Decoding the Ending of Unauthorized Living

Article Overview

The explosive ending of "Unauthorized Living" leaves Nemo's criminal empire in ruins, showcasing the tragic consequences of a life of crime.

The series skillfully blends elements of crime thrillers and intricate family dramas, calling to mind the tragic essence of Shakespearean plays.

Nemo's fight against Alzheimer's disease brings an intriguing dimension to the storyline, shedding light on the internal conflicts of the mafia leader and emphasizing the utmost significance of family.

The Spanish crime thriller, Unauthorized Living, concluded its two thrilling seasons with a jaw-dropping ending that left Nemo's criminal empire in ruins. Premiering in 2019, the show follows Nemo Bandiera, the leader of a Galician drug cartel, as he battles Alzheimer's disease while trying to secure the future of his criminal enterprise. With its gripping plot twists and the addition of Bandiera's complex family life, each episode of Unauthorized Living offers Shakespearean levels of tragedy. The ailing mob boss faces betrayals at every turn, making the series incredibly compelling.

Despite being overshadowed by the plethora of original content on the streaming platform, Unauthorized Living still manages to surpass many of the best Spanish shows on Netflix. This streaming service has always been known for its global content, and season 2 of Unauthorized Living showed promise for the show's future. Unfortunately, the series was abruptly canceled after its second season, forcing the shocking season 2 finale to serve as the series finale, hastily tying up various storylines.

Nemo's Final Plan Explained

Throughout both seasons of Unauthorized Living, the central storyline revolved around Nemo's potential successor, giving the series a familiar feel to other popular TV dramas. However, amidst the main plot, there were various criminal activities that required Nemo's divided attention. Alongside evading the law, Nemo had to confront the rival Artegas gang, a Mexican drug cartel that had traveled to Spain to eliminate their competition. Despite his deteriorating health, Nemo devised a plan to eliminate the Artegas crew swiftly and effectively.

Presenting a false truce, Nemo invited the Artegas crew to the Bandiera compound for business negotiations. Unfortunately, due to his Alzheimer's, Nemo became confused and wandered off to sit on the beach. In a fit of anger, Artegas leader German (played by Patrick Criado) shot Nemo's son Daniel (played by Ruben Zamora), believing he had been betrayed since Nemo was nowhere to be found. German then took Lara (played by Claudia Traisac) hostage with the intention of shooting her, but Daniel, who had recovered enough, shot his own father to save Lara. The duo died in each other's embrace, marking a tragic and fitting end for the Artegas crew.

Claudia Traisac also starred as Casandra in the 2019 Netflix series High Seas.

Shows such as Succession delve into the complexities of corrupt family dynamics, while Unauthorized Living offers a compelling tale reminiscent of King Lear, centered around Nemo and his children. In a way, the downfall of the Artegas family foreshadowed Nemo's ultimate demise, highlighting the significance of family amidst chaos and unlawful acts. German's penchant for brutal violence ultimately led to his downfall, confirming Nemo's predictions and illustrating the consequences of his paranoia.

Chon Divorces Nemo

Chon (Pilar Castro) and Nemo's relationship was far from smooth, but in the final episode of Unauthorized Living, they officially ended things. Surprisingly, it wasn't Nemo's violent behavior or his infidelity that led to the breakup. Instead, it was Chon's growing connection with Nemo's doctor. This connection allowed her to free herself from her powerful mob boss husband. However, what is most revealing about Nemo's character is his nonchalant reaction to this news. Rather than being upset or angry, he simply stared blankly. This speaks volumes about the lack of love in their relationship all along.

Lara And Mario Get Together

In many ways, Mario (Alex Gonzalez) emerged as the true antagonist in Unauthorized Living due to the detrimental impact of his poor decisions on the surrounding characters and the jeopardy it posed to Nemo's enterprise. Despite this glaring fact, Mario managed to evade substantial consequences and forge a new relationship with Nemo's daughter, Lara, in the final episode. He swiftly resolved matters with Nina (Giulia Charm), with whom he had a child, as they both agreed to co-parent while Mario pursued his own interests. While Mario did not become Nemo's successor, his close ties to the family ensured potential benefits from Nemo's legitimate ventures that his children would inherit.

Nemo's Hallucination On The Beach

In the midst of executing his plan to put an end to the Artegas threat once and for all, Nemo was unexpectedly struck by a final wave of confusion caused by Alzheimer's disease. This disorientation led him to wander away from the climactic events of the series, seeking solace in solitude. He eventually found himself on a desolate beach, gazing blankly at the vast expanse of the ocean, completely immersed in a surreal hallucination. While Unauthorized Living may not flawlessly portray the complexities of Alzheimer's, the essence of Nemo's predicament holds significant symbolic significance. In his foggy state of mind, Nemo experienced vivid manifestations of Lara's mother, Ada (María Guinea), emerging from the waves, extending an inviting gesture for him to join her.

Considering his apathetic response to Chon's divorce, it is evident that Nemo's sole and genuine affection lied with Ada, which explains his sighting of her at the very end. The vast ocean carries profound symbolism, often signifying the bestowal of life as well as the overwhelming might of nature, which humanity cannot conquer. Ada warmly embraced him into the afterlife as Nemo had long ago come to terms with the inevitability of his fatal diagnosis, thereby explaining his serene acceptance of death instead of vehemently resisting it at every twist and turn.

Does Nemo Survive?

Similar to most drug lord series, Unauthorized Living had a tragic yet apt conclusion for Nemo when his life of crime eventually caught up with him. Instead of meeting his demise at the hands of an adversary or being apprehended by law enforcement, it was his own henchman who executed him upon the request of the elder Bandiera. Nemo had previously confided in Ferro (Luis Zahera), his loyal enforcer, and asked him to end his life when his condition became unbearable. Discovering his boss in a motionless state on the beach, Ferro fulfilled the promise by killing Nemo.

Ferro appropriately requested Nemo to give names to his children, which he was unable to do. This particular detail was most likely intentional, as it highlighted the undeniable truth that Nemo's family had always been the utmost priority for him. Ferro endures immense suffering in fulfilling his dark duty, as he is assigned the harrowing task of assassinating his boss and friend, all while keeping Nemo's illness concealed from many. Although this act of mercy killing would undoubtedly bring trouble for Ferro afterwards, it could potentially be manipulated to appear as a murder committed by the Artegas gang, if executed with meticulous precision.

The Real Meaning Of The Ending Of Unauthorized Living

In many respects, the conclusion of Unauthorized Living exemplified the timeless saying that illegitimate actions eventually come with consequences. Nevertheless, Nemo's downfall diverged from other characters in crime literature as he did not meet a fatal end at the hands of a foe or face lifelong imprisonment. Instead, he essentially met his demise through his own actions, which, upon closer examination, is equivalent to being killed by someone else. Nemo's diagnosis of Alzheimer's serves as a manifestation of his own body turning against him, and as his cognitive abilities deteriorate, he experiences the ultimate betrayal from his own biology, comparable to the treachery of a trusted confidante stabbing him in the back.

Stream all seasons of Unauthorized Living on Netflix now.

Like the play King Lear by William Shakespeare, Unauthorized Living depicts a king plagued by madness and his betrayal by his own children. Although Nemo's children remain relatively loyal, the character Mario harbors a deep greed and will go to any lengths to gain power. By the end of the show, it becomes evident that Mario and Nemo share many similarities, as they both engage in affairs and prioritize finances over relationships with loved ones. However, unlike Nemo, Mario does not have the opportunity to learn from his mistakes.

Editor's P/S

The ending of Unauthorized Living was both tragic and thought-provoking. On the one hand, it was tragic to see Nemo's criminal empire come crashing down around him. He had worked so hard to build it up, and it all came to nothing in the end. On the other hand, it was thought-provoking to see how Nemo's Alzheimer's disease affected his life and the lives of those around him.

The show did a good job of portraying the challenges of living with Alzheimer's disease, and it showed how the disease can lead to tragedy. Overall, I thought the ending of Unauthorized Living was a fitting conclusion to the series. It was tragic, but it was also thought-provoking and left me with a lot to think about.