Episode Title: “Adapt or Die”
Writers: Eduardo Machado and Mitch Glazer
Director: Ed Bianchi
Previously on “Magic City:”
Episode 2.02 “Angels of Death”
We knew Ike Evan’s (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) two sons, Stevie (Steven Strait) and Danny (Christian Cooke) were heading down different paths, but in “Adapt or Die” both men go further down their respective roads, from which there may be no turning back.
Despite being brothers, the only other trait Stevie and Danny have in common is ambition. For Danny, it’s the chance to exercise his moral muscle in the D.A’s office. As for Stevie, he may have aspirations of taking over the Miramar Playa someday, but as Ben (Danny Huston) reminds him, Ike’s not going anywhere for a while (or at not least until gambling is legalized).
Not content to remain a cabana boy/bartender for the rest of his life, Stevie allows Ben Diamond to rope him into running his poker game. The money is good and Ben makes a point of letting Stevie know how he impressed he by the fact that he shot a man and saved Bel Jaffe’s life.
Mirroring Stevie’s situation to some extent is Danny’s relationship with District Attorney Jack Klein (Matt Ross). When Danny inquires about an internship, Klein questions where his loyalties lie. Klein then takes Danny on a tour of the “Diamond District,” a section of Miami overrun with prostitutes and heroin, the proceeds from which all go to Ben Diamond. Danny returns later to the area to ask around about his father’s involvement in the murder of Jimmy “Shoes.” All too coincidentally, Judi Silver (Elena Satine) sidles up to his car (Yup, she’s still in town) and more or less confirms Ike was the one who killed Jimmy. But as she puts it, “there are worse things” one could do.
Though they each have very different feelings about their father, both Stevie and Danny wind up pawns of Ike’s enemies. What’s interesting here isn’t so much the idea of the boys unwittingly (to some extent) aiding their father’s enemies, but how their relationship with each other will change. Thus far, we haven’t seen the Evans boys do much more than pour drinks and have sex. But their new bosses will definitely have them doing more than making eyes at the ladies.
And speaking of the ladies of “Magic City,” Meg (Kelly Lynch) and Vera (Olga Kurylenko) are edging closer and closer into cat fight territory. This time it’s Meg buying expensive clothes for Lauren (Taylor Blackwell), who Vera takes pride in not spoiling. If only Vera knew Meg is dressing her daughter up in her dead mother’s clothes and parading her around for Ike. Meg makes an interesting rival for Vera, but we haven’t seen her do anything truly devious yet and we still don’t know exactly what her endgame is, which makes Meg’s character both fascinating and frustrating to watch.
As for Ike, in his bid to cozy up to Castro and his hotels, he encounters a couple of infamous historical figures including Pastorita Nunez, the young woman who serves in Castro’s army and oversees Frank Sturgis, the marine-turned-mercenary for Castro and future Watergate burglar. Ike tries to convince Nunez to let him run Havana’s hotels and it looks like he just might get what he wants and more from her. And on the way back from Cuba, Ike sits next to Lee Harvey Oswald’s killer, Jack Ruby on the plane. Ike Evans might just be the Forrest Gump of Miami.
After returning from Cuba with Maria’s ashes, the Evans clan attends a gathering hosted by Victor (Yul Vazquez) and Mercy (Dominik Garcia-Lorido) to honor Maria. While Danny is off getting more rum, Mercy is approached by one of Carlos “El Tiburon” Ruiz’ handsome young associates, who introduces himself as a friend of her father’s before doing a shot with her. So there’s that subplot to look forward to…and Stevie’s helping Vera with her comeback show by hooking her up with B12 shots. Both storylines seem to come out of nowhere but hey, at least Mercy and Vera will have a little more to do this season.
Finally, Ben Diamond is still getting a kick out of watching Lily (Jessica Marais) and Stevie have sex from above. As for new thorn-in-the-side, Nicky Grillo, Bel (Michael Rispoli) learns he’s trying to sell stolen guns to Ruiz. However, “El Tiburon” (Esai Morales) isn’t satisfied with the dated weapons Nicky shows him. Ruiz isn’t playing around in his plan to take out Castro, but it’s Ben Diamond and Ike Evans he should be worried about.
“Adapt or Die” sets up some good stuff (Ike moving into Havana, Stevie getting in with Ben and Danny working for Klein) and gives a couple other characters (Vera and Mercy) some personal dilemmas to contend with. At least season two looks to keep everyone busy. Hopefully, it can hold our interest, as well.
