“If you make the adversaries not know the place and date of the battle, you can always win.” That phrase was written by Sun Tzu in his treatise The Art of War. Although more than 2,500 years have passed since that Chinese work of military strategy, it may well serve to explain what is happening in El marginal 3 (Tuesdays at 10 p.m., on Public TV, and available on Cont.ar).
The third season of the series – temporarily takes place between seasons two and one – created by Underground and Public Contents (Public TV) took its first steps. And the strategies of the prison groups, The Borges and the Sub-21, are as the Chinese writer and soldier commands: the unpredictable attack at the least expected moment. In this case, the obsession is called “Moco” (Lorenzo Ferro), an inmate who must be protected by The Borges at the request of the prison director (Gerardo Romano). That favor – and the businesses that are cooking indoors – will bring them closer to freedom.
Those of the Under-21, who live in the courtyard, were historically relegated and betrayed. They want some of the power and benefits that, for now, belong to the gang led by the brothers Diosito (Nicolás Furtado) and Mario, from the VIP pavilion. They will tempt the “good baby” with drugs and with strategic alliances within the San Onofre prison. From the first season, the younger generation of the prison was key in the construction of the story.
For The Borges, those of the U-21 They are “the other” due to rivalry and, mainly, due to their form of action. “I’m a guy with a code. “I don’t want trouble,” says “Morcilla” (Carlos Portaluppi) to Mario Borges (Claudio Rissi) at the start of the inaugural episode of the first season. Lying on the bed, the eldest of the brothers answers: “If it weren’t for us, the idiots of the U21 They would be ruling the town. Do you know what that would be? “I don’t want a country where assholes are shooting each other.”
“The U-21 offers the perspective of a young generation, which has less experience in the prison world. We show people who, barely being teenagers, have to survive against people who have been in prison for many years, who manage all the gears of power and corruption. That’s why they come together and team up to fight against each other’s power. We wanted to show an age group that part of our audience identifies with,” analyzed Pablo Culell, producer, partner of Sebastián Ortega in Underground and one of the creators of The marginal
According to the beginning, the kids responded to that old rational-emotional dichotomy, in which they were placed in the second camp. But fortunately for viewers, nothing was black and white. The Borges They were impulsive at some point. And the young band led by César (Abel Ayala) planned like old Sun Tzu would.
Andres Pascaner, one of the authors of El marginal 3, has his doubts about that dichotomy. “When Borges defines those of the U-21 as kids without a code, he says it like an old sea dog. He does not understand the code of the assholes, who have nothing to survive. They are thrown in the yard, the few things they have are stolen and no one puts a hand to protect them. The U-21s are starting from the doldrums, but in this third season they have a new opportunity with the arrival of ‘Moco’. They cannot fight hand to hand with the Borgesbut they will play in a more strategic way,” says the screenwriter.
Now the link between Sub-21 -Pascaner says that based on camaraderie and friendship- is once again key in this third season, which was joined by actors of the caliber of Alejandro Awada, Gustavo Garzón and Ana María Picchio. The leadership of the Borges will not be easy to maintain, with the arrival of “Moco” who remains in the middle of the war. And it will be much less so to achieve his freedom. He raised the temperature. There is more action and more violence. “They messed with one of the gang. They are going to pay,” said César, leader of the U-21, in the third episode.
“If you know the enemy and yourself, you should not fear the outcome of a hundred battles,” says Sun Tzu in his treatise. In The marginal the enemy lives a few meters away in the vertical world of the prison. And everyone is ready to fight.
Cease
(Abel Ayala)
The actor, who became known in the film El Polaquito, plays one of the leaders of the gang. He is the boss of La Covacha, the place where he holds his clan in the prison yard. In the first seasons, his attitude was one of waiting and observing the environment. He is now more solid and eager to face Los Borges, after a time of being relegated and accumulating resentment. “Borges who breathes, Borges who dies. We are? We are the Sub-21. If they touch one of us, we all jump,” she said on one occasion in the first season.
He is supportive and his violence is usually reactive. In any case, his vengeful actions are tremendous. The arrival of “Moco” (Lorenzo Ferro), a new prisoner, raises his hopes. He wants to hurt him to harm the Borgeses. He spends the day drinking alcohol, smoking pot, and playing cards.
Pedro
(Brian Buley)
“I’m Pedro. Pedro Pedraza, the last of my race”, It is presented in one of the episodes. In many scenes, she rides a tricycle through the prison yard. Although he comes from a family of hitmen, he is one of the most endearing prisoners in the entire prison. Due to his short stature, which puts him at a disadvantage when fighting, he usually kills from behind. He is one of the biggest jokers. He spends his time consuming drugs and “hustling” his enemies.
Arnold
(Emanuel García)
He has a very close relationship with César, leader of the U-21. Her role is key in the dispute over the “loot”, the new kid who entered the prison. He gets him paco and, in that way, tries to harm the Borges. He has a conflict with Morcilla: Carlos Portaluppi’s character blackmails her sister to have sexual relations with her. As a result of this problem, Arnold turns to social worker Emma (Martina Gusman).
Fiorito
(Sebastián Chávez)
He joined in this third season. He has just suffered a brutal attack by the Borges. He works in his drug lab and decides to rob them to supply the U21. When they discover him, after a beating, the gang led by Diosito and Mario makes a brutal decision: he cuts off the fingers of one of his hands. The U-21, of course, is thirsty for revenge. They’re united. As they say, “if they touch one, they touch us all.”
Maximum
(Rodrigo Mora)
He had a small appearance in the second season and has now joined the third. Although she has a good relationship with Caesar, the leader of the Under-21 You must stop him because, at times, he has impulsive behavior and wants to fight with the enemies of his side. He usually wears a Uruguayan soccer jersey and plays as a defender. One fact: the actor, a former River Plate player, asked the producers that his character be named after his son.
Dtoke
(Gaston Serrano)
The character has the same name that the rapper uses on stage and that took him to tour stages around the world. His skills with music – especially with free style – are valued by Cristian (“Moco”), who must be guarded by the Borges. That will bring Lorenzo Ferro’s character closer to the U-21.
Child
(Lucas Posse)
He is characterized by being one of the youngest in the Under-21. He comes from the Toad gang (Roly Serrano) and was dedicated to making extortion calls from the call center that operated in the San Onofre prison. He abandons Toad’s entourage after Oaky (Rodrigo Noya) arrives at the prison.
Marquitos
(Denis Corat)
He really wants to be part of the Under-21, although he is not yet an official member of the group. He is young, impulsive and has a gift for boxing. He is the nephew of Bruni, the character played by Alejandro Awada, an old prisoner who teaches the sport to the other inmates. He would do anything to show his bravery, but his uncle tries to avoid it because he has little time left to regain his freedom.