‘Lopez vs Lopez’ Recap: ‘Lopez vs Orlando’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

LOPEZ VS LOPEZ -- "Lopez vs Orlando" Episode 306 -- Pictured: (l-r) Adam Irigoyen as Orlando, Selenis Leyva as Rosie, Mayan Lopez as Mayan -- (Photo by: Nicole Weingart/NBC)

​Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 306 of ‘Lopez vs Lopez’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

While Latin culture as a whole is filled with incredible beauty, and rich traditions that are worth exploring and practicing, there are some ugly sides to the culture that are not explored all that often. Granted, this can be said of many cultures in our world, but for the sake of today’s discussion, it is important to discuss the fact… that Latin culture is filled with misogyny. For truly, the men are the focus in this culture, and that promotes toxic behavior and true gender inequality that has gone on for generations on end and is only now becoming a subject of discussion because so many are starting to understand that it needs to change.

But how then, does something that has been expected for generations on end find change? Well, it just so happens that the next episode of Lopez vs Lopez on NBC, took the time to answer that question in a powerful manner. A feat that ‘Lopez vs Orlando’ accomplished by putting this toxic aspect of Latin culture on display, in part through Mayan’s cousin, Orlando. Who… was a great big man child. Yes, he was grown, and yes, he was capable of living his own life. But years of entitlement and spoiling from his mother and even his Tia Rosie, prompted him to make others in his life work for him and wait upon him and foot. Especially women. Which Mayan was not good with, and she wanted to see that change, and she wasn’t the only one who was dealing with the toxic nature of Latin Culture.

For Chance was also getting a good taste of it. Since he came along with George to see how grandpa’s workday goes, and while there, he saw George rip into Momo and Oscar and treat them like dirt and use anger to get stuff done. Because disparaging talk, insults and a general sour vibe is part that machismo aspect of the culture and well, both of these journeys collided to bring forth the complex answer to that all-important question. Part of which involves, showcasing what kind of impact toxic masculinity in this manner has upon others, especially children. Since it can teach them it’s okay to act this way and talk down to people, and if we stopped it right there… we could easily alter course and send young boys down a different path. Which George recognized when he saw the always sweet Chance mimicking that behavior with some classmates. 

That of course, prompted George to stop his own toxic behavior and teach Chance how he made a mistake he needed to correct and while that helped us to understand how to stop future generations from picking up this ugly mantle, Mayan found a way to get someone who grew up with it their whole life, to reject it. Which she accomplished by exposing Orlando to Rosie. In fact, she got him to admit how he would go the extra mile to make others work and manipulate them into waiting on him in a manner where they were akin to servants. Which shocked Rosie to no end but showing people the light is sometimes the only option we have to stop something awful in its tracks, and while that did hurt Rosie for a bit, she eventually understood what Mayan was trying to accomplish and agreed to change her ways and end the cycle of nonsense.
​
All of which made, for a brilliant story when all is said and done, and a bold one at that. Because we don’t as a society speak all that much to the nature of toxic culture in our world or how to stop it, and it is most certainly not talked about often, if ever, in Latinx homes. Because that’s just ‘the way of things’ and it is accepted when it should not be. For its 2024, and it is a new era of change, regardless of what some may say or believe, and it was just refreshing… to see this show tackle something that is taboo in Latin culture and in the everyday world, in a perfect manner no less. For it offered respectful and direct answers that can indeed impact change, and that continues to reinforce why this show is so special and why it deserves all the praise it can get. For it really is revolutionary in its storytelling, and this level of intelligence leaves us hungry for more of this show, and it’s amazing observations about our world. Until next time.

---

Watch ‘Lopez vs Lopez’

Powered by JustWatch