TVSquad

(S01E10) Firstly, let me say that I was a little worried when Cane didn't show any previews for next week. I wonder if it's been affected by the writers' strike. Maybe because of poor ratings they are just taking it off the air. I wouldn't be surprised--they are fine with taking good characters off the show without warning (hello? Santo?). I would be upset if Cane got canceled though. The show really has so much potential and it would be such a waste of an excellent ensemble cast to cancel it.

Now let's get to the review. Tonight's episode was good. The parallel stories were clever. Alex / Jaime are both confronted with morally gray situations (i.e. a hooker in the hotel room and strippers at a bachelor party). Both, however, stay true to their wives.

Here's some more good things about last night's episode: Frank's character didn't flip-flop and they forwarded the plot with Rebecca and Jaime. As for Frank, he was low-key last night (which was fine with me). As some people have commented, the writers are trying to do too much with him. He's a great character but he lacks any solid development. He played the good son last night for a second week in a row. I guess he's cured of the gambling problem. He even included Henry in his business plans.

The only part that was a bit forced was the pitch at the end. Why doesn't Pancho like any new ideas? He clearly doesn't like losing money but thwarts any of his sons' attempts to remedy the situation. (Not that beer was the best idea. It's not like beer is a new thing.) Then Henry leaves in a huff after he tells Frank that he messed up the pitch? They were working so well together. It was incongruous to have him just get angry and leave like that.

In addition to the Frank and Henry B-story, Jaime and Rebecca's story was developed. I liked seeing Rebecca in a compromising position tonight. At first I sympathized with her because she is marrying someone of whom she feels unworthy (at least by social standards). But last night changed everything. What was with her sleeping with her ex-boyfriend? I didn't see that coming. I thought that Jaime was going to catch Rebecca getting dropped off and "get the wrong idea." I did not think she was going to cheat on her husband.


For the first time in a long while, I liked Alex in last night's show. Most of his scenes were well-played (you can always count on the Smits for that) and compelling. I loved the end where he walks in on Ramon and his nephew "interrogating" Julio. His expression was great. In that moment, you could tell that he was disappointed with himself. His judgment was clouded when he began his relationship with Ramon. The guy is not a businessman by Alex's definition and Alex needs to remember that or he'll be in trouble.

Speaking of trouble, Isabel is getting a little hot and heavy with the artist (Hudson?). This could be a good angle as Isabel seems distant from Alex since she had the miscarriage. However, I really don't like that guy. He is just a sanctimonious jerk (and he's not all that sexy). I felt the dialogue between them could have benefited from a rewrite. At some points, he was too mean to Isabel in the art gallery. I couldn't believe she actually stayed for dinner. Well, that's exaggerating. I could believe she stayed for dinner.

Just one more thing--did anyone else like Ramon's nephew doing the Scarface impression? I thought it was a bit much at first but then, if there was ever a time to reference the famous Cuban gangster, that would've been it.