After the ups and downs of Valentine’s Day, episode five sees Maximo arrive home to Roberta’s letters on the table, and the realization that his sister is gone. I admire Maximo for keeping Sara’s secret even when it affected him personally (the mess of pretending to date and then break up with Roberta) he’s a good brother. I’m disappointed in Nora, but I understand why she reacted the way she did.
At the resort, Julia finds a sleeping Sara. She delivers her to Maximo, who then asks Julia to help him by letting Sara sleep in an empty room in the north wing for the night. Julia agrees, and the two share a very awkward hug before Julia takes Sara to the room. They’re really going to dance around their kiss-that-didn’t-happen the whole season, aren’t they?
Sara and Julia remind me of a female version of Maximo and Memo, we need more of them as a comedic duo. Memo is sad Lorena has gone home, so Maximo decides to be his hype man to cheer him up.
Chad goes to Don Pablo for advice: He has no idea how to dance salsa, and Julia has booked a salsa band for the wedding. Chad has asked nearly everyone in the resort for help, and everyone has said the same thing: Ask Don Pablo. Much to Don Pablo’s annoyance. He then asks Chad to wash his car in exchange for a dance lesson, saying “I don’t do this shit for free.” King.
Maximo goes home to inform Nora he’ll be spending the night out with Memo and Isabel, but arrives home to Nora turning Sara’s room into a Jesus shrine, complete with a framed picture of Barry Gibb (who Maximo helpfully points out, is not Jesus.) Maximo expresses his disappointment, which makes Nora reconsider her decorating choices. Go Maximo!
Meanwhile, Sara is having the time of her life in the resort pool. While swimming, the finds the silver bracelet that’s travelled between characters this season. Hector threw it in the pool after being rejected by Diane, so the bracelet is now Sara’s. Sara decides to take Nora’s advice and try to meet a guy – what better place than Las Colinas?
Maximo, Memo and Isabel go dancing at a club in an attempt to cheer Memo up. It turns out working at Las Colinas buys them entry to the club AND free drinks, so things are looking up for Memo! The trio have a great time on the dancefloor, with Memo’s moves a crowd highlight. Back at the resort, Don Pablo attempting to teach Chad to dance might be one of the funniest scenes of this season. A frustrated Don Pablo outlines the difference between leading and following, which does not compute in Chad’s brain at all. At this rate, he’s going to owe Don Pablo two car washes.
Sara meets a nice guy named Daniel, who she really connects with. Present day Sara pops in to tell this part of the story herself. Everything is going really well, she kisses Daniel on the beach, and feels… nothing. Zip. Nada. She never wants to kiss a man ever again. But now Sara is finally sure of who she is: Good for her! I feel she knew it all along, but now Nora will not be able to use the “but you haven’t even tried” excuse against her.
After Isabel goes home for the night, Maximo and Memo run into a brooding Hector. He expresses how lonely he is without the unnamed person he’s trying to get over (Diane) and how he hates his tiny office. The guys either pretend not to hear him or question him, thinking they misheard what he was saying. They proceed to watch Hector get very drunk, and drunk Hector is overly friendly. Whether he remembers any of this remains to be seen.
Isabel arrives with the joyous news that the football star they were looking for in the club showed up at her family restaurant instead, making a sad Memo even more sad.. and angry. Memo asks why Maximo didn’t just let them go home, and Maximo confesses Nora is making home uncomfortable right now. Memo’s anger instantly dissipates as he becomes concerned for his friend. Maximo feels a lot of pressure to be the man of the house with his father gone (“Sexist,” Isabel chimes in) but the two manage to cheer Maximo up. I love this scene, it’s a beautiful example of Maximo and Memo’s friendship.
Sara finds Julia to ask if there’s any way she can stay longer in the resort, but the empty rooms will be renovated from today. Sara confesses she’s a lesbian, and marvels at the first time she’s said those words. I’m so proud of her. She spins out, worrying about where she’s going to live – and Julia says Sara can stay with her. I have a feeling this is the start of a great friendship. One of my favorite scenes of the whole show.
Just as things are looking up for everyone again, the journalist Maximo leaked information to pulls up in front of the apartment – and tells Maximo he has some information he won’t want to miss. Uh oh… Maximo, run.
