Hotel Cocaine Season 1 Episode 8 Review: The Price

Hotel Cocaine Season 1 Episode 8, “The Price,” is an invigorating, fast-paced season finale with suspense, action, and jaw-dropping final moments.

Roman and Nestor are forced to make a new deal with Zulio when Henao and Yolanda kidnap Valeria in the final season outing.

Meanwhile, Burton learns the hard way about doing business with drug dealers, ignoring Janice’s pleas to avoid going to the meeting with Nestor.

No More Hiding from the Past

Thanks to Nestor, Roman is reunited with Hal, the man he deems responsible for failing to protect him and his family in Cuba, leading to Estela’s death.

While there isn’t much time dedicated to the three of them working things out, it is revealed that Nestor has secretly been helping fund the war in Cuba, and Hal is the one behind coordinating forces against Castro.

In return for Roman helping him secure the shipment of cocaine meant for Henao and Yolanda, he fixes the issue with Zulio, setting him up to murder the two Columbians and then cuffing him for doing so.

However, the earth-shattering revelation of the entire season is Hal exposing that Estela never died. Despite Roman being under the guise that she was murdered via a firing squad, Hal provides photo proof that she was spotted weeks prior in Cuba.

As exciting as this news is, it also brings forth a new set of troubles for Roman. He now has to find a way to confirm the information while navigating his newfound engagement with Marisol, inform her about the update, and find a way to break the news to Valeria.

It’ll be interesting to see if Roman takes this news and agrees to work alongside Hal and Nestor to take back Cuba or if he’ll try to tackle the situation solo.

An Eye-Opening Experience

Burton’s carefree attitude is an attribute he used to coast through the season, not deviating from this stance until the very end. It’s a characteristic I wish we’d seen him evolve past sooner, but “The Price” does well to end that, setting up the potential for a completely different Burton if picked up for Season 2.

Nestor to Burton: “I hear you like to party. Have you ever considered what it takes to bring this stuff in? People get shot. Sometimes, they’re tortured. Drowned, stabbed, their fucking guts ripped out. Right now, Roman is off trying to find his daughter, my niece. Her life is in danger because of this fucking coke. Just so a bunch of empty-headed self-indulgent pigs at your club can enjoy themselves for a few fleeting moments. So, you ask me if what I think we’re doing is safe. No, it’s not fucking safe!”

Nestor’s clearly painted picture of what he goes through to ensure coke stays on the streets is an eye-opening experience for Burton. After all that time spent cozied up to dealers, agents, and others in his club, he never once thought about the process of how that much cocaine is produced.

As much as I love that we get to see Burton on adventures outside of the club, part of me wishes he’d listened to Janice, stayed back, and helped her do some sleuthing of some sort.

Burton’s storyline arc makes sense narratively and is a suitable conclusion for the season, but I still wish there was more for him to play with.

I hope to see his character expanded even further in a potential Season 2. After Constance’s death and the attacks from his father, it seems fitting that we be introduced to Burton’s father and other siblings. If he continues his involvement in Nestor’s affairs, that dynamic alone would create a quality storyline that allows us to peel back the layers of Burton’s character further.

Reunited Again

Valeria’s storyline conclusion is the only one I don’t necessarily care for. Instead of taking the opportunity to show her character’s maturity by fighting to escape, the series doubles down on the fragile young woman in need of saving by a man.

The whole Romeo-Juliet parallels the series tries to use to push this narrative is tiring. If the series is renewed for Season 2, there needs to be a drastic change after what her character has endured over the past two episodes.

That said, Danny Pino’s acting throughout the rescue scenes is absolutely phenomenal. In a last-ditch attempt to save Valeria from the clutches of Henao and Yolanda, he single-handedly wipes out the group of men holding her hostage.

It’s a high contender for one of my favorite moments of the season and the type of action we need more of from Pino.

A Disservice for Janice

One aspect of the series that disappoints me is the unsatisfactory conclusion to Janice’s storyline. Besides being Roman’s right-hand man at the club, risking her life to keep him safe, and fighting her feelings for him, nothing of substance is provided for her.

Throughout the season, her role has been the female sidekick to Roman and Burton, only given purposeful scenes here and there to help further their storylines.

The most light shed on her background is the introduction of Phil in the first half of the season and the reveal that he had forced her into a sextortion ring.

Outside of Roman taking it upon himself to beat him to a pulp after learning of his presence, nothing is expanded upon from the interaction. All this does is highlight why she’s so loyal to Roman, but more is needed.

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“The Price” delivers an incredible conclusion to a gripping, fast-paced season that unflinchingly portrays the brutal impact of the Miami drug wars.

Seeing a series embrace its identity without trying to appeal to a broader fanbase is refreshing. While the portrayal of drugs, war crimes, beheadings, and torture can be challenging to watch, Hotel Cocaine strikes a balance, preventing it from descending into the excessive violence that many series of the exact nature tend to gravitate toward.

Stray Thoughts:

• I did not anticipate Zulio being the one to kill Henao and Yolanda, but it’s a fitting end to their characters after doing him dirty so heavily.
• Danny Pino, Yul Vazquez, Mark Feuerstein, and Michael Chiklis all deliver remarkable performances in the season finale, making it tantalizing from start to finish.

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

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Hotel Cocaine Season 1 is available to stream on MGM+.

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