I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, despite being a show about macho biker guys, “Mayans M.C.” has some of the most layered and interesting female characters on TV right now. And perhaps no character exemplifies that more than Emily, played by the wonderful Sarah Bolger. And in this episode of Templo Talk: A Mayans M.C. Podcast, we discuss the newest, penultimate episode of the FX drama and also get the chance to speak with Bolger about the complicated life of Emily Galindo. 
LISTEN: Vincent Vargas Talks ‘Mayans’ Season 5, Becoming A Writer, Shedding Light On Veteran Issues & More [Templo Talk]
Yes, this is the penultimate episode of “Mayans M.C.” We are only one episode away from the finale of “Mayans M.C.” and as you might expect, there’s plenty of heavy drama in the latest episode, titled “I Must Go in Now For the Fog is Rising.” Since this is ‘Mayans,’ a show led by the creative mind of Elgin James, you know the episode is bound to have at least one major death. And Episode 9 delivers on that promise with the shocking death of Felipe (Edward James Olmos). So, we definitely discuss this episode and what happens.
But I also got the chance to talk with Sarah Bolger, who plays Emily Galindo, a woman who has really been through hell on the show. From the highs of being a wealthy wife of a cartel leader to a woman on the run hoping that her son is safe to now being a prisoner in her own home, Emily has seen some shit. And in Season 5, it appears that everything is finally leading to something big with Emily, as we approach the finale.
LISTEN: Joseph Lucero Talks ‘Mayans’ Final Season, Creeper’s Ultimate Fate, The Brotherhood On Set & More [Templo Talk]
“[Emily] fell into other people’s lives so easily that she didn’t create one for herself,” she said. “That’s really what Season 5 is about—Emily breaking shackles of past mistakes, past errors, past occurrences, and developing her own truth and her own future. That’s her goal for Season 5. Whether or not she gets there is another thing.”
As mentioned, Bolger plays one of the various strong, nuanced female characters in ‘Mayans.’ And even though it’s a show filled with tattooed biker dudes, Bolger believes James and the various cast and crew have really combined forces to make a series that leans into feminine energy just as much as it does masculine.
“For all the masculine energy, I think there’s an equal feminine energy on the show. And I love that about ‘Mayans M.C.’” said Bolger. “I think that’s such a testament to our writers and to Elgin [James] and our amazing directors because there is an elegance to the story that is very feminine and beautiful and moving and powerful. The fact that I get to be a woman on the show that has depth —despair and courage and kindness but also fragility and fierceness— it’s just a dream.”
What happens to Emily Galindo in the finale? Will she just become another body on the huge pile that has built up in Season 5? We’ll find out next week with the “Mayans M.C.” finale, which debuts on FX on Wednesday before hitting Hulu the next day. You can hear the full discussion and interview below:

Templo Talk is part of The Playlist Podcast Network, which includes The Playlist Podcast, Bingeworthy, Deep Focus, The Fourth Wall, and The Discourse. We can be heard on iTunes, AnchorFM, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, and most places where podcasts are found. You can stream the podcast via the Spotify embed within the article or click on the lead image at the top page. Follow us on iTunes, and you’ll get this podcast and our other shows regularly. Be sure to subscribe and drop us a comment or a rating, as we greatly appreciate it. Thank you for listening.