#irasema

As the show went on, I started to get more of a sense that Andy and Irasema would have nothing to do with each other if it weren’t for Esteban. Both of them care about Esteban, and it feels a little like both understand the other comes as a package deal with him, someone they have to put up with for his sake. They argue over what he needs and who has his best interests at heart. When Irasema finds out about the deal Andy made with the Otras Personas, she’s understandably furious.

That’s why I love seeing Andy and Irasema team up in episode 5 when Esteban disappears with the boys. Yes, they’re in this car together because they’re both worried about Esteban and they want to find the boys safely, but this is just about the only time in the show when we see the two of them in a scene without him. And when it’s just them, we get to see a little bit of Irasema and Andy relating to each other as actual friends, which is neat. 

Once they figure out where Esteban took the boys, Irasema is no longer panicked, but she’s still anxious to get there. Andy reassures her that Esteban would never hurt the kids, and when she mentions that Esteban never told her about his dad, Andy gently points out that that might be for the best. And while Andy is there to support Irasema in an upsetting situation, she’s supportive to him too. He’s only just gotten away from his toxic mom, and as she blows up his phone and tries to guilt him into coming back, Irasema offers advice and encouragement. Maybe most importantly, she gets Andy to laugh a little, even as he’s tearing up, over how ridiculous his mom is being.