Title: The Prince Director: Hernán Otaño Runtime: ~55 minutes Key Focus: Tariq’s attempt to play both sides (the Tejadas and the law) begins to fray as loyalty is tested, and Monet Tejada asserts her true authority. Plot Summary (Spoilers ahead) The episode opens with Tariq and Brayden scrambling after the failed drug heist in Episode 3. Their professor, Carrie Milgram, begins to suspect Tariq’s extracurricular activities are more than academic. Meanwhile, Monet forces Tariq into a dangerous new role: she wants him to be the middleman between the Tejada operation and a new, volatile connect—a gang led by a man named Vincent “Vic” .

The title isn’t just decorative. Professor Milgram lectures on The Prince , specifically the idea that “it is better to be feared than loved.” The episode then cuts between Tariq applying that lesson (executing the dealer) and Monet living it (intimidating Vic with her lawyer’s retainer). The show finally leans into its Ivy League crime-drama hybrid concept effectively.

Cane’s jealousy of Tariq is one-note. In this episode, he literally snarls and punches a wall. For a show aiming for nuanced antagonists, Cane’s “dumb muscle who hates the new guy” trope feels beneath the writers. He needs a motivation beyond “I don’t like him.”

Would you like a comparison to other episodes in Season 1, or a breakdown of the real Machiavelli themes used in the show?

The episode climaxes with Tariq forced to execute a young dealer from Vic’s crew to prove his loyalty—a pivotal moment where Tariq stops imitating Ghost and starts becoming him. 1. Mary J. Blige’s Dominance as Monet This is the episode where Monet transforms from “scary mom” to a full-fledged kingpin. The scene where she calmly dissects a rival’s weakness while ironing clothes is masterful. Her line, “You don’t become a queen by asking permission” , encapsulates the episode’s theme. Blige’s physicality—cold, still, but coiled—is terrifyingly effective.

He attends class, deals drugs, executes a man, launders money, and still has time to study for a midterm—all in 48 screen hours. The show’s refusal to acknowledge time passing (is this week one of school? Month one?) breaks immersion.