The Cleaning Lady (S03E03) Review/ Recap | Thony Continues To Make You Question What Can’t She Get Away With?
As Thony continues to test Jorge’s patience, Chris may jeopardize his and Fiona’s return home.
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Plot Recap
If Only You’d Stay In Your Lane – Jorge, Ramona, Thony, Susan, Jeremy
Because Thony is a good person with flexible morals, while she is willing to work for Sin Cara to clean away evidence, she can’t let a mother hemorrhaging from childbirth just die. Because of this, she helps the mother escape to her warehouse. Susan walks in while Thony treats her and threatens to report this, but with Thony tricking Susan into helping, Susan keeps her mouth shut.
But, while Thony gets a victory there, she still has to deal with someone ransacking the warehouse. It isn’t clear who, but the landlord sends a man named Jeremy to deal with the broken window, and he goes as far as to clean the whole place up. Why? That’s hard to say. He might become a love interest, could be working for a cartel, a government agency, it is all hard to say.
We only know that Jorge is starting to get to Ramona regarding Thony, especially since Thony keeps acting like she has some form of leverage.
Meanwhile, Somewhere Along The Border – Camilla, Fiona, Chris
Getting into America is no easy task, even with Ramona putting in the order for Fiona and Chris. For if it isn’t Chris trying to play a hero, it is immigration nearly catching Fiona and Chris. But Chris playing a hero becomes far more of an issue, especially when he helps one young woman, Camilla, on more than one occasion. The second or third time he does so, he, Fiona, and Camilla are abandoned in the desert.
Fragile Loyalty – Katherine, Nadia, Thony, Jorge, Ramona
Nadia wants answers and is at the point of not caring who they come from. So, with that in mind, she is willing to partner with Thony and Katherine but not Jorge. From her own investigation, she is convinced that Jorge had something to do with Arman’s disappearance, and the evidence she shares with Thony leads her to think the same.
However, in Ramona’s mind, all the drama will end once Arman is found and Jorge sees he can be an asset and part of the family. But with Katherine Russo wanting justice for Garrett, Arman appearing in any form or fashion will only cause trouble for Sin Cara, and what doesn’t help is Thony not being on good terms with Katherine and Nadia’s allegiance to anyone but herself and Arman being questionable.
Cast Guide
| Character’s Name | Actor’s Name |
| Jorge | Santiago Cabrera |
| Ramona | Kate del Castillo |
| Thony | Élodie Yung |
| Susan | Rekha Sharma |
| Jeremy | Brandon Jay McLaren |
| Camilla | Esméralda Camargo |
| Fiona | Martha Millan |
| Chris | Sean Lew |
| Katherine | Liza Weil |
| Nadia | Eva De Dominici |
New Character Description(s)
Camilla
Camilla is a Spanish-speaking young woman who, with her mother, sought to cross the border. However, because of money issues and other conflicts with the coyotes, they were split up, and now Camilla is in the care of Fiona.
Jeremy
Jeremy is the super/handyman for the warehouse Thony uses for her cleaning company.
Review
On The Fence
The Lack of Translation
As someone who watches TV with captions, I understand that some feel that captions mess with a viewer’s ability to get immersed in what’s happening. However, it’s one thing when one Filipino or Spanish saying is used where there are context clues. But having extended periods where there isn’t at least a translation is an interesting decision—one that I can’t easily fathom the reason for.
Chris Playing The Hero
Do I think Chris deserves to be more than Fiona’s son or some teenager who is rightfully upset about all the secrets the adults in his life have? Yes. But there is something about how it seems they are guiding him towards being another Thony that bugs me.
Now, would it be so wrong for Chris to have a love interest, become an advocate for immigrants, and make that his life’s mission? Not at all. It would even be interesting to see him, like Thony, work for the bad guys yet be an exception to the attitude that led to Camilla’s attack. But that seems like a path that won’t be taken.
Instead, we’ll get another character protected to a fault and alive despite the reputation and persona of everyone who should kill them just to make a point.
How Thony Is Given So Much Leniency
It would be so easy for Jorge to kill Thony and make it look like an accident, and I wouldn’t blame him. Heck, I wouldn’t blame Katherine Russo for killing Thony either or making sure she goes down with Arman. Despite everyone knowing Thony will backstab anyone for her son and herself, there is just so much leniency.
Which, granted, you get since she is a mother and one who loves her kid – so of course, she’ll put him first and damn everyone else. However, Luca can only be a means to justify letting Thony live for so long. She is stubborn, refuses to acknowledge procedure or hierarchy, and goes against orders in a way that constantly risks exposing decision-makers.
I don’t know how this show may end, but anything less than Thony’s death would deserve an eye roll.
Nadia
With Arman gone, there is a serious need to question what is the long-term plans for Nadia? The main conflict with her is that she was Arman’s wife and yet he was developing a professional and personal relationship with Thony. But without that knot binding them, what’s next for her?
Yes, she inherited Robert’s empire but that isn’t being touched or utilized for her storyline much. In addition, considering the ups and downs of her marriage with Arman, is it wrong to side-eye how far she is willing to go for answers? After all, the FBI has never been a friend to Nadia and Arman, and considering that Robert’s organization has many illegal dealings, does she really think having them as uneasy allies is a good idea? Especially since Katherine is out for blood.
Background Information
| Episode Title | El Camino del Diablo |
| Release Date | March 19, 2024 |
| Network | FOX |
| Director(s) | Batan Silva |
| Writer(s) | Jen Klein, Charli Engelhorn |
| Previous Episode | Season 3/ Episode 2 |
| Series Page | The Cleaning Lady |
| Character Guide | The Cleaning Lady Character Guide |
