A Dangerous Business Is Growing
In episode two of season two of Deli Boys, the Maalik family’s money laundering operation becomes more dangerous. The episode starts out with a close up of how the organization launders illegal cash through several businesses. Money is dropped off at the deli every Thursday, and then it’s moved through the casino.
Raj and Mir act as regular gamblers, trading chips for cash and returning them later without playing. Then the money is cleaned through fictitious business transactions . This then gets funneled into bank accounts and credit cards . Meanwhile, Lucky introduces Sugar to a new front company, Luck Now Entertainment, another rung in their criminal ladder.
Chadwater Declares War On Casino
Political pressure begins to mount as Andrew Chadwater publicly announces his mission to purge drugs and corruption from Philadelphia, with the Sugar Palace Casino in his crosshairs. In the midst of his passionate speech, Chadwater clumsily falls off a box in an attempt to galvanize support, adding another comedic element to his otherwise serious crusade.
Sugar is not worried about Lucky’s concerns. He’s confident of his political connections and arranges a private meeting with Chadwater through Governor Schaefer’s office. Sugar plays the game pretending to make donor calls which is really just a way of handing out bribes under the guise of campaign help.
But Chadwater isn’t going to cooperate. He says he cannot be bought and promises to reveal how Sugar and DarCo work. The scene highlights Chadwater’s eccentric personality and inflated self-importance, that continues to provide some of the funniest moments of the episode.
Mir’s Aspirations vs Raj’s Impulsiveness
Away from the political chaos, Mir turns his attention to trying to land a golf club deal with businessman Reza Talai, who now calls himself “Rizzo” to sound more Italian. For Mir, the deal is more than just a deal, it is legitimacy, an entry into the elite criminal circles.
But then everything changes when Ahmad sends a threatening video demanding one million dollars. Lucky immediately agrees to the payment because he does not want to complicate things. Raj, however, wants a permanent solution.
Mir and Raj are in one of their never ending arguments. Mir believes that killing Ahmad will ruin their future business opportunities, while Raj believes that violence is the easiest way. Their contrasting views still show the growing divide between the brothers.
Raj’s Unsuccessful Mission
Raj’s murder of Ahmad is darkly funny but the episode also has psychological tension. Mir attempts to stop him, futilely, even locking him in a bathroom at one point. Raj breaks free, determined to finish the job.
Meanwhile, Mir tries to get to Ahmad first and buy him off, but is slowed down by a painfully slow driverless Uber, which leads to one of the more absurd sequences of the episode.
Before confronting Ahmad, Raj sees a vision of his dead father. The vision calls him back to his brother, to leave the violence behind. And for a second Raj looks like he might listen.
Finally, when Raj meets Ahmad, he threatens him but chooses not to kill him. Ahmad walks away laughing at Raj, not upset.
A Shocking Twist Turns Everything Around
Just when you think the crisis has been averted, the episode throws the biggest curveball. News breaks of an explosion in Fishtown, and Chadwater quickly announces at an emergency press conference that Saeed Ahmad has been killed.
Even worse, authorities have already identified a suspect.
Moments later police storm Raj and Mir’s home and arrest Raj for first-degree murder, ending on a huge cliffhanger.
Episode discussion
Episode 2 is a nice blend of crime, comedy, and chaos that dives deeper into the darkness of the season’s main story. Raj’s arrest turns the season on its head and raises serious questions about who really killed Ahmad.
The episode heavily implies that Raj was set up. Although he had intended to murder Ahmad earlier, he eventually backed down, making the final twist far more intriguing.
Mir’s hopes of becoming a high-end criminal businessman are hanging in the balance, especially since the golf club deal is still in the pipeline. One of the show’s strongest dynamics continues to be the contrast between Mir’s calculated ambitions and Raj’s reckless behavior.
Chadwater is also still a standout among the characters. His overblown speeches and self-righteousness add an element of satire that surprisingly works well against the darker crime elements. There are also a few comedic moments through the episode courtesy of the awkwardly cautious flirtation between Lucky and Sugar.
All in all, this episode has a good pace and smart jokes and an ending that really makes you want to see what happens next.