Gael García Bernal (with Christian De Sica) as Maestro Rodrigo in Mozart in the Jungle 3x04

“She’s not competition…” Cynthia’s voice softens even as she moves to tuck a curling strand of hair behind Gloria’s ear, her voice softening further when Gloria huffs out a small, nervous, sigh. She hates the idea, of course, hates that she has to let Nina into her world, her life, perhaps even her bed. “She’s competition.” Nina had said as much the same morning, but now, as she finds her way into the office, she can’t help feeling a little worry for the other woman. Cynthia barely talks about it, unless it’s clear Gloria is breaking, but this time it’s hard not to see it. “She’s competition.” Gloria’s words are soft, low and slightly tempered with sadness. It’s clear now, to Nina, what she’s thinking. She’s older, not by much, but enough to be upset by the thought of losing someone she loves to someone who isn’t as old, or feeling push aside. So she speaks up, gentle, cautious and warm. “Healthy competition only, Gloria. I don’t want to push you out…. I’d much rather get to know you. See if you can’t keep me on my toes.”

“Oh, the chef guy from Letters to Juliet.”

honestly i made this video for purposes of individual entertainment only, but if you’re in the mood to listen to gael’s rodrigo de souza say Hai Lai for six minutes straight, who am i to stop you, right? be my guest. also tag yourself, i’m timestamp 0:34

Rodrigo is hurt because Hailey should know better: he is a “whirl of contradictions”, eccentric and overdramatic, but especially devoted to music, so he’d say or do anything just for the love of it. What’s more, after all that’s happened in the first two seasons, Hailey should be aware that he has feelings for her, no matter whom he’s sleeping with or what he says. Rodrigo is basically saying: “Why do you ask me that question? You know me better than anyone else, my abuela told you we are going to be soulmates, so how can you believe I could love another woman?”. 

Absent a statement from Jason Schwartzman et. al about what really happened to those characters, I’m taking this as official word, and it’s nice to have even the smallest bit of closure about this wonderful show that deserved more than it got.

Yo-Yo Ma