‘The Mosquito Coast’ Recap: ‘The Counterfeiters’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 209 of ‘The Mosquito Coast’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It has often been said, that in order to really test the love or bond of someone that means the world to us… we should simply set them free. That way, they can process their feelings about us and come to understand what we mean to them, and if that ends in parting ways, then c’est la vie. At least we know. But if it ends with them coming back to us, and we strengthen our bonds in the process, then it was all worth the brief emotional sacrifice necessary. If anything, that particular line of thinking, and process really, is top of mind today, simply because… this is what the Fox family has been experiencing for weeks on end now in The Mosquito Coast on Apple TV+. For this family hasn’t been sure if the Allie Fox line of thinking is what they need in life or if they should be near one another as a family.
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So, they have in essence, gone their separate ways to learn about what they need and want in life and from their family and ‘The Counterfeiters’ is a story that finally provided some of them of the answers they seek. For instance, Margot has been trying to figure out for some time now, what she actually believes in and if Allie is someone, she should be near, and her decision to go after Richard… opened her eyes to a lot. Such as the fact that she has let her love of environmentalism go the wayside. Since she struggled with turning Richard in because he was indeed fighting for the right cause, giving her an understanding, that she needs to rededicate herself to something greater, and she also came to learn… that while Allie isn’t the best of husbands and has a lot to work on, as does she… he is a better alternative than Richard. For her old flame, burned her in this tale… again… when the opportunity arose and made her a pawn once again. Something that Allie has never done. 

However, there was mention of more members of the family finding clarity in this tale and the other person that found that… was Dina. Because now that she was far away from the frustrations of Casa Roja, she was able to settle into a nearby resort and just… breathe. Breathe and think and take part in aspects of life she’d never taken part in before. Such as blending in, socializing, and eating whatever she wanted whenever she wanted and well… she came to learn a lot in that moment. In that, her father wasn’t wrong about the vapid nature of the world, and its ignorance. Nor was she a fan of meat. Allowing for her to realize, she didn’t quite belong in the regular world, and perhaps being around her family… people that shared in similar beliefs and views… wasn’t such a bad thing. And she wouldn’t have come to that epiphany without steeping away and having freedom to learn, and now that she understands her place and how it is with her family… she can potentially return and mend fences. 

Yet while it was fascinating to see these threads be resolved and see Dina and Margot find meaning, this show is still a thriller in many ways and there were many other critical and intense plot threads present in this tale. Such as how Charlie, isn’t getting any better. Since he saw another innocent die at the hands of Guillermo’s mercenaries and that put him in a dark mental space, one that has Allie deeply concerned. Speaking of Allie, he also took the time to put the squeeze on Guillermo. Since he put the operation into the cloud as insurance to get what he wanted, the deed to The Mosquito Coast. Which provided a taste of hope in this tale. Since this family could reunite there, and potentially heal and find a way forward at last, which is critical to Charlie’s mental health. But of course, such hopes are predicated on whether or not Dina’s situation improves.

Because it was revealed in this tale as well… that Richard’s real target, is the very resort where Dina is floating about at the moment. Meaning she is in critical danger and well… it is hard to say if she will escape the explosive nightmare that awaits this place. Since the family doesn’t know what Richard is up to, just the audience… and that raises the stakes for the season two finale. For once again, a family member is in danger. But while we wait to see how that plays out, we can celebrate an incredible tale. One that more or less shocked us by informing us of how this family has closer ties than we ever knew and how there are other factors at work when it comes to their longstanding divide. If anything, all this epiphany fueled tale does is leave us pulling for a better tomorrow for the Fox family. Where they finally do put aside years of bad blood and heal and feel the bond they share and if a miracle can occur, perhaps that will finally come to fruition in the season two finale. Until next time.

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