Episode 8 of "Snakes and Ladders" picks up right where we left off, with Dora's election defeat still hanging heavy in the air. Muriel confronts Josefina, who subtly reminds her that their pact was solely to ensure the elections took place and to source an alternative candidate. Josefina had honorably upheld her end of the agreement, having never pledged to secure Dora's victory.
Meanwhile, Dora's world takes another turn when she receives a call informing her of Tono's arrest. Without hesitation, Muriel speeds her to the police station. En route, Muriel is handed a video that undeniably implicates Juana as the true perpetrator. With quick thinking and resolve, Muriel forces Juana to confess her crime of theft and framing Tono, leading to his prompt release.
Elsewhere, in a tale of love and ambition intertwined, Tamara and Vicente, whose marital and sexual bond is flourishing, make a bold decision. They yearn to return to Spain, where they aim to establish a sexual awareness clinic, even extending a job offer to Roque. To mark their impending departure, they plan an opulent farewell bash on Vincentin's birthday, inviting all their acquaintances. During this festive gathering, a video from their hotel escapade unexpectedly leaks, but far from deterring them, it ignites a fresh spark of desire between the couple. Unfazed by the scandal, they embark on their Spanish journey with their son Vincentin by their side.
As for Roque, he initially ponders Tamara and Vincentin's proposal with interest. However, his fate seems to be written elsewhere, as Martha Sanchez, unable to contain her feelings any longer, confesses her love for him. This revelation might just steer Roque onto a different path, one filled with unexpected love and newfound possibilities.
What befalls Olmo Muriel in this episode is a harrowing tale of a once-admired figure brought to his knees by relentless scrutiny and betrayal. Muriel, clutching at straws amidst a maelstrom of accusations, finds himself under siege from all sides. His chocolate empire, the very cornerstone of his success, is under attack, while his native associations shun him, severing ties that once bound them together. Governments across borders slam the door on his products, banning exports, and the long arm of the law ensnares his company in a tax evasion probe
Whispers, dark and sinister, swirl through the air, alleging that Muriel siphoned funds from his charitable foundation to prop up the governor's election campaign. Those who once extolled his virtues now shun him, even the governor, who, in a cold display of ingratitude, blocks his number. Muriel's descent into oblivion is swift and unforgiving, with Dora being the sole beacon of support, albeit a fleeting one.
Dora hands Muriel a video, a potential weapon to decimate Tamara and Vicente's reputation. In a moment of desperation during the farewell gala, Muriel resorts to bribery, securing the videographer's compliance to air the incriminating footage. Little does Muriel realize that the flash drive harbors another secret—a video capturing Muriel indulging in drugs alongside Bernie, who has since vanished without a trace. The tables turn dramatically, leaving Muriel isolated, abandoned even by his daughters Juana and Choquita, forced to flee into the night.
As for Tono and Nicolas, their bond blossoms into an official romance, a beacon of hope amidst the turmoil. Seizing an opportunity offered by the governor, who bestows upon Nicolas the role of the face of right-wing gay youth, they embark on a joint journey, facing interviews side by side. Nicolas's political aspirations soar, while Tono stands by him, not merely as a lover but as a political ally, their partnership solidifying in the public eye.
What transpires in Dora's life after the elections? Having conceded defeat, Dora attempts to rally behind Muriel, her former ally. However, as Muriel's fortunes decline, Dora finds herself unable to resist the lure of ambition. She aligns herself with the governor, plotting to undermine Muriel in a bid for power.
When she and Lopitos leak Muriel's compromising video, causing him to flee, the governor rewards Dora by appointing her as the Minister of Public Education. Throughout this ordeal, Dora is torn between embracing betrayal or accepting defeat.
Sticking with Muriel, whose political career was on a downward spiral, seemed destined to leave Dora as a loser. Nicolas, the governor, and even Antonio, haunting her dreams, continually reinforce the harsh truth that true friends are scarce in politics. In the worst-case scenario, Muriel would whisk his daughters away on a holiday, leaving Dora trapped in her bleak reality.
How does the narrative of "Snakes and Ladders" conclude? Dora decides to embrace her darker side, transforming into a traitor. This decision immediately elevates her and her allies' lives. She scales the ladder of success from its lowest rung to its highest peak. She also lifts Lopitos (Lopez) to the pinnacle, making him her assistant. The series concludes with a humorous chant about corruption, narrated by Vincentin's voice, leaving a biting aftertaste.
