Episode 1.2 continues the plot arc of Jesse confronting the blackmailers who have a video of his sex-and-drugs party.
The Ladyboys of Thailand: The red van in the deserted parking lot. The head blackmailer, Scotty, wearing a scary devil mask, is talking with his companions, a woman named Lucy and an unidentified man. He dismisses the misconception that Thailand is all about ladyboys "hanging out of windows with their cocks in their panties." But: Thailand also has great food, great beaches, "and we're going to be taller than everyone else."
The ladyboys or kathoey of Thailand have male-coded sexual characteristics but present as feminine. They were traditionally called a third gender, but with the globalization of Western LGBT identities, they are more likely today to identify as femme gay men or trans women. Scotty's statement suggests that he is into ladyboys, but his companions are not, so he is trying to convince them that Thailand has other attractions, too.The siblings arrive and drop the bags of money in front of the van. Scotty gets out to pick it up and -- Jesse attacks! Lucy, wearing a scary baby mask, shoots at them. They jump back into their car and run over Scotty, and then Lucy, when she rushes to his aid. The third blackmailer takes off his mask: it's a young man played by Skyler Gisondo.
The Young Man yells "Scotty!" and runs up and cuddles him like a lover! They are obviously boyfriends.He helps Scotty up, and they carry Lucy to the van and drive away.Scotty thinks that Lucy is dead, so they try to throw the corpse down a hill. But she's alive!
Did it really happen?: The next day, the siblings return to the parking lot. There is no evidence of the blackmailers. Jesse suggests that it was never real to begin with, and Judy, "a spiritual test that we had to overcome." Kelvin thinks it was real, but the others criticize him for "projecting negativity."
The next order of business: how should they divvy up the money Judy stole from the church: give it all back (Kelvin) or give half back and split the rest (Jesse). Why do these people need money? Aren't they, like, rich? Maybe Daddy controls everything, and gives them an allowance.
Suddenly Kelvin jumps out of the car. Jesse scoffs that he wants to buy a new pair of 22s, custom shoes hand-crafted by Gabe Apodaca in Italy, keying into his gay-coded fashion obsession. But he's actually noticed a security camera: they could get the van's license plate number!
Lucy has what Scotty needs: At the hospital, Scotty and the Young Man discuss what to tell Lucy about the hill She's "all fucked up," but Scotty wants to see her anyway, because she can make him cum.
"Did you just blow a kiss at me?": Cut to Jesse discovering that his wife and kids are still in contact with the runaway Gideon. They even have good news: he just got cast in a Netflix movie; "he's doing well in LA, following his dreams." Pontius repeats "Hollywood" in a sultry voice, then blows Jesse a kiss, teasing that Gideon is gay.
Jesse wants to know how they dare to contact him when he "snipped our nuts." Why is moving to California like castrating your father?
The New Threat: Scotty, Lucy, and the Young Man are eating Chinese food at a cheap hotel. But wasn't she on life support? The hard drive containing the video is ruined, and they don't have a backup. The blackmail plot has failed. Scotty and Lucy blame each other.
They return, knock over tire displays, assault the manager, and steal the security machine.
We return to Gideon filming Scotty as he issues a new threat: "You can't kill the devil, son!" The blackmail price is now $2,000,000. The others complain that he doesn't sound realistic.
The Young Man and Lucy go out to smoke a cigarette and have a heart-to-heart. "This whole thing was my idea," he announces. "Scotty may act like the leader, but he wouldn't have anything if it weren't for me." So, he's the dominant one in the triad?
Lucy wants to know if they threw her down the hill. He denies it, but she calls him a "pussy bitch." hea's not the leader at all, he's Scotty's "bitch," sexually subservient.
Matthew Touches Kelvin: Cut to church. Eli is preaching on what happens when you try to do things yourself, instead of relying on God: you fall prey to the snakes of the world. This will become important later. They may be disguised as a caring neighbor or trusted friend, but if you let them in, they will destroy you.
Jesse and Judy, sitting in the congregation with their partners, excuse themselves and rush upstairs, where they meet with Kelvin and Jesse's crew. We do not see Kelvin in the congregation. Why not? So he won't be shown sitting with Keefe, thus identifying them as partners in a parallel to Jesse/Amber and Judy/BJ?
The security footage reveals that there are three blackmailers, and they drive a red van. Kelvin suggest tracking them down with traffic cams. Jesse likes this idea, and congratulates his "baby bro-bro." Matthew gives him a bro-butt slap, but Kelvin recoils: "Don't touch me." You don't like guys touching you, Kelv Baby? What are you, straight? Or is something else going on?So, where will we get that traffic cam footage? "I know someone who can help."
Kelvin touches Keefe: To find out who is blackmailing Jesse, Kelvin leads the siblings to the DMV, where Keefe works. He can use traffic cams to locate their vehicle. "I could lose my job for this," he says, "But I'd do anything for you." Kelvin touches his arm, and Keefe touches the place he touched. This is where Tony Cavalero states that Keefe begins to fall in love. In the last episode, you weren't sure about moving from friendship to romance with Kelvin. Now you're ready to go?
They clasp hands, and Kelvin gives him that "I'm desperate to kiss you" look.
Keefe continues: "I'd even kill myself if you asked me to." He apparently says this a lot, and Kelvin finds it embarrassing. The siblings scoff. It is a very strange way to express gratitude to someone who brought you to Christ, signifying toxic dependency. Fortunately, Keefe never says it again.
Compare with Keefe's much more pro-active Season 3 statement that he is willing to give his life and his body to rescue Kelvin.
The Devil's Kiss: The Young Man is exercising in the hotel room when Scotty bursts in, ready to attack him because the backup video is broken. Lucy calls him out and admits to destroying it. Furthemore, she's leaving him because of the throwing-her-down-the-hill thing. I'm tired of keeping up the mystery; it's super-obvious by this point anyhow: The Young Man is Jesse's son Gideon.
Scotty tells Lucy that it was going to be "just you and me" in Thailand, but earlier he said all three of them. He seems to have a dominant-submissive relationship with both, and is playing them off each other, telling Lucy "you can easily be replaced" and Gideon, "I might make you my favorite." Now his dominance is challenged. He returns to the hotel room and yells at Gideon for telling Lucy about the hill. "Why'd you tell her? You like her? You think she likes you?" His two subs certainly can't be interested in each other!
To restore his dominance, Scotty attacks. Gideon doesn't want to hurt him, but defends himself with both boxing and martial arts. He promises to get the money some other way.
Scotty starts to strangle him, says "If you don't, I will kill you," and covers Gideon's nose with his mouth, signifying raw erotic power and absolute control.
Somewhere in the Middle East, anyway.
More after the break
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