WARNING: The following contains spoilers for 30 Coins Episode 5, "The Double," now airing on HBO.
HBO's 30 Coins left fans stunned when Elena's husband, Mario, was conjured up by a shaman outside Pedraza after it seemed like he ran away or was dead. That said, fans weren't sure if it was a zombie, the real Mario trapped in a mystical prison or some other supernatural ploy this necromancer schemed up to get to Elena and her Judas coin. However, the latest episode, "The Double," reveals the shocking secret behind this sinister resurrection, and it's one that heaps even more misery on Elena.
Mario and Elena reignite their romance, making up for lost time with hot and heavy romps. She always felt insecure, believing he ran away with another woman, but he chalks his disappearance up to amnesia. However, when word spreads around town and the hot-headed local farmer, Jesus, sees them having a beer, he loses it. As he tells Mayor Paco, this can't be happening. Unfortunately, Paco can't extract the truth, not until the night when Jesus tries to go into Elena's home with a shotgun.
Paco gets a call from Jesus' worried family, and along with the chief of police, they corner him in the house and disarm him. Sadly, it takes a bullet to Jesus' arm, but he reveals why he freaked out. He accidentally shot Mario years ago while hunting and buried him on the outskirts of town. Paco's shocked as he just can't comprehend Mario's resurrection, but when they visit the dusty site and dig up the terrain, it's a grave with a skull, confirming Jesus did indeed kill Mario.
As for the revived man, he's nothing more than a golem: an avatar of flesh, bone and blood which a witch controls. It's creepy watching her see life through Mario's eyes, controlling his actions and feeling his emotions, especially when he sleeps with his wife. Her plan also unfolds the same night Mario tries to leave town with Elena. It's under the auspices of fleeing the gossip-mongers, but he actually wants to find out where the coin is.
It eventually gets violent, leading to him taking her to the dam she threw the coin in. He's frustrated, as it's near impossible to get it, but before he can toss Elena off the bridge or jump himself, Paco and the chief arrive and grab her. As Mario slips and holds on to her foot, Elena smashes his head in, kicking him with her boots until he crumbles to dust.
She's relieved to be alive after this failed retrieval mission, but as they pull her up, Elena's still heartbroken. She buries him the next day in secret, seeding out info that he eloped with someone else to avoid supernatural suspicion, before reaffirming to Paco she wants to leave the town. She's had enough of the shady people and monsters, and she believes this is a sign for a fresh start.
Starring Eduard Fernández, Megan Montaner, Miguel Ángel Silvestre, Macarena Gómez, Pepón Nieto and Manolo Solo, 30 Coins airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and is also streaming on HBO Max.