‘Primo’ Recap: ‘The Carnival’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Still from ‘Primo’ Courtesy of Jeff Neumann/Amazon Freevee.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Primo’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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As we continue our journey through season one of the magnificent Amazon Freevee series, Primo, one thing is becoming apparent. That this show is finally figuring out how to get across its message in a supremely smooth and brilliant manner. For this is a series that at its core, really wants to shatter all the tropes and stereotypes that negatively impact the Latino/Latinx community, and early on, it went big with that message, before discovering, the sheer essence of the show would accomplish that goal. Because just showcasing a Latino/Latinx family in America, and their ups and downs in a dynamically funny manner, rips away stereotypes. After all, we’ve not seen cliché play out or heard ridiculous catchphrases from this family.
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They just… live. Live like anyone else in America, and that is the point. And it really is quite amazing to see the show lean harder and harder into that, as evidenced by the next episode in this journey. For ‘The Carnival’ is a story that further explored the little things that make Americans, Americans, regardless of the nonsense and labels others place upon others. Such as how… cherishing memories and mementos means the world to us. Which the show explored, by way of Ryan and Jay’s oafishness. Because they knocked over one of Drea’s favorite bookcases, and spilled its contents, and despite putting it back together, she was still displeased. Because they didn’t do it just right, specifically when it came to the arrangement of the shelves. Which meant to make her happy, and be forgiven, they had to figure out how to put it back together correctly, and with Mondo’s help, they came to realize it was Drea’s memory bookcase, and each shelf represented a member of the family. Which helped this duo restore those shelves right and find peace with Drea and well… that really does go to show how the human experience isn’t all that different from culture to culture. Since memories have that kind of weight in any family.

That aside though, this episode still shined beyond that beautiful and touching story. Since Rafa and his friends, and Mya, were headed to the carnival in their segment of the story. One that explored the importance of being classy and taking the high road in all things, a lesson we are all taught and as a bonus, what it means to be a classy role model in this life. Because while they were at the fair, Mya’s money was basically swiped by some punk kid. And since Rollie worked the carnival and was consistently in jail now for teaching dudes’ lessons on any given night at the bar, Rafa thought he could be the muscle for the night and teach that doof a lesson. But Rollie wasn’t comfortable with that, especially since Mike pointed out that this was negative behavior to model for an impressionable teenager and well, that request more or less reinforced that Rollie was taking Rafa down a bad path.

But that didn’t stop Rafa from bringing the heat and eventually, he found that kid and started to whip him something fierce. That is until Rollie stepped in and embarrassed Rafa by stopping the fight hard. But that allowed for better heads to prevail. Because Rafa did come to realize that he made his friends and Mya uncomfortable with that behavior. Which spoke to there being a better way in life than with our fists, because that isn’t something that people admire and if someone taught us that first… they need to be better as well. Which prompted Rollie to step up and fix his own mistakes, in part by enforcingthe high road and also by being more of a mentor than just an ass-kicking icon. Plus, it didn’t hurt that he gave the group free reign of the carnival at the end of the night. Making him one of the cool ones and giving Rafa more fuel to throw on the tiny fire that he and Mya currently share in their hearts. 

But what mattered most, this was just a story about people. Living their lives, making mistakes, and growing like the rest of us. And that’s the key. Because it made the fact that this family is Latino/Latinx moot. They were just Americans and that’s brilliant and powerful and it made for one great episode. Another one filled to the brim with great jokes. Such as the whole weird tooth thing that Drea fixates upon, and that wacky shirt that Mike gave to Rafa for his date. After all, it really did make him freakin’ invincible during that fight. But above all, it was just a heartwarming story, one that saw characters grow and you can never go wrong with that, and this story of course… compels us to continue the journey. To see more quality representation and learn more wonderful lessons, from a down to earth, American family. Until next time.

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