La Màquina: Who Are The Villains & Why We Never Actually Find Out The Truth

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for La Màquina!

The villains of La Màquina are vital to the story of Hulu’s new Spanish-language boxing show, but despite this, the main characters never find out the truth about them. La Màquina‘s tense intertwining of a crime story and a sports story elevates tropes of boxing movies that have been around for decades now, with the Hulu series putting a fresh twist on them. While the villains are a looming threat throughout La Màquina, the biggest answer to the mystery surrounding them is never answered, leading many fans to be left scratching their heads after the ending of La Màquina.

La Màquina is Hulu’s first-ever Spanish-language original series, with it reuniting Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna for another incredible story. The series follows Garcia Bernal’s Esteban “La Màquina” Osuna, an aging boxer who is managed by Diego Luna’s shady Andy Lujan. The duo gets into a deal with the criminal underworld of Mexican boxing, one that means they will die if Esteban doesn’t throw his big comeback fight. The tense thriller constantly has viewers wondering what is coming next, with one of the biggest questions having to do with who is behind the deal.

La Màquina Never Answers Its Biggest Mystery

Who Are The Main Villains?

Throughout La Màquina, viewers are constantly wondering who is behind the criminal situation that Esteban and Andy have gotten tied up in. After the reveal of the threat at the end of episode 1, Esteban and many of the other La Màquina cast members try to uncover who is threatening them, although this isn’t immediately answered. Due to La Màquina having a mystery element, many viewers assume that the villains will be revealed later in the show, with the series finale being an obvious choice. However, by the time credits role at the end of La Màquina, the identity of the criminals is still a mystery.

Throughout the series, Andy talks to off-screen voices and unseen figures who remain in the shadows. Throughout the finale, the identity of the criminals are constantly teased, with many expecting the reveal of Andy’s plan to also reveal who has been threatening them. After Andy finishes singing Karaoke, several armed gunmen emerge to kill him, with it seeming like this will be the moment when the show reveals their identities. However, this cathartic moment never comes, with almost nothing being known about who they are by the end of La Màquina.

Every Hint At Who The Villains Of La Màquina Are

The Show Does Give Some Clues

Despite never directly answering the question, the identity of the villains is teased several times in La Màquina. At one point, Andy goes to a car wash that is a front for the criminal organization that is threatening him. While there, one of the villains gets into the back of his car and has a conversation with him. The viewers see the villains’ eyes in the reflection of the mirror, with this being our best look at whoever is behind things. Andy and Esteban discuss how people from Mexico, China, Russia, and the United States are involved, implying that this is an international organization.

These villains seem to have a stranglehold on the world of boxing, with them having had their hands in multiple other matches and notable boxers. The villains even have a connection with Esteban’s father, causing him to go into hiding. They are clearly watching Esteban and Andy throughout La Màquina, with Andy explaining that they have ears and microphones everywhere. The villains in La Màquina are obviously too much for Andy and Esteban to take on, although the show never introduces a named character who is in charge of the organization.

Why The Villains Aren’t Revealed In La Màquina

It Doesn’t Matter For The Show’s Themes

The reason that La Màquina doesn’t reveal who its villains are is that it just isn’t important. La Màquina is not about the actions of a few bad apples. Instead, La Màquina is about the real-life systemic issues and criminal underworld that are prevalent in the world of boxing, with the series focusing on the corruption that has become impossible to weed out of the sport.

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The arcs of Esteban and Andy are meant to show how people react to the unseen oppression that this kind of control causes. Revealing who the villains are would not only have not added anything to the show, but it would have also hurt this theme, as it would have made La Màquina‘s unseen oppressors seen.

Boxer Esteban “La Máquina” Osuna struggles to revive his career after a devastating loss, with the help of his manager, Andy Luja. As a dangerous organization threatens their efforts, Esteban must confront personal demons and protect his family, including his ex-wife, who becomes entangled in the dark side of boxing.

Cast

Gael García Bernal , Diego Luna , Eiza González , Lucía Méndez , Raúl Briones , Christopher Evangelou , Juan Carlos Huguenin , Andrés Delgado , Luis Gnecco , Jorge Perugorría , Karina Gidi , Sandra Quiróz , David Diamante , Dariam Coco

Character(s)

Esteban La Máquina Osuna , Andy Lujan , Irasema , Josefina , Juan Carlos , Harry Felix , Memo de la Peña , Raúl , Facundo , Sixto , Carlota , Doctora Liu , Ring Announcer

Release Date

October 8, 2024

Seasons

1

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