‘BMF’ Recap: ‘Rumors’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

One thing that we can all agree upon when it comes to gangster stories, is that a vast majority of them, have a tendency to romanticize and glorify the life and times of kingpins and mob bosses. As though, the big middle finger they’ve offered to the world, has somehow made them a better person, and given them a life free from trouble and strife. Which is only compounded further by the lack of threats they perceive and deal with since most of these movies tend to create a unique downfall for the kingpin in question. All of which is problematic really, since it really doesn’t make it clear that a life in the game isn’t easy in the slightest. In fact, it’s scary and tense and trouble waits on every corner since money and greed, and power, is the name of the game and that’s why BMF on STARZ continues to impress.
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For it is a series that serves as the anthesis to the traditional gangster story. Because its dedication to the real-life story of the Flenory family and their operation, is allowing for those real elements to be explored in the story, as evidenced by its next episode. For ‘Rumors’ is a tale that saw all the negatives that come forth from dedicating oneself to a life of crime come into play. After all, when we caught up with Big Meech in this tale, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Because on the one hand, someone shot his beloved brother and the rules of the street, and this business, called for retaliation. But he wasn’t sure that was the right way to go. Simply because… he was smart enough to know what that means in the real world.

Because unlike the movies, there’s no message sent and compliance to be found when someone is gunned down in retaliation, just escalation. Where blood for blood is the game. Which in turn motivated him to try and handle this peacefully and learn who actually shot Tee, since rumors were abound it was Jay-Mo. Rumors that were started by Lamar and well… despite his best efforts to keep the peace and be noble about this mess… it quickly devolved into chaos. For B-Mickie was worried that Meech was being too soft regarding this. So, he killed Jay-Mo to keep things level, regardless of whether or not the man crossed that line and for that matter, B-Mickie was a source of insurrection in this tale. Since he also kept pushing his own agenda as though he was in charge of this outfit. 

All of which spoke to the dangers of being involved in the game and how threats are everywhere to be found both internally and externally and how some of those threats can be invisible in nature since we didn’t learn who shot Tee in this tale. But… the episode did give us an inkling. After all, Lamar was quite active in this story. To the point where he basically joined up with 12th Street, and in turn, he worked to cause all kinds of trouble for them since he also beat Filmel within an inch of his life in this tale. All because he wanted to stir the pot. Making it clear that he’s up to something grand and it would be easy to envision him as the guy that took the time to shoot Tee to bring chaos to the streets as part of a larger power play. Since this episode also revealed the fact that he was once the King of the Detroit Drug Game. 

But what matters more, is that this episode didn’t romanticize this life in the slightest. It was honest with us and that kept this story in a tense place. Which was delightfully broken, by informing us that Terry was going to be okay, despite potentially having some sight issues. But that aside, make no mistake about it… this was a revolutionary episode through and through. Because it is just so rare to enjoy a gangster story that is actually eager to present the game in the raw and how the thrill of outwitting opponents in the name of power and glory is addicting and this episode was so good that it absolutely compels one to continue the journey. To see if the fear that Terry spoke to while recovering, will change his perspective on the business he entered into, and what will come from Lamar’s twisted and violent machinations. Until next time.

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