"Buho/Muwan" explores MC's world beyond relationships with Galindo and Los Olvidados, reminding us that there are so many dumb ways to die in Sutter's universe.

The episode opens with Galindo's men (the guy with the cornrows) following up on a lead about Los Olvidados' location. They're close, but not enough, which makes sense since we're just on episode three, and neither Galindo nor Emily has hit rock bottom yet, so just keep watching...

After EZ told Emily about retaliation, Galindo's household is in disarray. The situation is partially mitigated by Galindo's mother taking sides depending on whichever way the wind blows. Having revealed what actually happened to her first child, and encouraging her son to consider choosing business over the baby, Dita takes on a role of caring mother-in-law, accompanying Emily to the Merchant Square (never mind Dita sending one of their men "to Apple"... What is she getting Emily? iPhone Xs or Xr? Nope, this post is not sponsored by Apple).

Meanwhile, Galindo comes up with a new plan to get to the rebels by recruiting orphans to infiltrate their camp. It's a smart play and a testament to his Cornell education (it appears), as he decides to get his hands bloody, proving to be a total novice in the matter. No matter how confident he is giving orders (probably MBA, I'm right?), Galindo (or should we call him Miguel... just this one time) is playing a gangster he's not. Ironic, comes to mind, if you think of Emily's choice of men, which brings us to M.C.

With Galindo's (and Emily's) son still safe and sound in Los Olvidados' camp, "Buho/Muwan" sees M.C.'s return back to club business, or rather a meet-up with the Chinese at San Buho Tribal Casino. Having arrived early, Mayans take their time to unwind, which in EZ's rule book seems to equal getting himself into trouble. Maybe it's the looks or bad karma, but EZ winds up in a sticky situation with a group of off-duty cops. The encounter triggers memories of him pursuing a gunman in a hoodie on a life-altering night eight years ago. The flashback features the shooting, but provides little context to the chase, which leaves you wondering why EZ followed the man to begin with. Does it have to do with his mother's death? I say likely, but I sense a twist.

"To new allies, and dead traitors."

Cut to negotiations with Chinese, or rather a celebration afterwards, which ends up with Bishop shooting Jimmy for running a side project without dealing family in. The Chinese turns out didn't want to kill their own, which is why they went to Galindo, who asked M.C. to once again do the dirty work. Talk about delegating. With only Bishop and Alvarez being on the same plan, the shooting comes as no surprise, naturally getting the Reyes brothers all shook. Why the secrecy? asks Bishop. Alvarez explains that he's still not over the Samoan deal going array and suspects a rat among club members, and something tells me that he's the kind of man who'd get to the bottom of it.

The star of the latest episode is another solemn man – Edward James Olmos, who plays Felipe Reyes. The Reys family patriarch makes quite an impression steering Jimenez (Maurice Compte) clear from EZ, sparing him decisions his youngest doesn't seem to be ready for. Felipe is mindful of his surroundings and easily spots a new surveillance car watching carniciaria. Galindo's moving supplies, guns, and men to the border, we learn from Felipe's conversation with new guys, and that's the biggest spoiler we get so far.

"Buho/Muwan" ends with the promise of war and likely more action-packed and bloody episodes. As the secrets begin to pile up, both Galindo and Emily, as well as the Reyes family seem to seek ways to come together. Three episodes in, I'm done comparing Mayans with SoA, at least for now. The show slowly becomes its own beast and keeps bikes on a side, which if you think back to how masterfully Sutter integrated the M.C. culture into SoA makes you hope that Mayans would at least ride as much as they spend time in dungeons.

Final score: 4/5