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Claws introduces new problems for Desna as Zlata takes over

By Michael Bibbins

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Claws kicked off season two in a big way last night. Before the girls and the Dixie mafia could regroup after Riva’s takeover, she was replaced in dramatic fashion by her sister Zlata.

We had been ramping up to the Claws season premiere with a series of Q&A’s with the cast. During those interviews, many of the cast members told us that Zlata (Franka Potente) was going to completely change things but there was no way to prepare us for everything that went down.

 The Riva problem

At the start of the episode, Riva is in control of the salon, the clinic, and She-She’s. Uncle Daddy and the boys are clearly upset about it but Desna is trying to make it work. She’s had to make changes to the shop but she does not want to do anything to upset her new boss.

It’s clear that the new setup isn’t working because there is too much money flowing through the clinic. Roller and Bryce aren’t depositing it fast enough and it’s literally piling up in Dr. Brickman’s office. You would think that having so much money coming in that you can’t deposit it fast enough would make her slow down, but Riva isn’t pleased.

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Let’s move coke

Riva tells Desna that she wants her girls to start moving cocaine but Desna shuts it down. Riva then says that they’ll move the cocaine through She-She’s and have the strippers sell it. She tells Desna to have the Hussers pick up the cocaine from the nursing home and Desna has no choice but to agree.

Before she leaves, she tells her niece that her mother is coming. Her niece does not want to see her mother, but this foreshadowing still wasn’t enough of a warning.

Uncle Daddy doesn’t show up

When Desna tells Uncle Daddy that he needs to go pick up the coke, he is not on board with his strippers moving cocaine. He doesn’t say that he’s not going to go pick it up but it’s clear he is not happy with the new arrangement.

Later that night, Desna is having a date night with Dr. Ruval. Everything is fine until Riva is notified that the Hussers never picked up the supply. When she tries to contact Desna she can’t get an answer and is so upset she breaks a glass. Her sister, Zlata, seemed aloof up until this point where she suddenly seems to be planning something.

Riva is able to reach Polly who alerts Desna that the shipment was not picked up and they both head to the nursing home to do it themselves. Along the way they grab Quiet Ann as well.

Power shift

Before Desna and her girls leave, Riva and Zlata arrive. Riva begins threatening Desna, telling her that she can’t control her people. When Zlata begins to speak, Riva shuts her down and disrespects her as well. That’s when Zlata pulls out a gun.

She initially aims it at Desna and begins to talk about what they do to people who don’t perform back in Georgia. Then, she says they aren’t in Georgia anymore, before shooting her sister in the head. Blood splashes onto Desna and Polly who goes into shock.

She then smiles and thanks Desna and her girls before telling them to get a good night’s rest and that they start tomorrow.

Zlata’s vision

From the onset we know that Zlata is crazy. She was originally introduced as being in town to promote the English version of her audiobook “The Kremlin Konnection.” Her sister clearly doesn’t take her seriously and Zlata was aware of it so she took things into her own hands.

Meeting the girls

The day after killing her sister, Zlata shows up at the nail salon with a cardboard cutout of herself. She tells Desna that she only threatened her to distract her sister but that Riva was toxic. Riva had apparently turned the whole family against Zlata but once Zlata saw she had turned her own daughter against her, she couldn’t take it.

She tells Desna that she saw herself in Desna when Riva was barking at her. She recognized that Desna was a “bad bitch” like her who has been underestimated. Zlata’s people are serving the girls drinks and finger foods during this speech before she gives them all envelopes full of money. She wants to create a sisterhood and to show the boys that they can be just as bad but look good doing it.

The plan

She wants to change She-She’s to “Hammer and Pickle” with all male dancers. Ann and Virginia are tasked with finding the men. Polly makes up an identity on the spot and is given the job of teaching these men how to dance. Jenn sees a way to avoid the action and says she’ll stay and take care of the shop. Zlata then asks Desna to come with her to meet with the Hussers.

The Hussers

At She-She’s, Zlata is trying to get Uncle Daddy to explain his business but he’s pissed and uncooperative. Roller, pleased that Riva is dead, is completely cooperative and Desna also fills in some of the blanks. When Bryce starts to chime in as well it’s clear Uncle Daddy is feeling betrayed.

Forcing the Husser’s respect

When Zlata suggests Desna and her girls stepping up in the business, Desna again resists having the girls get involved. Zlata seems to accept this but also tells Desna that the Hussers don’t respect her and she needs to do some things to change that. She wastes no time in doing so.

They first torment Bryce by making him watch his wife having sex with the rabbi. She then carries Desna with her to Uncle Daddy’s house and forces her to throw a Molotov cocktail at it. Zlata also throws one. She says that they’ll get Roller the following day.

The wedding

The next day the girls show up for a party at Zlata’s and find that it’s actually a wedding she’s setting up. Whose wedding you ask? It’s her daughter’s, and when the Hussers arrive we realize that she’s marrying her to Roller. Desna told her that they only respect family, so she’s making them family.

He tries to run but is tackled. At the alter, he pleads with the priest to not go through with it and the priest pulls out a gun. Poor Roller is yet again going to be stuck with a woman that he has no interest in. All while knowing that Desna is happy with her new man.

Desna and Jenn

In my interview with Jenn Lyon she hinted at the Russians coming in and affecting the dynamic between the ladies. At the end of the Claws season 2 premiere we find out one way that is going to happen.

Zlata is definitely impressed by Desna and has instantly taken to her, but she doesn’t like her relationship with Jenn. She feels that Jenn has reaped the benefits that Desna deserves by marrying into the Husser family and wants to correct it. At the very end of the episode, she gives Desna the key to Jenn’s house and tells her it’s hers now. The catch is that she wants Desna to tell Jenn.

Summary

So in this first episode of Claws season 2, Zlata established herself as being dangerous by killing her own sister. Then she tried to turn on the charm and make the girls trust her but that element of fear is still lingering. She seemed to accept some of the pushback Desna is giving her but I’m willing to bet there will be a point when she doesn’t.

Next: Niecy Nash interview

In the meantime, Uncle Daddy and Roller are not happy with the current situation and are clearly plotting against Zlata. We know that Uncle Daddy is in communication with Dr. Ruval but the good doctor seems to be waiting for something. It’s going to be interesting how this situation with Jenn and Desna plays out. With all of the drama caused by Zlata you almost forget about the subplots for all of the girls besides Desna and their individual relationship drama.

We’ll start doing recaps next week when Claws returns on Sunday at 9/8 Central. Episode one is streaming on the TNT website. 

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