Acapulco Season 2 Episode 9 Review: The Power of Love

With the season finale quickly approaching, Acapulco Season 2 Episode 9, “The Power of Love,” stalls the story in place. It’s been a point of contention all season but becomes more evident in this penultimate episode — the dual timeline structure hinders more than helps Acapulco Season 2.

On one hand, there’s been massive linear progress shown in the flashbacks. Acapulco Season 2 began on New Year’s Day and has progressed past Easter. However, Present Day Maximo is telling Hugo his story over the course of a day. Two maybe? 

The show has created an unnecessary mystery for Maximo to drag out his story in the present timeline. Rather than draw out this mystery over 10 episodes, it would be easy to fit in two main plots in the present-day story.

Especially in this age of streaming shows, where renewal can be hard to come by, it’s obvious that Acapulco Season 2 is dragging out the Present storyline to end on enough of a cliffhanger that prompts a Season 3. I worry that we’ll never get to see one.

That being said, the events in the ’80s storyline of Acapulco Season 2 Episode 9 have reached an organic stopping point for the season. Maximo and Julia are both single, the boys of Las Colinas have found some answers (via Canary), Sara is back home, and Diane has convinced Don Pablo to return, so where do we go from here?

The last episode of the season has a clear path to focus on the Present Day storyline, which is desperately needed.

The joy of Acapulco Season 2, has been in the dynamics of unexpected pairings. Case in point — the absolute wacky hijinks that Chad, Memo, and Hector get up to when they’ve been put together.

The problem is that almost none of these characters are seen in the Present Day storyline. Other than Old Memo, who was barely introduced halfway through Acapulco Season 2, it’s hard to care about the Las Colina’s peripheral staff when we don’t see or hear about them in the future.

If the season finale is leading to Don Pablo’s memorial, we’ll see some more of these characters in the present day. Why couldn’t we have seen some of those dramatics earlier out?

A last-minute comment in Acapulco Season 2 Episode 9 makes the mystery person “the love of [Maximo’s] life.” So we’re back to Isabel or Julia? That’s a letdown considering how clever this show can be. I hope Acapulco throws a massive curveball at us in the final episode. Give me an estranged child that Maximo’s been hiding from his nephew! 

Besides Maximo’s love life and career, Acapulco Season 2 Episode 9 also allows the other characters to settle. After Don Pablo left for Mexico City, I worried that it would be the last we’d see of Damián Alcázar.

He’s brought back into the fold in a way that makes sense both for his character and for the resort. His return has a wider significance for Maximo’s future. By giving the manager actual ownership of the resort, a precedent is set for Maximo to follow that path. Is that how he gets rich? 

It would be a great way to connect the dots of Maximo’s character arc, from past to present, and it would help bring Mr. Vera back into the fold. Showing how these three separate Mexican men from different backgrounds “made it” would provide an interesting angle in an Acapulco Season 3.

Bringing him back also sets a solid precedent for Chad’s big move. If he starts traveling the world to “find himself,” I’m confident he can find his way back to Acapulco. Chord Overstreet has been a comedic foil throughout the series, and I hope to see more of him.

With only 30 minutes left to wrap up Acapulco Season 2, the finale is going to have to speed through the plot. If Acapulco already had a season renewal on the books, I wouldn’t be as worried. But with the future up in the air, it’s going to be very interesting to see where this season ends.

Stray Thoughts

• Julia’s family excited that she’s going to “be a gringa” is such a Mexican thing to say. It’s definitely how my aunts talk.
• I’m still iffy about how Sara’s arc has been treated this season. It’s been too on again then off again.
• Lupe scamming both the Las Colinas boys and her own cousin is very on-brand.
• I’m glad Nora and Sara made up, but I hope they have a real conversation about their issues.
• We love Esteban!!

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

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Acapulco airs Fridays on Apple TV+.

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