Even for a show that specializes in brutal deaths, this one was particularly heart-wrenching.
The student has become the master assassin.
Even for a show that specializes in brutal deaths, Luisa’s demise was particularly heart-wrenching.
Edward James Olmos, Maverick James, Clayton Cardenas, and Carla Baratta on ‘Mayans M.C.'.FX
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did you find out about Luisa’s fate?
CARLA BARATTA:I knew she was going to die eventually.
Elgin told me episode 6 or 7.
Carla Baratta as Luisa ‘Adelita’ Espina on ‘Mayans M.C.'.Prashant Gupta/FX
They were trying to figure out storyline and the best way to do it.
I didn’t know how it was going to happen.
They had a couple scenarios that they talked about.
We had a table read for episode 7.
But Elgin wanted to do one for that episode.
And I was like, “Okay, that’s really thoughtful.”
And I was like, “Oh my God!”
It was pretty intense.
Yeah, it’s been a while.
I’ve known Melony since she was maybe 12, and now she’s this beautiful young lady.
And then she gets to kill Adelita.
I’m like, “Who are you?”
I felt betrayed for Adelita.
The moment that she decides not to kill EZ, she knows she’s going to die.
She knows her fate.
And it ended up being the opposite.
I feel like this season, it’s about how consequences are a huge part of life.
Now with Adelita, everything came back to her.
How did your costars react when they learned Luisa’s fate at the table read?
Everyone was looking at me like, “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
And I’m like, “It’s okay, it’s not me, you know?”
But it was heartbreaking.
We’re going to stop this production right now!"
Everyone was so upset on that day, with their face down and not talking to each other.
It was painful for everyone because everyone loved that character.
Luisa had a violent and tragic life, but she was on her way to moving past it.
Of course, yes.
In real life, that wouldn’t work.
It’s such a gut punch.
How did you get to that place when you were filming the scene?
It was really hard.
And the guy that was pushing the blood, he was like full-blast [with the] blood.
I was drowning in blood it was a mess.
So, we had to clean everything up, they had to do my hair again and change everything.
So, the second time it was like dying all over again.
The moment that I was there, it just changed everything that was happening.
That’s got to be a little weird.
She’s so sweet and shy and she doesn’t talk much.
She was like,boom boom boom!
And then she would hug me, like, “Sorry!”
And then she would do it again.
Adelita was Mini’s protector, but she also brought her into this life of violence and pain.
Do you think Mini has been waiting to get revenge on Adelita all this time?
For Mini, that was a betrayal, because she’s like, “Now you’re Adelita.
And she didn’t have any contact with her anymore.
I feel like she felt abandoned again.
That’s what that moment was about.
She raised a monster.
It’s sad, but she got killed by the monster that she raised.
What kind of effect do you think Luisa’s death will have on Angel?
I got all those scripts, but I didn’t want to read any of them.
I want to be surprised by what’s going to happen.
I just read the final scene.
Because I don’t know if Adelita was going to be stable, you know?
She was not in a good place even though she tried.
She was still lying, she had a double life, she was killing.
As a mom, I know what it takes to say something like that.
So, I feel like in a way it was the best for them.
And maybe the Reyes brothers can grow together.
After working onMayansfor six years, are you hoping to do more American TV in the future?
I just moved to Colombia.
I feel like we needed to have our family closer.
I feel like we needed to be around Latinos and around our culture.
I want to do some theater here while I get something that I really want to work on.
I’m still auditioning for really cool stuff in the U.S. and for really amazing things here in Colombia.
I’m excited to see what’s next.
Mayans M.C.airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. onFX.
