angel introduces himself. The rest follow suit, making Hope comfortable.
Plans begin to change when only one cop comes to meet Hope. O’Grady’s suspicious right away and pulls his gun. He walks slowly inside meeting Bishop on the way. The club schools O’Grady on what’ll happen if the video goes viral, and Coco trains his “marine sniper” eye on him. Hope’s let go. Bishop pistol whips the cop and they tie him up. They’ve got to lure Pollen into their trap next.

Emily picks Ileana up so they can talk. Her friend’s clearly nervous, but she takes the ride. Emily apologises for how she acted recently over the Agra Park fiasco. She tries to mend bridges with Ileana. The cartel wife then passes over a cashier’s cheque for $50K. She acts as if it’s only out of the goodness of her heart. Ileana wonders: “What help does this buy?” There’s always strings attached, no matter if Emily makes it seem otherwise. Not long until Ileana feels the pull of that cash, leading her to make a tentative deal with her old friend. She brings a copy of Stephen King’s Firestarter to Emily the next day— inside are secret tips.

Potter’s talking to Miguel about the farmer uprising in Northern Mexico. He believes the “rebel queen” Adelita is spreading her cause all over the country. Galindo know what’s going because he and Adelita have been in business together a while now. The feds are worried about a Cesar Chavez-type revolution. The drug kingpin attempts to talk things down. Problem is, a woman named Palomo is leading parts of the uprising, and Potter wants Miguel to “get her bloody” so they can do their best to discredit her.
Hope texts Pollen, trying to get him out of the place where he’s laying low. The bikers bust in confronted by a pissed off mom with a knife, while Pollen goes out to see Hope. The dirty cop comes in firing. Hope manages to slip in behind Pollen, smashing a piece of crystal over his head. The mom starts strangling Hope, so Coco puts a bullet in her head. GODDAMN! What an absolute mess. They decide to let O’Grady go free, so long as he deals with the Mayans well from now on, or else things will go bad for him.

Alvarez pays a visit to Felipe’s shop. He’s curious why Dita would come so far when the doc’s office is nowhere near the shop. Felipe plays dumb. Marcus leaves a card in case Mrs. Galindo turns up again. There’s a threatening air about Alvarez, even when he’s only talking softly. This surely leaves Felipe wondering when his and Dita’s secrets will come spilling out, and what that might cause.

The Mayans hang Pollen upside down from a tree with his dead mother nearby. They shoot him full of holes in a firing squad execution. Then it’s time for Medina’s burial. Everyone gets together at the clubhouse to pay their respects, some weeping from their loss, others reminiscing on old times. Everybody places items in the casket to send him off to the other side. And who shows up? SOA members, including Happy.
We see more of Dita and Ignacio’s affair. She wrote him a letter once, calling him “my forever” and expressing her love. Felipe obviously cheated on his wife. He looks solemnly to the urn holding her ashes, apologising for his transgression.

Happy goes home to the dog he named after Opie. He’s confronted inside at gunpoint by EZ and Angel. A reckoning is coming for this member of SAMCRO. But what will this cause if they kill him? Could blow things up between the Mayans and the Sons.

Soundtrack note:
“Devil in My Veins” by Yelawolf plays at the end of the episode

Another excellent chapter in Season 2. Things are heating up, and the fallout from all these various plots will continue to fuel many intense moments. EZ and Angel have a huge decision to make, particularly when it comes to the future of the club. Their actions could potentially create major chaos.

“Lahun Chan” is next time.