Hotel Cocaine Season 1 Episode 7 Review: Estela

Roman falls further astray from who he used to be on Hotel Cocaine Season 1 Episode 7, “Estela.”

As Roman continues to dig himself deeper and deeper into Nestor’s circle, he’s unexpectedly blindsided when his secret undercover status is revealed. The revelation forces the two to discuss tough decisions in order to continue working together.

Meanwhile, Burton becomes directly involved with Nestor’s drug ring when Roman sees an opportunity to help both of them simultaneously.

Grief Comes in Waves

After hearing about Valeria’s mother and Roman’s ex-wife, Estela, throughout the season, we finally see her through flashbacks in Roman’s dreams. The love he still holds for Estela surges through him more prevalently as his life becomes more disheveled by the day.

Through this, we’ve slowly witnessed Roman’s attitude and entire demeanor change course with Marisol, becoming more irate and easily angered by her presence or simply speaking.

Marisol: “You have nightmares in your sleep. Mine is when I wake up.”

The downfall of their relationship has been an anticipated endeavor, so it doesn’t come as too much of a shock. However, Roman’s actions afterward turn a potentially promising situation into a pathetic attempt to fill an empty void within himself.

Instead of reading into Janice’s actions and how she communicates with him, stares into his eyes, and blatantly puts her life on the line for him, he resorts to sleeping with Yolanda to let out his aggression for the situation.

Ultimately, this decision-making process will ruin any sliver of opportunity for Janice and Roman to end up with one another, and it’s upsetting. The two genuinely fit well when Roman is in the right state of mind and is not thinking like a drug lord.

DEA Spy No More

One of the biggest reveals of the episode, by far, is Marisol inadvertently snitching on Roman and almost getting him killed when attempting to leave.

While Roman’s recent actions toward Marisol are challenging to accept, his efforts to keep her quiet about the situation while under Nestor’s roof are plausible. When double-crossing a drug lord, family or not, it’s never wise to openly discuss the plan, even if you’re under the assumption you’re entirely alone.

Roman being outed to Nestor is a drastic dynamic shift taking place at the backend of the season and changes everything we know up to this point. At least with Nestor none the wiser, Roman was free to pick and choose how to keep his family best protected, even if it put Nestor in a sticky situation. Now, he’s in it until they finish things with the Columbians once and for all.

The Perfect Leverage

Roman only has himself to blame for Valeria being taken hostage by the Columbians. All he has to do is ensure nothing family-related is within view in his office when dealing with Yolanda or Don Henao, but instead of calculating everything before making a move, he’s become more like Nestor, moving in even when shrouded by blind spots.

While it is a moment meant to illicit shock and will undoubtedly be the tipping point of whether Roman keeps his allegiance to Nestor, Valeria being kidnapped feels like the exact moment the series has been building up to. Through every interaction between him and Nestor, Roman has slipped further into the darkness and begun to get sloppy with his actions.

The moment Yolanda steps out of his office should be when he calls Nestor immediately and plans to get Valeria out safely. Instead, he lets himself think he’s on the same playing field as them, and it’ll become his downfall.

Stray Thoughts:

• Zulio’s attempt to sell his undercover state to Don Henao and Yolanda by killing Ray Dorado is admirable. However, now that his replacements on the case have been murdered and he’s already under investigation for Ray’s death, there doesn’t seem to be much hope he’ll make it out alive or as a free man by the end of the season.
• Burton has been through enough pain already, so I hope that he comes to his senses and does not mindlessly follow Roman’s orders or advice regarding his financial situation.

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

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Hotel Cocaine airs Sundays at 9/8c on MGM+.

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