Episode 5 of Griselda opens with a dramatic leap forward in time, revealing three years have swiftly passed. By this juncture, Griselda has solidified her position as the unwavering drug kingpin of Miami, a figure of fear and respect alike. She has wed Dario and together they have nurtured a son named Michael, a young boy who will one day inherit their legacy.
In the realm of business, Griselda has enlisted the assistance of Rivi, a trusted confidante who helps steer the empire she has painstakingly built. However, the shadow of danger looms large as CENTAC redoubles their efforts to bring Griselda to justice. But their funds are dwindling, and they are left scrambling for a solution.
June and Diaz stand before the congress in Washington, DC, pleading for the financial support they desperately need to keep their unit afloat. June has deciphered Griselda's complex code, revealing the locations of her stash houses. They argue passionately for the congress to authorize surveillance on these locations, hoping to gather incriminating evidence against the notorious crime lord. However, Diaz and June harbor a deep suspicion that the Miami PD has been compromised, leaving the burden of justice solely on CENTAC's shoulders.
Back in the bustling city of Miami, Griselda remains unfazed by CENTAC's relentless pursuit. She carries on with her business as usual, her resolve steeled by the knowledge that she stands atop a criminal empire. Nevertheless, challenges await her at every turn. Rafa, a shady character with ties to the underworld, introduces Griselda to John Roberts - a powerful figure in South Florida with a wealth of ideas and influence. Rafa believes John could be a valuable asset in their supply chain, but Griselda is skeptical.
In a tense confrontation, Griselda mocks Rafa's attempts to advise her on the running of her operation, humiliating him and his associates in the process. This scene offers a glimpse into the dysfunctional dynamics within Griselda's household. Dario, her husband, seems increasingly disillusioned, believing that Griselda is too influenced by Rivi and has become addicted to the power and thrill of the drug trade.
Meanwhile, their son Dixon has allowed his mother's notoriety in the drug world to go to his head. He is caught up in a whirlwind of drugs and ego, teetering on the edge of a precipice. But Griselda, consumed by her own ambitions, is blind to his precarious state. She assures him that they are untouchable, a belief that sustains their dangerous lifestyle.
Griselda is confident that she can handle any obstacle that comes her way. She devises a plan to discredit Diaz, framing him as a corrupt cop by depositing money in his bank account and exposing him to the press. Diaz is left with no choice but to resign from his position as the lead detective in CENTAC, reassigned to a lesser unit. June and Al step into his shoes, with June harboring doubts about her ability to fill such a formidable role. However, she quickly rises to the challenge, proving herself to be more than capable of taking on the mantle of justice.
After successfully dealing with Diaz, Griselda falsely assumed that the CENTAC situation was firmly under control. Rivi, however, was far from satisfied, proposing a thorough clean-up by eliminating anyone who posed a risk of spilling their secrets. The hit list comprised individuals who had spoken ill of Griselda and those with prior entanglements with the police. Rivi argued that such actions would provide the police with a pretext to turn these individuals against Griselda. The list also included the names of their own men who had been caught red-handed purchasing drugs from rival suppliers. Griselda, unwavering, ordered Rivi to wrap up the matter before Dario's birthday bash, which was scheduled to take place in two weeks' time.
Dario, despite his misgivings, found it difficult to sway Griselda's determination to eliminate these potential threats. Nevertheless, he harbored doubts about the morality of such actions. But Griselda, swayed by Rivi's arguments, remained resolute.
Two weeks flew by, and Griselda's men carried out their orders with ruthless efficiency, eliminating every name on the hit list. As the clock ticked towards Dario's party, CENTAC was thrown into a state of shock and disbelief by Griselda's escalating violence. June speculated that Griselda's paranoia stemmed from a deep-seated fear that a traitor was lurking within her ranks. Ironically, it turned out that there was no informant; Griselda's suspicions were entirely unfounded.
June saw an opportunity in Griselda's paranoia and proposed using it to lure her into making a costly mistake. It was a risky gambit, but the team decided to take the plunge and raided one of Griselda's stash houses, hoping to create the illusion that the informant was still at large.
Dario's birthday party began on a cheerful note, with Griselda making a heartfelt tribute to her husband and presenting him with a golden machine gun as a gift. However, the festive atmosphere was overshadowed by the underlying tension between the couple, each harboring their own agenda.
News soon reached Griselda that CENTAC had struck at her stash house, igniting a firestorm of paranoia within her. June capitalized on this, further sowing doubts in Griselda's mind about the loyalty of her inner circle. She zeroed in on Carmen as a potential weak link, testing her loyalty to see if she could be turned against Griselda.
As the police had anticipated, this news only exacerbated Griselda's paranoia, prompting her to call for an urgent meeting with Rivi and Dario. She demanded that the informant be dealt with immediately, but the trio was at a loss as to who the culprit might be. Suspicion fell heavily on Rafa, and Griselda demanded answers from Marta, who confirmed that Rafa had been meeting with John.
Marta, Rivi, and Dario tried their best to calm Griselda's nerves, but she remained resolutely convinced that a traitor was lurking in the shadows. Her paranoia reached feverish heights when a scuffle broke out involving Dixon, and she overheard Rafa and John jesting about the family's unraveling. The tense atmosphere was now charged with danger, and it seemed that the next move could tip the balance of power in either direction.
Regardless of the escalating tension, the party persists with its raucous energy. Dario, seeking a moment of privacy, approaches Griselda and urges her to abandon the deadly drug trade. He pleads with her to start fresh as a family, free from the clutches of the criminal underworld. However, Griselda mistrusts his motives, accusing him of trying to dim her shine. She suspiciously queries if he is the informant, a betrayal that only deepens the rift between them.
As the night unfolds in a whirlwind of debauchery, Griselda indulges in excessive drinking and cocaine, her paranoia escalating with each passing moment. Her suspicion extends to those closest to her, including Carmen, after Marta whispers about the latter's judgmental nature. Fueled by these whispers, Griselda orders Rivi to have Chucho keep tabs on Carmen. But Rivi informs her that Chucho, choosing to stay home with his young family, did not attend the party. This revelation only heightens Griselda's anxiety, and she begins to cast doubts even on Chucho.
Carmen, unaware of the brewing storm, exits the party to her surprise encounter with June at her doorstep. June offers her a deal, promising to expose Griselda's secrets, but Carmen dismisses her with contempt. Convinced that June's supposed evidence against her is flimsy at best, Carmen remains unfazed by the threat. Moreover, she remains steadfast in her loyalty to Griselda.
Back at Griselda's residence, the atmosphere is tense as she confronts Dario, who stands alone, seemingly disconnected from the other women. Their argument erupts into a fiery clash, with Griselda accusing Dario of betrayal. He denies her accusations but reveals their heated discussions about her transformation and her failures as a mother. Dario vows to shield Michael from her influence, a declaration that enrages Griselda to the point of shooting up his car. She threatens to eliminate him too, but Dario remains unshaken, standing his ground amidst the chaos.
Returning to Griselda's abode, she stumbles upon Dario engaged in conversation with none of the young ladies. An explosive altercation erupts, with Griselda accusing Dario of betraying her with another. He vehemently denies the accusation, clarifying that their discussion centered on her transformation and her lackluster parenting skills. Dario vows to shield Michael from her harmful influence.
Upon hearing these revelations, Griselda's anger reaches boiling point. She unleashes a hail of bullets at his car, her face twisted in a mask of fury, threatening to end his life as well. But Dario stands his ground, unfazed by her threats. The tension mounts, and the air is thick with the smell of gunsmoke and the acrid taste of anger.
With a steely resolve, Griselda declared that she longed for everything to come to a conclusive end. Carmen, on the other hand, confessed that she had returned to the festive gathering solely due to the unexpected appearance of a police officer at her doorstep. Upon hearing that June had offered Carmen a deal, Griselda's anger flared up anew, and she turned her fury squarely on her friend. In a fit of rage, she lunged at Carmen, choking her with all her might.
But this time, Dario intervened, swiftly pulling Griselda away from Carmen and bringing her back to her senses. They engaged in an intimate conversation, with Dario expressing his desire for them to flee and start a new life together. He confessed that he was tired of the constant killing and wanted to shield Michael from the dangers of the drug world.
With a hint of remorse in her voice, Griselda apologized for hurting Dario and admitted that her actions had been futile. Nevertheless, she was reluctant to give up easily, accusing Dario of becoming weak after becoming a father. She claimed that she could no longer trust him, words that deeply stung Dario's heart.
Meanwhile, Dixon and his girlfriend embarked on a lively night out at a bustling club. As they navigated through the crowd, a man caught the eye of Dixon's girlfriend and began to flirt shamelessly. Enraged by the man's audacity, Dixon lost his temper and opened fire, causing a commotion that shook the entire club.
Panicked and on the run from the police, Dixon frantically rushed to Chucho's house, begging for his help to hide the gun. However, Chucho, listening to the pleadings of his wife, refused to get involved. Dixon's pleas became more desperate as the police drew nearer, but Chucho, angered by his friend's folly, punched him in frustration.
Later that evening, Dixon broke the news of the altercation to his furious mother. She had always harbored doubts about everyone around them, Rivi included. With a stern command, she demanded that Rivi prove his loyalty by eliminating Chucho. Despite his doubts that Chucho was the informant, Rivi felt compelled to comply.
The next morning, Rivi stealthily trailed Chucho through the bustling traffic and took his shot. Chucho managed to survive, but his young son, who had been seated in the backseat, tragically perished.
Initially, Griselda remained unaware and rejoiced in Chucho's survival. However, the news of the child's demise broke like a cold wave, shocking her to the core. It was a tragic turn of events that she had not anticipated and could not undo.
June, too, was overwhelmed with guilt, blaming herself for the innocent child's death. Her shock deepened when Carmen unexpectedly appeared at the police station, ready to accept June's offer.
