A Storm is Coming – The show begins with Julio (Chris Estrada) taking his first sip of coffee when Esperanza (Laura Patalano) asks him to cover the roof with a tarp. While looking at the sky, he says it doesn’t look like it’ll rain. Maria (Julia Vera) claims her bones say it will storm. He reluctantly sets down his cup of coffee.

As Julio spreads out the tarp, Esperanza tells him to move it to the edge. He admits to being scared of the steep incline. When he loses his footing, she reminds him of the cousin he needs to pick up later.

He emerges from the house to find the driveway blocked by neighbors racing RC cars. When they refuse to move, he drives through the neighbor’s yard.

As narrator, Julio tells about a community program, “Hugs Not Thugs” for former inmates and gang members. The program provides tattoo removal and a calming environment for meditative exercises.

Julio promises Fabian “Big Dawg” (Fabian Alomar) that they can make his teardrop tattoo disappear before introducing him to Minister Leonard Payne (Michael Imperioli). Payne informs Julio of a $10k donation from Sir Richard Branson. When Julio says that’s good news, Payne rants about Branson being a “cheapskate” who invests millions in a ride to space. Julio tells Big Dawg that every new Hugger receives a “Haters Thug Lovers Hug Bug Either Way This Is A Mug” mug. Big Dawg voices his concern about the program not being right for him.

2005 – Julio narrates a story during a flashback of being young Julio (David Alvarado) rollerblading through the neighborhood when a drive-by happens. He crawls behind a car to come face-to-face with young Brian (Derrick Laquan Davis). Julio asks what’s going down. Brian claims his cousin’s drug deal went bad. Luis (Frankie Quinones) stops shooting when he spots Julio hiding behind a vehicle. After a brief conversation, they depart ways. Fabian refers to young Julio as a “punk a** bit**.” Julio warns a gangster rarely makes it past 24 years old while a “punk a** bit**” can reach 76 years old.

Fabian emerges from Hugs Not Thugs with his new Hugger’s mug. Julio tells him to be there at 10am for orientation when Maggie (Michelle Ortiz) pulls his car out of the driveway. He calls her to ask if she stole his vehicle. She assures him that she just borrowed it before scolding him for a check engine light that’s endangering her life. He asks her to return the car so he can pick up Luis. She sarcastically says she and Carlos (Carlos Ayala) are talking again.

Luis is waiting as Julio arrives on foot. Julio says they will take an Uber home. Luis tells him that an inmate named Thumper is an Uber inside the prison. When Julio reaches out his hands for a hug, Luis warns him not be nasty.

Luis is admiring a picture of him and his mother when Aiden (Dylan Alvarado) rushes past. He warns he could’ve gotten stabbed if they were in a prison yard.

Esperanza forces Julio to give up his seat at the dinner table to Luis. After teasing Luis about looking short in a kiddy chair, Luis asks why a tarp is on the roof. They tell him it is leaking. Maria warns a storm is coming. Esperanza tells Julio to get Don Lorenzo to repair the room. Luis assures her that he will fix it. Julio tells him as his case manager, he will help him find a new career. A girl suggests he is the one who needs help with all his comic books. Rocio (Anna Lamadrid) asks why Julio isn’t paying rent. Luis assures them that he won’t need help getting a job after kicking it for a while. After a bit of back-and-forth, Esperanza demands he join Hugs Not Thugs.

Julio and Luis emerge from the house to find his car missing. As Esperanza drives them to Hugs Not Thugs, Julio confronts Maggie about taking his car to San Diego. Esperanza questions why he broke up with such a “good girl”

Payne delegates new Huggers to bake a cupcake. Fabian reminds Julio of his promise to teach him to design solar panels. Julio tells him the proceeds from the cupcakes will financially support a solar panel design course. Payne claims the Girl Scouts is the only nonprofit outselling Hugs Not Thugs in sweets. Luis says it sounds like exploitation before suggesting they get a union. All the new Huggers cheer when Chef Percy Williams (Jamar Malachi Neighbors) bangs on a stainless-steel bowl. Percy says they refuse to bake cupcakes because they have a fear of failure. He dares them to disrespect his “cupcake world.” Payne says after Percy graduated from the Hugs Not Thugs culinary program, he became a Sprinkles’ pastry chef.

Luis reluctantly accepts a pink “Hug Me” apron. He haphazardly pours his imperfect cupcake mixture into paper baking cups. Holding a pan of burnt cupcakes, Julio demands to know why he left. Luis admits to being embarrassed by the cupcake “sh**.” After saying it isn’t 2005, Julio threatens to kick him out if he can’t bake cupcakes.

Esperanza thanks God for having Luis repair her house as Julio emerges with a recycling container. Luis asks where he keeps the weights. When Julio denies owning a weight set, Luis suggests that’s why Maggie is always stealing his car.

Luis utilizes Julio as a table for his makeshift weights of plastic bags filled with water. When Julio quits, Luis pops open the plastic bag, spilling water everywhere.

Julio apologizes to Luis for being hard on him before giving him a fire extinguisher.

Percy gives a pep talk while the new Huggers make cupcakes. Luis meticulously cracks eggs and measures out ingredients. After taking a bite, Julio describes his cupcakes as having thug, not hug. When Luis calls him a “gay boy,” Percy says it isn’t 2005. Julio doesn’t fall for it when Luis suggests he hit him. Instead, he reminds Luis of his being locked up when his mother got sick. As Luis walks away, Fabian warns the others to not talk to Julio about anything personal.

After tasting Luis’ cupcake, Payne asks why he lied. Julio explains how Luis refuses to believe he is anything other than a little kid. Payne suggests he always puts his problems on the back-burner while taking care of others. Julio changes the subject to Payne’s “Game Set Hope” documentary. Payne orders him to apologize to Luis.

Maggie tells Julio that he should be grateful she picked him up. He asks why because it is his car. She suggests them having sex in the car makes them co-owners. He threatens to not invite her over to his house for Christmas if she steals his car again. She threatens to beat him if he keeps her and his family apart during Christmas.

After joining Luis on a bench, Julio admits to lying about his cupcakes. Luis tells him what he said hurt much worse than being shot. Julio says he is a man with dental insurance now. Luis reminds him of his still living with Esperanza. Maggie orders them into the car.

The neighborhood guys (Ignacia Alcala Jr., Joshua Hawkins, and Trevion Twosifix Pleasant) have the driveway blocked. Julio orders them to move their vehicle. One of the guys asks if he wants to die. Julio pleads with them to kill him before going on a rant about putting his problems last. A guy tells him that they aren’t armed. While Julio tries to force one of the guys to choke him, Luis emerges from the car just as it starts to rain. Everyone scatters. Maggie waves while driving away as the episode comes to an end.

This Fool Review

I must admit, it is a habit of mine to skip trailers and go straight to the first episode. The plot is interesting enough without actually being unique. On one hand, the show is uncompelling and on the other, compelling.

Julio is a caring sap who puts his dysfunctional family and friends above himself. He works for a rehabilitation nonprofit for former gang members and inmates. Minister Leonard Payne played by Michael Imperioli “Sopranos” is a tough guy who firmly believes Hugs Not Thugs is a vital part of the community. Payne’s sidekick is former convict, Chef Percy Williams played by Jamar Malachi Neighbors.

The cinematography, editing, and acting are good. The cast isn’t diverse enough for my liking. Film producers are a making special effort to diversify their casts, just not in this case.

I believe some viewers will find the script offensive. It utilizes terminology that is considered off-limits in certain situations. The show could be seen as poking fun at a serious social issue, gun violence. The Hispanic community isn’t always shown in a good light. Let’s just say, it isn’t for everyone.

The script was cleverly written, with some jokes being quirky and downright funny while others fail flat.

The episode deserves a 6. Get more of This Fool recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link.